2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Front end wobble (not deathwobble....or is it?)

[damon]

I have posted on this a few months back, to no avail.



When turning hard from a stop, usually left, the steering feels like the tires are either shaped like giant eggs or the steering angle is changing back and forth without me moving the wheel. It gets very tight and fights my steering input until I straighten out, or in one case it made a loud pop and then acted ok.



I have taken it to a front end shop and checked the recommended things myself - u-joints are tight, brakes are wearing even, track bar is tight, and there is just a small amount of play in the pitmann joints. The only thing the shop noticed was that the steering box adjustment was turned all the way in (he found that odd but I don't even know what it really means. )



This is driving me nuts, it will drive perfect for weeks, and then, like this morning, will make me thing the front end is going to break apart while turning out of a parking space. The truck doesn't even have 60k on it yet.



Any other ideas ? Has anyone else had this ? Could this be a low-speed instance of what we call death-wobble when at higher speed ?

 

[Bfoot17]

mine is doing something close to that and my tires are rubbing on the right side

 

[damon]

I am also getting a small bit of tire rubbing on both sides when I turn the wheel to the lock either direction. But this is a very different feel, and barely noticeable compared to what has been happening intermittently as I described above. Usually, when this problem happens, the steering is around 1/2 - 3/4 max turn radius rather than at full lock, and it only happens at low speeds.

 

[SteveFarley]

Sounds dumb but it sound like the same feel you get when you have it in 4x4 in pavment. Could it be something like that?

 

[MattSt]

I would check the axle shafts. Sounds like a joint going bad. They really only have to to work when turning and if you have one with a bad spot in it that could cause it.



Easy way to check is to put the front end on jack stands, get a friend to sit and turn the wheel for you while you spin the tire. When it hits the bad spot you will know it.

 

[Speedo]

Axle u-joints change velocity during rotation when the wheel is turned and feedback is what you are feeling. In other words at a given speed the rpm of your front tires changes during a single rotation. This is the reason that front wheel drive cars come with constant velocity joints instead of single cardan joints in the front axle shafts. In 4wd this change in velocity is tied to the rear axle through the transfer case and causes binding making the effect more noticeable, sometimes referred to as crow-hopping.



Gus