Front end shakes violently!!!

[Duck]

Ok, coming home on the highway late last night, not pulling anything. Doing about 75 when the entire front end starts to shake out of control! It starts as a little rocking motion, then quickly oscillates into a full scale head shake. :{ Had the whole family at the time and scared the hell out of all them. Would have freaked me out too, had I not been through the same thing dozens of times before (see below)



I limped it to a friends house at 30MPH. Any faster than that and it would shake again. On the way there, the steering felt very light and at time the wheel was turned 90 degrees one way just to keep it straight on the road.



I'm 90% sure the steering box is blown, but here's my question that I hope finds some suspension guru's: Is the blown steering box the cause of the shake or did it blow becuase of the shake???



"Funny" thing is, this same thing happened to me on an old 79 Ford 4X4 of mine. I put new shocks on, didn't help. I put a Rancho on for the steering stabilzer, didn't help. The fix turned out to be a combination of rebuilding the steering box and switching from Mickey Thompson "balloon tires" to BFG Radial tires.



Of course, every place is closed today (Mem. Day), so I'm left to speculate all day as to what caused it. All my specs are below in my signature. I'm afraid that whatever it is won't be underwarranty since I've clearly modified the front end.



ANY IDEAS OUT THERE??? Any suggestions or related experiences would be MOST APPRECIATED.

 

[Duck]

Will have it towed to a dealership tomorrow when they open. Any advice on how to bribe those guys would be appreciated also. Or is it a lost cause? Anyone in AZ know of a place that's been known to bend the warranty rules?

 

[Sawbones]

Sorry to hear about your front end, Duck. Do you think the modifications contributed? Let us know what the dealer says. I've got a lift kit and Ranchos on order, may have to rethink this if it will be a warranty issue.

 

[DIESELMAN]

Duck - When you inserted your spacers, did you loosen your Caster Cams on the front end? Are they tight? Did they slip? Did you have it re-aligned? Is there any stager in the index marks from one side to the other? If not, was it properly aligned with positive (tipped rearward) caster? Did you re-tourque the Track Bar Bolt?



I'v had 70's Fords all do this to me when the King pin is worn, sure as heck wouldn't expect this.



I'm really interested as to the problem as your truck and mine are nearly twins excepting some leather and 17X9 Wheels. I'm about to put 15K on my truck this summer pulling 11-13K behind it.



John in Flagstaff --

 

[CATCRACKER]

i am very interested i also have the same set up. i will be following this post! Duck i hope you can get it fixed under warranty.

 

[Casey Balvert]

Hey guys, let's be fair. If you modified it, how can you HONESTLY expect DC to cover it under warrantee. Just my two cents worth.



Casey

 

[CityRam]

Warranty and Honesty

What Casey said is true but will the dealer be honest and anaylze the problem or see the wheels and the lift kit and automatically blame that for the problem,sort of like someone dying of cancer and was a smoker so that automatically killed him!

 

[Badunit]

CityRam, I see you'll never be selected as a juror in a big tobacco lawsuit.

 

[lawdog]

Most dealers have told me Dodge does not void up to like a 3-4" lift... Plus before they can warranty, they must determine that the modifcation "CAUSED" the failure. . To just say "Oh its changed, your warranty is void". . is grounds to fight the issue in arbitration..... At least that is what my dealer has told me several times in the past...

 

[lawdog]

DUCK, Why don't you just pull out the spacers and the shocks and put the stock stuff and stock wheels and tires back on before going to the dealer

 

[Duck]

lawdog - I would, but I sold off the wheels a long time ago. But that's very encouraging about the 2-4" lift theory. Maybe they'll overlook it? I dunno. I like the way you're thinking



City - That's a great analogy!



Casey - Thanks for nothing (kidding). I know I know- but I can hope!



DM - YES. When I installed my spacers we ended up unbolting quite a few things to try to squeeze the coil back in on the passenger side. Finally I broke down and rented a coil compresser (free) then kicked myself. I'm betting something just wasnt torqued down enough. The truck isn't at home right now, or I'd be out there looking.



It's getting towed in tomorrow and I'll let you guys know what happens. Thanks for all the encouraging remarks (except Casey)

 

[CATCRACKER]

Duck,

my money is on the install error theory.



later CC





PS my bet is that it is nothing major

 

[CityRam]

Remove Wheels and Spacers NEVER!!!

