Steering shaky over bumps.

Does anyone have an idea of what to check for a steering wheel shake over bumps. I’m feeling a lot of feedback through the steering wheel. 2017 stock everything. Thank for the help.

 

Could be a lot of things. Worn suspension parts, tires (either rebalance or replace if worn out), or you might just need an alignment. Worn out shocks or balljoints can make the front end feel squirrly. If you get an alignment, ask them to max out the caster to get a more stable steering feel.

 

First of all, check your lug nuts, maybe someone was trying to steal rims. Second, check all front suspension components. Then jack up each wheel and try to push, pull and spin in different directions. Next check tie rod ends. After all that has been done, and if you don't find anything, reach out here.

 

Also it could be as simple as it is something that you are not used too.
Is this your first tundra? First truck? Just curious.

These trucks are touchy with steering, gas, brakes. I’ve had two and both were identical with regards to feeling “touchy.”

Going over bumps, I’d expect a decent amount of steering wheel movements as it is just following your front tires.

Toss some larger tires on.. and you will feel a lot more of the road.

 

Alignment check might help. Any issues with caster, especially low caster will affect steering feel and input. The lower it is the more you will have to steer, IE it will be squirrelly. Bad toe angle can affect the handling over bumps (see bump steer).

 

This so true, thats how mine was stock i had play and when I upgraded to bigger tire much more sturdy.

 

Thank you everyone. I've checked suspension parts all seem good. I'll get an alignment next. I did have 37 psi in the tires and I put them to the spec on the door. It did seem to help some.

 

If not pulling or wheels and tires are not leaning over I doubt any alignment is going to change it.

 

Yeah truck drives straight no pulling. Tires are wearing evenly.

 

There you go, so want to waste your money?send to me

 

How many miles on your truck? Does it have the stock black shocks? What tire pressure are you running in front?

My truck was doing the same, kinda squirrelly feeling at speed over bumps. Tires wearing fine, no major pull- maybe slightly to right. Had alignment checked and it was off, drives MUCH better now after getting that taken care of.

I can only speak to my truck, but maybe it is a Tundra thing- the trucks seem very sensitive to air pressure and alignment. If either is off a fair amount it impacts handling. I no longer have stock tires, but when I was running them keeping them at the pressure listed on the door jam made the truck drive and handle like a boat. Bumped up the pressure a few LBS and it was better.

 

Yes stock SR5 suspension. I went by the door 30 psi in the front and 33 in the rear cold pressure. 59,000 miles

 

Well at 60k those stock black shocks are likely getting weak. They start to lose their dampening ability around 50-60k miles. The stock black shocks are pretty soft, squishy new vs the OR package or Sport shocks so with age/miles they will contribute to the harshness over bumps. I have seen some threads here where folks lifted the truck and said the black shocks were pretty much done- easily compressed by hand at mileage lower then 45k. That said, plenty of folks run them 75-80k miles, until they start leaking.

The good news is that with your truck age and miles, you are probably not looking at anything other than maintenance type work vs repairs to get it driving better. Shocks and alignment are maintenance and will likely make your truck drive like new. You can often find the OR package or other stock shocks for sale in the market place here or locally very cheap, from when someone installs a lift.

 

Thank you for your help I really appreciate it.

 

Here is a good example of the deals out there on take off suspension parts
https://www.tundras.com/threads/fs-...en-2007-2020-socal-oc-290.77422/#post-2089604

 

I have had the same steering feedback issue with my 2020. I had a 2014 with a spacer leveling kit and 33's without the feedback. When I drive on a rough road, I have to hold on with both hands. I did take it into the dealer and they said that the alignment was off. I have not had it on any rough roads since but the alignment numbers did not look far enough off for me to have such a I big issue. Time will tell.

 

That's not necessarily true. Toe can be way off but equal and the truck may not pull one way or the other, camber is not easy to spot visually, and caster can be too low and cause the front end to be twitchy. Just because it tracks straight doesn't mean all alignment numbers are within specs... since the OP is obviously showing other symptoms. My bet is caster is too low.

 

I did not say it won't make it better, I just stated that I doubt it. Op said tires are wearing even and susp. components look good. A set of shocks would probably be more help than an alignment. Caster, camber, and toe should not be changing much unless something has worn, bent, or been modified. Again just my opinion.

 

OP I have like new pull offs for front coilover replacements in my garage. Not doing anything with them. 21 crewmax

 

Everything in here is just an opinion and a best guess based on the info provided, but I wouldn't recommend skipping routine maintenance on a 4 year old/60K mile truck and just throwing parts at it instead. Could be the alignment, could be the suspension, could be both, could be neither. I usually start with the easy/free/routine things first, visual check for obvious problems, air pressure check/adjustment, alignment. If none of those fix the issue then you could go into replacing hard parts like struts and ball joints. Either way, an alignment is not a waste of money, especially if showing symptoms.
@mikefen1985, if you get a lifetime or three-year alignment and you end up having to replace parts the new alignment is already paid for.

 

Just one little issue I have with paying for the alignment and then still needs shocks due to mileage and stock shocks. Better to replace shocks first, then pay for the alignment only once. Again my opinion.

 

True, which is why I suggest a lifetime or at least a 3 year alignment. Not much more than the single alignment.

Hopefully everyone has provided the OP with some info/options here and I'm sure he'll figure this out.
@mikefen1985 keep us posted if you get everything sorted out.

 

Thanks for all the good info I'll keep you guys posted when I get it sorted.