How smooth is your LC250 at 70+ mph?

[RBB]

Just picked up my 24 LC LC this weekend and took it on my first mini road trip. Noticing vibration at 70+ mph that isn’t necessarily shaking the steering wheel but is noticeable through the seat, side mirrors, and even some vibrating of the back seats visible in the rear view mirror. This is my first body on frame vehicle so not sure whether to chalk this up to that or if it’s something else like wheel balance / alignment / driveshaft balance.

Should you break it in first ?

 

[Justaron123]

I’ve drove and towed 70+ on the highway smooth for me so far. At those speeds I’m mid 20s not towing and towing around 17.5-18. My last “heavy tow” was a car on a flat trailer. About a 2 hour drive and last light tow was a Maverick XR lol so it’s a mix but over no complaints with the collar kit and 33.

 

[justaprado]

i have this slight vibration at 70, 75+. i'm at 4800 miles. i've had my wheels roadforce balanced twice (17's and 285 Nitto G3's). what could it be? Trying to avoid a dealership visit. Alignment? Something I can adjust on my own?

It doesn't feel like a front wheel imbalance, because the steering wheel is not vibrating that badly (although it is slightly off-center). it's just a very slight vibration through - i can see it in the rear seats, side views, etc.

 

[Sugarloafer80]

Thanks everyone. Hopefully wheel balance is the only issue - slightly nervous as I have heard of a mystery vibrating issue with the GX550s - haven’t heard the same with the LC though.

Check your tire pressures first.

 

[TimHerald]

Just drove about 200 miles on I-75 averaging about 78-80mph and felt it was very smooth even with stiff E-load 35’s. Noise isn’t bad at all. I barely touch the wheel.

 

[treadmark]

I gave up on the BFG Trail Terrains after three attempts to balance them. They swapped them out for Toyo AT3s (standard load). The Toyos have been smooth and handle very well. Its great driving without vibrations finally!

 

[cccbryan]

I have had similar problems with my LC and vibrations. At the 5000 mile service I mentioned it and the dealer "checked" the balance and said one tire was out of balance and "corrected" the problem. After rotation, the vibration was better but still there a little bit at speeds of 70+. No worse that it was, I could live with it. Last week I had the 10K oil change and rotation and the vibration came back significantly to the point I knew something wasn't right. Took the LC to tire shop for road force 'ultra' balancing. He mentioned prior to the balancing that there was some cupping on the tires although I don't see any or feel any and there is no road noise from the tires cupping. He said cupping could cause vibrations as could out of alignment. After the road force balancing, the tech said that 2 of the tires had been counter balanced with weights on opposite sides of the rim. I expect that was due to the dealer balancing them. He also said that all 4 tires were slightly out of balance and corrected them all. He said that the road force analysis showed no problems with the tires or the rims being out of round. He expected that his work would take care of my vibration problem. Well it MOSTLY did but ever so often there is still a slight vibration and that bothers be. I am wondering if I should get it aligned but then the question comes of who do I trust to do a proper alignment? Go back to the tire shop that did the road force balance or go back to the dealer? They said for $40 they could "check" the alignment.

What's the consensus on the board? Go back to the tire shop and let them check the alignment and if they "say" it is out let them fix it?

 

[roadventure]

Just picked up my 24 LC LC this weekend and took it on my first mini road trip. Noticing vibration at 70+ mph that isn’t necessarily shaking the steering wheel but is noticeable through the seat, side mirrors, and even some vibrating of the back seats visible in the rear view mirror. This is my first body on frame vehicle so not sure whether to chalk this up to that or if it’s something else like wheel balance / alignment / driveshaft balance.

Well, a somewhat short wheelbase, stiffly suspended car. It can't be as smooth as a "touring sedan".

And....body on frame construction is irrelevant. Just get a ride in ANY Ford F150 pick-up. These are some of the smoothest riding vehicles and body on frame construction

 

[Nuke]

I have had similar problems with my LC and vibrations. At the 5000 mile service I mentioned it and the dealer "checked" the balance and said one tire was out of balance and "corrected" the problem. After rotation, the vibration was better but still there a little bit at speeds of 70+. No worse that it was, I could live with it. Last week I had the 10K oil change and rotation and the vibration came back significantly to the point I knew something wasn't right. Took the LC to tire shop for road force 'ultra' balancing. He mentioned prior to the balancing that there was some cupping on the tires although I don't see any or feel any and there is no road noise from the tires cupping. He said cupping could cause vibrations as could out of alignment. After the road force balancing, the tech said that 2 of the tires had been counter balanced with weights on opposite sides of the rim. I expect that was due to the dealer balancing them. He also said that all 4 tires were slightly out of balance and corrected them all. He said that the road force analysis showed no problems with the tires or the rims being out of round. He expected that his work would take care of my vibration problem. Well it MOSTLY did but ever so often there is still a slight vibration and that bothers be. I am wondering if I should get it aligned but then the question comes of who do I trust to do a proper alignment? Go back to the tire shop that did the road force balance or go back to the dealer? They said for $40 they could "check" the alignment.

What's the consensus on the board? Go back to the tire shop and let them check the alignment and if they "say" it is out let them fix it?

My opinion is the tires, not an alignment issue. Have you been off-roading in rocky terrain and possibly caused some internal cord damage? Personally, would just bite the bullet and get some better-than-OEM quality tires.

 

[cccbryan]

Well, a somewhat short wheelbase, stiffly suspended car. It can't be as smooth as a "touring sedan".

And....body on frame construction is irrelevant. Just get a ride in ANY Ford F150 pick-up. These are some of the smoothest riding vehicles and body on frame construction

Indeed I do understand that with the firmer suspension and short wheel base that it isn't going to be a Cadillac smooth ride but what I am feeling is vibrations and not bumps in the road. Albeit the vibrations aren't terrible and I can live with them, I would still like to get fixed whatever is causing the vibrations but don't want to throw money at solutions blindly or risk

 

[cccbryan]

My opinion is the tires, not an alignment issue. Have you been off-roading in rocky terrain and possibly caused some internal cord damage? Personally, would just bite the bullet and get some better-than-OEM quality tires.

No off-roading other than being on the beach last October which wouldn't have hurt the tires. The vibration isn't terrible but when others state that their LC is smooth as silk that makes me wonder if something else is wrong. The road force balance didn't show any problems with tires or rims and that machine is supposed to pickup on problems like that. I agree that the tires aren't the best tires in the world. I am happy that they are the Michelin tires and not the POS Dunlop tires that some got from the factory that don't last 25000 miles. Mine have just over 10K on them and still look brand new.

 

[bluebullet]

I had no problem with the 20" stock tires, but I bought 18" rims with Michelin Trails from a board member. Have had no problem with the Michelins after 16K miles. I put 4500 miles on the stock tires so I have 11,500 miles on the Trails. Maybe time to switch to Michelin Defenders?

 

[cccbryan]

I had no problem with the 20" stock tires, but I bought 18" rims with Michelin Trails from a board member. Have had no problem with the Michelins after 16K miles. I put 4500 miles on the stock tires so I have 11,500 miles on the Trails. Maybe time to switch to Michelin Defenders?

The vibration isn't bad enough to spend the money for new tires. I will ride it out and likely go with Yokohama or Bridgestone tires next. I had good luck with Yokohama tires on my previous vehicle. They are known for being smooth and quiet.

 

[bluebullet]

The vibration isn't bad enough to spend the money for new tires. I will ride it out and likely go with Yokohama or Bridgestone tires next. I had good luck with Yokohama tires on my previous vehicle. They are known for being smooth and quiet.

it may go away. I had bad vibration with Michelins on my Chevy Diesel pickup. It sat in my shop all winter in 2018. When I started driving it in spring of 2018 the vibration went away for some reason. I have 32K miles on them now with plenty of tread left. The 3/4 ton rides rough anyway when empty.

 

[SJR]

Just a few small clumps of dried mud will cause vibration above 60 mph

 

[b407driver]

I have had similar problems with my LC and vibrations. At the 5000 mile service I mentioned it and the dealer "checked" the balance and said one tire was out of balance and "corrected" the problem. After rotation, the vibration was better but still there a little bit at speeds of 70+. No worse that it was, I could live with it. Last week I had the 10K oil change and rotation and the vibration came back significantly to the point I knew something wasn't right. Took the LC to tire shop for road force 'ultra' balancing. He mentioned prior to the balancing that there was some cupping on the tires although I don't see any or feel any and there is no road noise from the tires cupping. He said cupping could cause vibrations as could out of alignment. After the road force balancing, the tech said that 2 of the tires had been counter balanced with weights on opposite sides of the rim. I expect that was due to the dealer balancing them. He also said that all 4 tires were slightly out of balance and corrected them all. He said that the road force analysis showed no problems with the tires or the rims being out of round. He expected that his work would take care of my vibration problem. Well it MOSTLY did but ever so often there is still a slight vibration and that bothers be. I am wondering if I should get it aligned but then the question comes of who do I trust to do a proper alignment? Go back to the tire shop that did the road force balance or go back to the dealer? They said for $40 they could "check" the alignment.

What's the consensus on the board? Go back to the tire shop and let them check the alignment and if they "say" it is out let them fix it?

My alignment went out a few months into ownership, but it was more pulling, not vibration (dealer covered it). Mine is smooth pretty much up to near 100mph. However, if it has sat in a cold garage for a week or so without being driven, occasionally I will feel a bit of vibration on the highway, which clears up once the tires (sidewalls) are warmed up. I'm on "E" Toyo AT3s though, so a stiffer tire would likely be more prone to this.

 

[SJR]

Not sure why, but the LC seems to be more sensitive(than say 1500/2500 pickups/larger suvs) to balanced tire/wheel deviations..no vibrations at high speed with clean wheels