I dont know how others feel but I say this ,my truck has the 2" lift kit and 315 tires ,if I ever developed a problem I would sooner burn the truck than to make it ugly again by putting on those stock baloneys and that sad front end sag again NEVER!!!

 

[lawdog]

CityRam, I like the way you are thinking... ... ...





If all goes well, and no more unexpected issues, I "should" be a proud new 3rd gen guy friday... . let say a few prayers that everything goes smooth...



We are going to try a lease this time, but will most likely buy it out mid term after some more bills are gone... ... . BUT... ... . The dealer is now recommending going DC financial instead of another bank that is available (4 years (DC) rather than 5 yr lease (Bank)). . DC is about $60. 00 more per month, but 1 year less lease, but the way he explained it, DC may be a better way to go. The finance guy, a friend, said that the banks frown on pay ahead payments, penalize you for early buy-out, charge $300. 00 turn in fee (disposal fee) at the end of the lease if you do not sell or buy out... . and they will NOT take the truck back early even if you have paid all the payments... They also nit pick the truck at turn in where DC is much more forgiving and understanding to normal wear... . and you lose out on oppurtunity for DC deals for early turn ins to get you into a new ride fi you so choose... ... Lookin like I will go DC Gold Key Lease... ..... Black 3500 QC SB SWL HO 48RE... . I want a SLT, but the locator only found Sports so oh well, sport it is... too good of rebates to pass up... Sorry so long

 

[DIESELMAN]

Duck -- So whats the story????



Lawdog, You are really gonna lease a truck?? hmmmm.



Can't leave it at that, had a friend, still do, who leased a truck on the Gold Lease Program, was forced due to medical issues to drop the truck. They were the friendliest people in the world to deal with, what with all the yes sirs, no problem sir, right away sir. They didn't nit pick, didn't complain at all about the early turn in... ... . then the truck was sold and he was sued for $21000 in residual and $8000 in lost recovered value. If you aren't a business user, leases are scary.

 

[lawdog]

Yes, I said I would never lease a truck, but I am going to start that way, then buy it out. I have too many other things to pay for right now to afford the big payment, so I am going to have to settle for the lease to start... one big ticket item I have coming up is..... I am almost afreaid to say... . I know I will hear it some more... a wedding ... . Just kidding, I have been engaged for 5 years waiting for her to get an annulment for the church and it finally came thru, now we can get our parents off our backs... . Ecspecially her dad. . He is the retired DC employee that saves me so much on the new rides... ...

 

[Blakers]

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!! I just got married a year and a half ago - first time for both of us - and I was 40 then. I have never been happier!!



I understand the money situation - I just bought this new truck, since the 95 was wrecked. Wasn't anxious to make the payments, but didn't want someone elses used truck and have to make payments on that too. We're also looking to buy some land with a house so things are gonna be tight for awhile.



As far as the lease goes, I used the finance computer on the Dodge.com site and I was better off buying. My cousin and my uncle have leased and bought out their trucks for years and they like it alot. Seems they come out about the same. Some tax advantages if you have a business too.



Best to you!



Blake

 

[Duck]

DM - They're looking at it today, so I'll know soon.

I'm betting your theory of something not properly tightened is the ticket.

 

[lawdog]

Blakers, Thanx for the congrats... ... I also am now Ram-less:{ I saw my second favorite truck I have ever owned go down the road today... ..... Dealer trying to work a deal to trade a dealer in Illinois or Indiana for my next truck, hopefully should have it friday..... Not exactly what I wnated, but close enough. . kind of bummed, no power pedals, but I have never had them before, so 1 less thing to potentially go wrong... The old truck went to a good friend locally here, so I can still visit and get pics of it and the new one together.....

 

[Blakers]

Lawdog,,, it sounds like everything's working out the way you want it to. I didn't get the power pedals on mine either.



I am 5' 7" and have no trouble with the clutch, though I do have to have the seat further ahead than on the 95.



Now if my mom wanted to drive it she might have a problem being only 5' 0" tall. She'd have to be mighty close to the steering wheel. My wife's slightly shorter than I, but she should be fine with it.



I did want the power cloth seat, but got the manual cloth seat. 03's were getting awful scarce with the other options I wanted, so I settled on this one. Very happy though.



Hope you get it Friday - waiting is Oo.