#Tapping #Vibration in Steering Wheel
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2015
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From: TN
#Tapping #Vibration in Steering Wheel
I have searched the forum but cannot find any reference to this particular issue so I am hoping someone can help.
About 18 months ago I traded my 03 GX470 for a 2016 GX460 luxury package with 77k miles. Soon after, the car developed a hard constant tapping sensation in the steering wheel (think someone tapping the wooden part of the steering wheel with a hammer about 3-4x a second) when the car is in 6th gear at 1800-1900RPM at about 62-65mph. The problem got gradually worse and now at 99k miles it is tapping in 6th gear at 1800-1900RPM from 60-80mph. The tapping stops when you let off the gas, and the taps get harder when you go up a hill. It is a hard, definite, tapping sensation. The problem with this speed/RPM range is that it is right where I cruise with traffic on my lengthy commute to and from work. The car has no tapping sensation in the other gears, RPMs, and speeds.
I have taken the car back to the Lexus dealership probably 10 times for this issue but they always say they cannot duplicate it when they drive the car alone. I have driven the diagnostic tech and GM and both were able to hold onto the steering wheel and feel the tapping while I drove, but both said it is normal for this model to tap. I have trouble believing this is normal seeing as how I cannot find anything on any of the forums about this issue. Thinking that it had something to do with the front differential since the car is perfectly smooth except for the tapping in the steering wheel, my independent mechanic replaced the front differential with a unit out of a 2018 with 8k miles. The tapping now does not feel as hard in the steering wheel but there is still a definite tapping sensation and it is still in 6th gear, similar RPM and speeds. I also have begun feeling the tapping vibration in the gas pedal. I am not sure if the tap in the gas pedal has anything to do with the differential change or if I am just paying extra close attention because the issue is so annoying. The independent mechanic also checked the front wheel bearings and lubed the driveshafts.
Tires are new Michelin Defenders with less than 1k miles and the car tapped just as bad with the Michelin Latitudes that were on the car previously. Brakes were new when I purchased the car and when the tapping began. The car is perfectly smooth running down the road at all speeds. Alignment is on point (other than the steering wheel being off center, which the dealer also said is normal for this model. Again, I do not believe them.).
Does anyone have any suggestions on what could be causing this tapping sensation? Thanks in advance.
About 18 months ago I traded my 03 GX470 for a 2016 GX460 luxury package with 77k miles. Soon after, the car developed a hard constant tapping sensation in the steering wheel (think someone tapping the wooden part of the steering wheel with a hammer about 3-4x a second) when the car is in 6th gear at 1800-1900RPM at about 62-65mph. The problem got gradually worse and now at 99k miles it is tapping in 6th gear at 1800-1900RPM from 60-80mph. The tapping stops when you let off the gas, and the taps get harder when you go up a hill. It is a hard, definite, tapping sensation. The problem with this speed/RPM range is that it is right where I cruise with traffic on my lengthy commute to and from work. The car has no tapping sensation in the other gears, RPMs, and speeds.
I have taken the car back to the Lexus dealership probably 10 times for this issue but they always say they cannot duplicate it when they drive the car alone. I have driven the diagnostic tech and GM and both were able to hold onto the steering wheel and feel the tapping while I drove, but both said it is normal for this model to tap. I have trouble believing this is normal seeing as how I cannot find anything on any of the forums about this issue. Thinking that it had something to do with the front differential since the car is perfectly smooth except for the tapping in the steering wheel, my independent mechanic replaced the front differential with a unit out of a 2018 with 8k miles. The tapping now does not feel as hard in the steering wheel but there is still a definite tapping sensation and it is still in 6th gear, similar RPM and speeds. I also have begun feeling the tapping vibration in the gas pedal. I am not sure if the tap in the gas pedal has anything to do with the differential change or if I am just paying extra close attention because the issue is so annoying. The independent mechanic also checked the front wheel bearings and lubed the driveshafts.
Tires are new Michelin Defenders with less than 1k miles and the car tapped just as bad with the Michelin Latitudes that were on the car previously. Brakes were new when I purchased the car and when the tapping began. The car is perfectly smooth running down the road at all speeds. Alignment is on point (other than the steering wheel being off center, which the dealer also said is normal for this model. Again, I do not believe them.).
Does anyone have any suggestions on what could be causing this tapping sensation? Thanks in advance.
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Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 531
Likes: 410
From: Alberta, Canada
A tapping sound is not normal, by your description it appears to be speed related rather than rpm (engine). so items in the final drive are most probable.
Check front half shafts, CV joints & boots, front u-joints, front wheel bearings ...
Check front half shafts, CV joints & boots, front u-joints, front wheel bearings ...
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 42
Likes: 8
From: Rhode island
not to hijack this thread, but I have this mild vibration around 65. My guess is that it is related to tires as well. Will need to get some new ones soon
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golfpunks
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