Front end just started to kinda shimmy?

[Joe Mc]

On the way to work today noticed an odd very little shimmy at about 40 - 45. Then it went away around 50 & up. It felt like the r/f wheel was loose - not. It's almost not noticable at all, couldn't feel it in the steering wheel, more so in the whole truck??? Keep in mind this is barely noticable?



Now a bit of the truck history: The has been some work done to the r/f as the r/axel universal has zerk fittings and the l/axle doesn't. And I just had 305X70X16's installed about a tank full ago, haven't had the alignment done since last May (I know, I'll get it done after I figure the problem out), but keep in mind it's been ok till now. Doesn't wander, steers pretty straight for a 4X and so forth.



If it was the track bar would the steering wheel shimmy? Could it be the stabilizer shock? or would the wheel shimmy too? It looks as if all the weights are still there? The come n go makes me think ballancing. Thoughts and past experiences welcome.



O. K. Let me have it:-laf

 

[NVR FNSH]

Could be lots of things... .



Wheel balance

Bad tire

worn tie rod ends or ball joints

Caster - if it started after hitting a pot hole this is my bet.

bad steering stabilizer - IMO things should work w/o a stabilizer on pavement





Do a search on caster, death wobble or wander and you'll find more info than you want.



Brian

 

[BK]

I'd bet on the balancing...

my quarter is on the tires.

two reasons, when they mount the tires they use a bead "grease" to help get the tires on the rim. The stuff will eventually act like glue, but the tire can actually spin on the rim for the 1st several hundred - 1K miles. thereby throwing out the balancing.

you could have thrown a weight as well. If they did the job correctly , they should have re spun the wheel/tire. . and if it's off a bit put on a small weight as required. With the large tires, again if the installer took his time, you could have had another weight installed somewhere else on the rim.



There could just be bad timing as well and you could have just lost the infamous track bar...



Does it still stay even when costing through the speed?



But my money is on the balancing.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Shimmy shakin momma

Keep in mind that for a vehicle to "shimmy" (the front wheels shake from side to side) there is usually some slack in the steering linkage somewhere (or the track bar on a 4X4). The onset of shimmy can be caused by hitting a rough spot in the road or by an unbalanced tire or tires. A tire out of balance alone will not cause shimmy unless the front end is loose somewhere. bg

 

[Joe Mc]

Re: I'd bet on the balancing...

Originally posted by BK

my quarter is on the tires.



There could just be bad timing as well and you could have just lost the infamous track bar...



Does it still stay even when costing through the speed?



But my money is on the balancing.

So to check the track bar I lay underneath and have somone bump the steering wheel side to side - right. Then anything with play gets ousted and replaced.



I'm preping for a Grand Canyon trip w/family so I'll have the tires reballanced and alignment done - of course using the alignment specs posted some time back by the Dodge Gold Certified Tech.



Thanks - It almost feels like ballancing as it's from one side and comes and goes. Not sure if it does it coasting down in speed have to check.



Thanks

 

[hammersley]

Go to a truck shop

Or someplace where they can spin the wheels ON THE RIG! You need to verify that all components are true. Also check the U Joints at the axle shafts - you may have a cracked/broken one. Also, get her up to speed and then put her in neutral. this will help determine if it's coming from the powered drive components, or in fact a balance problem. Heck it could even be poor tire construction i. e. internal belt seperating and about to fail.

 

[BK]

Re: Re: I'd bet on the balancing...

Originally posted by Joe Mc





So to check the track bar I lay underneath and have somone bump the steering wheel side to side - right. Then anything with play gets ousted and replaced.



Thanks

Yes, have someone in the truck, YANKING the wheel from center to right, then through center to left... hard... . each about 1/4 turn from center. . so total about 1/2 turn... . through center.

If it's done softly you may not see it.



If the track bar is wiggling more than . 08" (EDIT: looked it up in the FSM, spec is . 08" max play. . after that replace it)... it's bad.





I had a weird shimmy in my wife's Altima, moved the tires around , didnt change, went through the whole drive train... did the front brakes, new rotors...

rebalance the tires with the same guys. . 3 times over the year.

Finally after almost a year of trying to find the shimmy that started at about 60... went away above 70...

A buddy of mine just bought his own garage and started business... He let me use his balancing machine... I rebalanced my wife's Altima's tires on his machine... ALL GONE...

 

[Joe Mc]

Found out what the shimmy was today - r/caliper is dragging again At least it's lifetime warrantee'd - freekin ridiculous though!

 

[BK]

glad to see you found it, thanks for the update.