Wondering if this is normal...

I recently purchased my first Tundra (certified used). It's a 2021 4WD and I am wondering if some things I am experiencing is the nature of how Toyota trucks are.

The first issue is a faint ticking noise from the engine area, or possibly underneath whenever the truck is cold...it tends to quite up a little once warmed.

The second issue is the steering wheel shakes/shimmers slightly when driving down the road. I thought it was just bad tires, so I got brand new tires. The truck coasts straight as can be when I let go of the wheel. Wondering if this is just how Tundra suspensions are. I can also feel vibration in the gas pedal when this happens. It's very faint, but I can feel it.

 

I can speak to the wheel shake portion. I recently purchased a 2020 4WD SR5 and it too had wheel shake at 50-70 mph. I had new wheels and tires put on and it still was happening. I ended up bringing it back to discount tire and requested a road force balance which solved it 95%. I still occasionally have some minor shake but nothing like before. I've ready many accounts of other Tundra owners and it seems to be something many experience.

 

Normal. The ticking is usually improved by swapping the water thin oil for 5w30. The ticking isn’t harmful though, we think. The feel of the steering tour describing seems normal too. Mine does it anyway.

 

Dude I knew this was the right place to ask...thanks @KNABORES and @NTX_Tundra for the quick response. I was hoping this is a known issue and just how Tundra's are. I will def try the things you mentioned!

 

The skake or shimmer is not nomral for a Tundra, I have had mine for 10 years and nothing like that has occured on my truck or my buddys and he has had 2 Tundras, a first and 2.5 generation. The most likely cause is either tires or warped rotors. The tick is normal for any vehicle that is not fully warmed up. Hope this helps and enjoy your Tundra.

 

The slight shimmy when hitting some bumps or road imperfections has been there on mine since I bought it

 

Yes, this is exactly when the shaking occurs when on bad roads with cracks, etc. It's very tiny side-to-side shake, but the worse the road the more it shakes. It's almost like it would be when I was braking WITH warped rotors, BUT it does it when I am accelerating and not using the brakes.

When I am on a road that is smooth the shake dang near goes away. I drive my other cars on the same roads and it doesn't shake.

 

all of that seems normal. Sometimes i get a slight shake at highway speed till the tires heat up, then it goes away.

 

Same. It’s almost like a reverb of the impact from the road

 

My M998 in the Army did almost the same thing...except the HMMWV (Humvee for the civilians) would swing left or right if you were in uneven roads and not holding onto the steering wheel hard enough, haha

 

A normal shake? That's ridiculous. Not on my 2000 and not on my 2021 Ltd. No shake. At all. Under any circumstances.

I am not OCD, but if I had something like that it would be unacceptable as well as drive me crazy. Did you have the truck inspected before you purchased?

 

All cars have normal shake. They employ engineers to attempt to control the NVH, or noise vibration and harmonics of a vehicle. Usually the vibrations can be mitigated or eliminated. My truck is solid 90% of the time, but there are some bumps that when I hit them, there’s a mildly perceptible “aftershock” if you will. Like a little vibration in the steering as the rubber bits in the front suspension settle from the jolt. Not sure how else to describe it. I also notice it in my wife’s Jeep Grand Cherokee. Other vehicles I’ve had I didn’t notice it in.

 

I have a 2004 Tundra, 234,000 miles, doesn't have either of those issues.

 

2021 tundra here it’s ridiculously smooth especially compared to the Silverado I used to have.

I have read here on the forum that if the truck sits for long periods it gets flat spots on the tires that smooth out the more you drive.

Have you taken it on any long drives to see if the issue resolves to any degree?

Edit: oh and all of my Toyota vehicles have ticked.

 

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That is absolute bullshit

 

Cold ticking is normal. 4.017" stroke and 6000 rpm redline makes high piston speeds. Probably hypereutectic pistons with a higher expansion rate so more clearance when cold.

 

When I first noticed it on my 08 5.7, I thought the noise sounded like a diesel engine rattle. I searched for Tundra diesel sound and found many others have noticed the same thing.

 

If Toyota can ever make a quiet truck engine I will eat my shoe. The 3.0, 2.2, 3.4, 4.0, 4.7 and 5.7 all make noise. The 5.7 barely gets an honorable mention for noisiest Toyota truck engine.

Get your tires balanced, I'll bet it will smooth out. If you have load range E's, they will never feel right.

 

Ticking, normal. Shaking/shimmying, hell no.

 

OK

 

In my experience with both the Tundra and Sequoia, is that the trucks can be prone to shaking and vibration. However, it is not “normal” and something is causing it. It can also be very frustrating trying to track it down.

I’d start from easier to harder, retorque lug nuts, have tires road forward balanced, check alignment, inspect wheels, check ball joints, bearings and check for any signs of damage.

 

Mine does not shake driving down the road. It has a slight shimmy in the wheel over some bumps. But that may be complete bullshit, I’m not really sure anymore….

 

Thiss ^^^

 

The bullshit part is that it is normal and all vehicles have it.

 

What kind of tires do you have? Are they stock or larger than stock? Also, How many miles does your truck have? I have load range E and feel some vibes which seem to decrease as the tires get warmer. If the truck sits the tires definitely get flat spots in them. Also they are large tires so they are going to be more prone to vibrations from the road. Another explanation could be the needle bearing but that is usually at various speed ranges.

The ticking is probably the fuel injectors. It's louder when the engine is cold. The ticking will increase as you press the throttle and the noise will get fainter if it's the injectors. A fuel injector treatment like Amsoil PI or similar will lube the injectors and this decreases the noise also

 

I just got new Michelin Defender LTX M/S2 tires from Costco, so the wheel alignment, etc cannot be the issue because the shimmy is exactly the same way before I changed the tires. I only got new tires because I thought they were the issue.

The truck has 22,300 miles (2021)...and it drives straight as can be.

No steering wheel shimmy when I brake, so do not see it being warped rotors. I can let go of the wheel and the truck will go straight for a long distance before I need to grab the wheel and nudge back straight...which is way better than my other cars that do not have any steering wheel shimmy.

So, I don't think it's the rotors, tires, or alignment. The truck is a certified used with very low mileage. If it persists I may bring it in to have Toyota look at it under warranty...but scratching my head to figure out the cause - and so maybe it's a "toyota truck thing"?

 

Just because you bought it certified used, doesn’t mean there aren’t issues with it, obviously based on your experience you are trying to resolve.

Since you seem to be sure it isn’t an alignment issue, I’d start getting the joints and bearings checked, start ruling out the other items.

ETA: was there any unusual wear on the tires you replaced?

 

OFFS, it is not a "Toyota thing". Stop scratching your head and stop blindly throwing money after something. Make an appointment with the dealer to drive it with you.

Did you buy an extended warranty? Your OEM warranty will be expiring if it hasn't already.

 

He bought the truck brand new from the dealer in 2023. He's still under 3/36k factory warranty until 2027.

EDIT: Disregard! wrong dude lol.

 

Gotcha. Didn't know he just bought it last year. But it will expire in 2026 not 2027.