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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
I've got a 2008 highlander with 101K miles. At around 40-45mph (around 2000 rpm) I start feeling a vibration/wobble. The vibration/wobble seems to only occur if I'm on the gas. When I let off the gas and coast, it mostly goes away. The bushings in the control arm seemed to be split, so I replaced the control arms. I have also replaced the torque strut for a worn bushing as well. This past week I had 4 new tires put on because the old ones were almost worn out. I watched them get spin balanced, so I am inclined to think that it isn't a tire/wheel problem. There doesn't seem to be any looseness in the cv axles or tie struts. I don't hear any grinding or other strange noises. I've run out of ideas of things to check.
 

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When my CV joints were going out in my Camry it would pop in tight turns. My final diagnosis was a slow figure 8 in a parking lot. I replaced them and no trouble since. I assume it's 4 wheel drive? I don't know enough about the bits of it to say but I know lots of guys on here do. I have read a lot of times they look fine and are not. I would probably replace the bits you haven't yet if it's a big enough issue.
 

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I'm thinking either a bad ball joint, or wheel bearing. Take it to a wheel alignment shop; some may offer a free inspection.
 

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Agree with SweeenyP; at 101k, bad inner CV joints or worn tie rod ends or worn lower ball joints seem unlikely, road/curb/pothole trauma can cause them to fail early. I would be thorough with inspection.

It's possible it could be a traumatized upper strut mount; bearing + rubber isolator, which would allow wheel movement. Moving the car back and forth in park would expose excess upper strut movement.

A worn wheel bearing can also cause this, but that is also premature for 101k. If the wheel bearing were damaged, it would grind/whir/whine, especially when turning left or right.

While some recently commented that 2nd Gen have mid-life engine mount failures, other than a deteriorated dogbone, I think the forum's general experience thus far is that the engine mounts are long lived. Hopefully folks post specifics, if that is NOT true.
 
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Discussion Starter · #6 ·
Ball joints got changed with the control arms. It is a 2nd vehicle. I have the stupid intermediate steering shafts pop, but I get wobble, vibration during turn, so that's unlikely. I don't get cv joint noise or wheel bearing grind, but cv is easier to change. I'll check strut mount
 

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A really bad bearing will cause incorrect tire wear as well as brake lining issues in grabbing when it shouldn't It has to be really bad for you to feel it like that.
 

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If you already know you have a bad wheel bearing why don't you fix the obvious issue first?
I ordered a bearing. I was attempting to take it to a shop but wobble got much worse. I jacked all 4 wheels up and put it in drive. The right cv shaft seemed to have a lot of wobble. The left cv shaft also had some wobble and the transmission was shaking some on the left side while jacked up and the tires moving. I’m considering ordering both used cv shafts off eBay to see if it helps
 

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I ordered a bearing. I was attempting to take it to a shop but wobble got much worse. I jacked all 4 wheels up and put it in drive. The right cv shaft seemed to have a lot of wobble. The left cv shaft also had some wobble and the transmission was shaking some on the left side while jacked up and the tires moving. I’m considering ordering both used cv shafts off eBay to see if it helps
Don't just throw parts at it. Fix the obvious first. Plus watch this
 
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