[phpBB Debug] PHP Notice: in file /viewtopic.php on line 988: date(): It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Europe/Moscow' for 'MSK/3.0/no DST' instead
[phpBB Debug] PHP Notice: in file /viewtopic.php on line 988: getdate(): It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'Europe/Moscow' for 'MSK/3.0/no DST' instead
SolaraGuy.com • View topic - *UPDATED* Help - Steering wheel shakes between 60 - 80 mph
Page 1 of 3

*UPDATED* Help - Steering wheel shakes between 60 - 80 mph

PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:58 pm
by xavier
*Update* So I finally went to discount for some hub centric rings...the problem was I already had them on all 4 wheels. I had the guys re-balance all the wheels and the tech said my drivers side front wheel was bent. It is now out of round so that would cause the shake. I told him to put the bent rim on the back and the good one on the front thinking that would make the shake less noticeable. After all was finished, I jumped in the car and took it to the highway.

Same problem only its not constant now. At 55-80mph it shakes noticeably in the steering wheel but it will shake for like 3-4 seconds and then not shake for 3-4 seconds then shake for 3-4 seconds then not and on and on. Its really weird and annoying. Its almost like the front wheels are not balanced but every few seconds, the vibration cancel each other out. I'm probably just going to get rid of the car although I love my lara. I just can't deal with it anymore.

*Old* So I went to Savannah for St. Patty's day so I drove the Solara (2002 SE 5spd) and between 60 mph and 80 mph, the car starts to shake. The shake gets pretty violent as I near 80. I have noticed this for a while but I attributed it to the wheels be unbalanced so I had them balanced before I left. The tech said they were really out of balance but that they were able to be balanced (so no warps).

The shake is friggen annoying and its making me want to trade because I cant figure out whats causing it. I went to the dealership to get a new cat as its still under warranty and asked about the shaking. I told the tech that I just had the wheels balanced and the shake is not only with brakes. It shakes when braking and accelerating between 60-80 mph. He said its probably the half shafts but wouldnt that make the shake at all speeds?

Anyone have any idea?

Cliff Notes:
My 2002 manual solara se shakes at speeds 60-80 mph. Shake happens when braking or accelerating within 60-80 mph. Car shakes but clearly visible in steering wheel. Wheels were just balanced.

PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:13 pm
by Ilovemylara
I have the same exact problem, and I have been searching for a solution for quite some time. Maybe someone can shed some light on the subject
My car is a 2002 solara SLEV6 automatic transmission, and the problem characteristics are the exact same as above^^

PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:15 pm
by fzzyrn
i have a 2004, and i have this "problem". I say "problem" because i believe it simply to be the result of our suspensions. Are yours stock?

PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:22 pm
by xavier
fzzyrn wrote:i have a 2004, and i have this "problem". I say "problem" because i believe it simply to be the result of our suspensions. Are yours stock?


My suspension is completely stock with the exception of a trd rsb.

I so want this problem fixed!!! Then I will love my car again!

PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:26 pm
by ThatVietGuy
You try rotating the tires to absolutely rule out an improper balance?

PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:29 pm
by Ilovemylara
Same as his.. stock... I recently rotated my tires and the vibrations are still exactly the same..

PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:03 pm
by Solarizona
I had the same problem for almost a year. My car would shake accelerating/braking or just cruising on the highway. I had my wheels roadforce balanced probably 4 times in 6 months trying to figure it out. I had the steering and suspension checked, drive shafts - nothing was found. Finally a tech noticed my front driver's side rotor was visibly hotter than the passenger side. So, replaced the sticky caliper and rotor and it's been driving perfect ever since. My car had approx 105k miles at the time.

PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 8:19 pm
by xavier
Solarizona wrote:I had the same problem for almost a year. My car would shake accelerating/braking or just cruising on the highway. I had my wheels roadforce balanced probably 4 times in 6 months trying to figure it out. I had the steering and suspension checked, drive shafts - nothing was found. Finally a tech noticed my front driver's side rotor was visibly hotter than the passenger side. So, replaced the sticky caliper and rotor and it's been driving perfect ever since. My car had approx 105k miles at the time.


That makes sense. For reference, which rotor and caliper were sticking on your solara? How did you determine which is hotter? Just visually or did you use a thermoscan or whatever? And lastly, how much was the caliper and rotor?

Sorry for all the questions.. :)

PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 8:31 pm
by lilm
did anyone get a alignment.....? i would have done that after i balanced the tires

PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 8:33 pm
by kpxboi0619
you know the thing you stick it on the wheel? to balance it? what do u call that? .......
anyways that thing could have fallen off, cuz that happened to mine... sometimes the sticky stuffs runs out and the thing falls off or moves a lil bit...

PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 8:43 pm
by Solarizona
xavier wrote:
Solarizona wrote:I had the same problem for almost a year. My car would shake accelerating/braking or just cruising on the highway. I had my wheels roadforce balanced probably 4 times in 6 months trying to figure it out. I had the steering and suspension checked, drive shafts - nothing was found. Finally a tech noticed my front driver's side rotor was visibly hotter than the passenger side. So, replaced the sticky caliper and rotor and it's been driving perfect ever since. My car had approx 105k miles at the time.


That makes sense. For reference, which rotor and caliper were sticking on your solara? How did you determine which is hotter? Just visually or did you use a thermoscan or whatever? And lastly, how much was the caliper and rotor?

Sorry for all the questions.. :)


It was the front driver's side caliper that was sticking. The rotor was replaced 'cause it was warped. A temperature gauge probably would have worked, but it got so bad it was plainly visible on the rotor. You could see the burn marks. I don't remember the exact price, but I think it was about $150 far a remanufactured caliper from Toyota.

PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:39 pm
by D-money
I had the same problem it would start shaking at about 75 mph the thing that fixed it was i had my front brake pads replaced and i had my rotors turned now it is good as new.the shakeing is caused by worped rotors

PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:15 am
by DrLove
I have the exact same problem, my car is shaking on highway, u can feel it a lot on the steering.. my watch is shaking :o ..

It happen only with my stock rims (16"). When I put my winter rims (15") I have no problem at all. I wonder if it's just my tires who are scrap or it's a problem with the mag. I got my rims balance last summer. I need new summer tires soon, so I hope that it's not a bend rims or something like that.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:36 am
by xavier
lilm wrote:did anyone get a alignment.....? i would have done that after i balanced the tires

When I am at highway speeds, it does pull to the left but I had the alignment checked and it was well within tolerance.

kpxboi0619 wrote:you know the thing you stick it on the wheel? to balance it? what do u call that? .......
anyways that thing could have fallen off, cuz that happened to mine... sometimes the sticky stuffs runs out and the thing falls off or moves a lil bit...

Yeah, checked the wheel weights but I dont think thats it. It was shaking the same before and after the wheel balancing

Solarizona wrote: It was the front driver's side caliper that was sticking. The rotor was replaced 'cause it was warped. A temperature gauge probably would have worked, but it got so bad it was plainly visible on the rotor. You could see the burn marks. I don't remember the exact price, but I think it was about $150 far a remanufactured caliper from Toyota.

Ironically, my car drifts to the drivers side but the techs tell me my alignment is within tolerance. I think I have a drivers side sticky caliper and possibly warped rotor. As embarrassing as it is to admit, I have never had my rotors turned between pads replacements. I guess I need to quit being cheap. :D

PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:30 am
by LEE337
Mine use to shake real bad. Then I replaced my wheel bearings, struts, and strut mounts. Now it only shakes a little. Mainly when I get up in the 90mph range. Once I get some better rims/tires and new rotors it should go away completly. 205/40/R17 <-----too small! :evil: