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2001 Toyota Sienna Minivan steering wheel vibration?
Our Toyota Sienna has an intermittent steering wheel vibration problem that shows up normally when we are on long trips. The tires are good, and balanced, with the right air pressure in them. (According to 2 different technicians) the rotors have been turned, the linkage is all tight, and not worn. The van drives like a dream most of the time, but occasionally you can feel the vibration start to happen, and like I said, on long trips (going at 60 to 80 MPH) , the vibration can get scary bad. When you put on the breaks it gets worse. When I pull over the stock alloy rims on the front tires are hotter than you would ever think they should be. They would instantly vaporize water put on them at that point. Occasionally, just on a short trip across town the vibrations start occurring, but it’s always unpredictable. I was thinking about getting new struts ($500-$800), but that is just a shot in the dark. Any ideas as to why this could be happening?  

It might be front wheel bearings (worst case but sounds right), and it might be a wheel balance (cheap, but doesn't sound like your problem).

Whatever  you do, take it to a mechanic asap. If it is the bearings, waiting will make it worse.  
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