Vibration-Am I being too critical - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

robob2 · 09-06-2007, 07:43 PM

Just got a brand new 07 Camry LE. It has the Michelin MXV4 tires on it. At between 70 and 75 MPH on smooth pavement it has a slight shimmy. Its not bone chattering, but it's there. At some speeds it's a little worse than others.

I took it in to have it looked at and went for a ride with the tech and he noticed it, but did not think it was bad. They checked balancing (road load?) and everything looked good. The dealer is relunctant to change the tires, but has Bridgestones in stock and they are going to put them on to see if it fixes the problem.

My question is; should a brand new car have any shimmy on a smooth road at these speeds? Like I said, it's not terrible, just there. Are my expectations to high?

Thanks!

TRD VVTi · 09-06-2007, 08:11 PM

They checked balance and road "force" variation.

Your expectations are not too high.

What you explained is classic out of balance. If the balance is right and road force is within specs it's not the tires or wheels. I suspect it is the balance. When they put new tires on they will balance them. You should be fine, unless there is something else wrong.

I ran into a similar problem. Later I diagnosed and repaired the problem myself. The wheel locks are heavier than the standard lugnuts which created a very small vibration at higher speeds. I replaced all of my lugnuts with one kind (TRD) and no longer have the problem.

If you have a locking lugnut on each axle and the new tires don't fix the problem, I would look into that as a possibility.

robob2 · 09-06-2007, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRD VVTi

They checked balance and road "force" variation.

Your expectations are not too high.

What you explained is classic out of balance. If the balance is right and road force is within specs it's not the tires or wheels. I suspect it is the balance. When they put new tires on they will balance them. You should be fine, unless there is something else wrong.

I ran into a similar problem. Later I diagnosed and repaired the problem myself. The wheel locks are heavier than the standard lugnuts which created a very small vibration at higher speeds. I replaced all of my lugnuts with one kind (TRD) and no longer have the problem.

If you have a locking lugnut on each axle and the new tires don't fix the problem, I would look into that as a possibility.

Thanks for this.
These are just steel rims with standard lug nuts and hur caps.
I looked up road force balancing it sond interestiong. My follow-up question is; if they checked both and it still had the problem on the original tires why will balancing new tires have a different result?

TRD VVTi · 09-06-2007, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robob2

Thanks for this.
These are just steel rims with standard lug nuts and hur caps.
I looked up road force balancing it sond interestiong. My follow-up question is; if they checked both and it still had the problem on the original tires why will balancing new tires have a different result?

I wish that I could answer that question for you but I can't.

You would think that if the balance and road force was good, that everything would be fine.

However, I've personally seen on a few occasions (mostly trucks) that even when everything checks out fine, another set of tires cures the problem.

Post the results that you get, good or bad.

joe keeney · 09-06-2007, 09:13 PM

The dealer needs to fix it. My rav and yaris is very smooth at speeds up to a 100. They both have bridgestones.

robob2 · 09-06-2007, 09:33 PM

I will be sure to post a follow up. HOping for a good one!

mtnet2000 · 09-06-2007, 10:01 PM

I had this problem before, the dealer service manager took the wheels off another 07 Camry on the lot and we test drove it and it didn't have a shimmy, so I was right and they replaced the front two tires and it was all good

Dave's · 09-06-2007, 10:42 PM

I once battled this problem multiple times with a set of tires. After rebalancing several times they admitted that brand/model of tires were having problems with the inner cords breaking down and replaced the tires.

02whiteLE · 09-07-2007, 01:25 PM

I've got an '08 LE and it's smooth as can be. I'm not sure what tires it's got on it, though. Whatever came with it, though.

kennb · 09-07-2007, 03:25 PM

I just had mine looked at for a similar problem. When it would get over 60mph it would start to shimmy, and becomes very unsettling to drive. When I had the latest TSB applied I also had them check it out, and they found my front right and rear left tires (all Michelins) were seperating, and replaced them. Unfortunately, it didn't fix the problem. So I need to get it back to them and try again.

robob2 · 09-10-2007, 10:51 AM

I got my car back this past Saturday and the dealer installed new tires and the bibration problem is solved. The car drives very smooth now even at very high speeds.

However, when driving back from the dealer I was at a stop light and when the light changed and the traffic started moving I noticed a significant (500 - 600 RPM) flare at the 2-3 shift. Everytime I would stop and start the flare was there. It must have happened 10 times. But, after driving for a while it went away. What a disapointment. I'll be startiubng another thread on this for input fro forum memebers.

Bear95 · 09-10-2007, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robob2

I got my car back this past Saturday and the dealer installed new tires and the bibration problem is solved. The car drives very smooth now even at very high speeds.

However, when driving back from the dealer I was at a stop light and when the light changed and the traffic started moving I noticed a significant (500 - 600 RPM) flare at the 2-3 shift. Everytime I would stop and start the flare was there. It must have happened 10 times. But, after driving for a while it went away. What a disapointment. I'll be startiubng another thread on this for input fro forum memebers.

I see that you had the road force checked which tells me that they have a Hunter machine( the best IMO). I was surprised to find that a set of MXV4 I had weren't such good tires. Did you go back with the same brand of tire, if not ,what brand do you have now? I have found that it is better to use a V rated tire for the best results at higher speeds.
Bear

robob2 · 09-10-2007, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bear95

I see that you had the road force checked which tells me that they have a Hunter machine( the best IMO). I was surprised to find that a set of MXV4 I had weren't such good tires. Did you go back with the same brand of tire, if not ,what brand do you have now? I have found that it is better to use a V rated tire for the best results at higher speeds.
Bear

I ended up going with the Bridgestone OEMs as thats what they had in stock at the dealer. Everyone says they are not as good, but I think they are better. No more vibration and a some what smoother, softer ride.

TRD VVTi · 09-10-2007, 12:47 PM

I'm glad to hear that they solved your problem.

MCeatalot · 11-10-2007, 02:12 AM

I just bought a new set of tires/rims. And I, too, feel the vibration at 65 mph and above. I do have the wheel lug locks. I have the Kumho Ecsta SPT 225/45/18. Before I go back again tomorrow, has anyone who's had problems similar to this been able to fix it just by replacing the wheel lug locks with the same lug nuts, as TRD mentioned?