Severe Shake in Right Turn

[GCP]

Hey everyone,

I've suddenly got a severe shake felt in my steering wheel while making a right turn, and to a lesser extent a left turn. It is most prominent while making a turn at speed. Based on the searches I've made of our forum it sounds like I might have a u-joint that has, or is failing. Is this assumption correct?

I have scheduled an appointment with one of my local Dodge service centers on Monday. However, I need to make a 150 mile round trip tomorrow. Will it be safe to continue to drive with these symptoms or should I seek an alternative method of transport?

Also, if it is the u-joint, I assume it would be the one on the right axel, but would it be wise to have both sides replaced? And while they're there should I have both upper and lower ball joints replaced? Furthermore, I'm wondering if I should spring for the Carli front end upgrade kit that includes their upper and lower ball joints, track bar, and low mount steering stabilizer (link below)?

Carli front end upgrade kit.

Any and all all help, input and suggestions are most appreciated.

GCP

 

[seafish]

The shaking problem sounds like a ujoint, though it could also easily be a wheel bearing!!! If you jack up the front of the truck and safely support it, you will be bale to tell if it is ujoints or wheel bearings....if one side is gone, it is likely that the other side is not far behind. And by the time you are in there, doing axle ujoints or wheel bearings, it DOES make sense to do balljoints as well if they have not been replaced yet on your truck. If you can afford them, you cannot go wrong with the Carli balljoints as well as their other items. but that being said, a hub free spin kit is also a REALLY nice addition on these trucks and it is ALSO a good time to do it while everything is apart, but you'd better be sitting down when you write the check for ALL those parts....probably upwards of $4000 even if you do the work yourself.

 

[ranger 393]

I replaced mine wth the Carli ball joints ,trackbar, and steering stabillizer, I also replaced hubs with Timken and front ujoints, I figured I was going that far into it I might as well replace it all. If I thought my ujoint was my culprit I would look into driving somthing else until I could fix it.

Hey everyone,

I've suddenly got a severe shake felt in my steering wheel while making a right turn, and to a lesser extent a left turn. It is most prominent while making a turn at speed. Based on the searches I've made of our forum it sounds like I might have a u-joint that has, or is failing. Is this assumption correct?

I have scheduled an appointment with one of my local Dodge service centers on Monday. However, I need to make a 150 mile round trip tomorrow. Will it be safe to continue to drive with these symptoms or should I seek an alternative method of transport?

Also, if it is the u-joint, I assume it would be the one on the right axel, but would it be wise to have both sides replaced? And while they're there should I have both upper and lower ball joints replaced? Furthermore, I'm wondering if I should spring for the Carli front end upgrade kit that includes their upper and lower ball joints, track bar, and low mount steering stabilizer (link below)?

Carli front end upgrade kit.

Any and all all help, input and suggestions are most appreciated.

GCP

 

[GCP]

Thanks for the input. I've made other arrangements for today's trip. No point in risking further damage. I'll keep everyone updated on what the shop comes up with.

 

[Wayne M.]

My money is on a U joint. Both sides should be thoroughly checked, but I would also change the hub bearing if it's all original and high mileage.

 

[GCP]

My money is on a U joint. Both sides should be thoroughly checked, but I would also change the hub bearing if it's all original and high mileage.

Hopefully the dealership will do a through look see. The truck has 75K miles now, of which 5K are mine; I'm the second owner. Are the factory hubs and bearings quality parts worthy of the job or should I take look at aftermarkets like ranger suggested? I'm trying to keep my costs down.

Also, what do you guys think about taking this opportunity to upgrade to the T style steering?

Best,

GCP

 

[Wayne M.]

Unless you can go full boat premium aftermarket upgrade, I would stick with Mopar parts. The stock replacement, aka rock auto stuff, has been disappointing for us.

 

[GCP]

Update: The technician examined the u-joints and hub bearings and all looked well. Much to my skepticism, recommended doing the upgrade to the T-style steering. I now have a new track bar, tie rod, links, dampener and ball joints. They also performed an alignment. The original syptoms seemed to have vanished, for now.

GCP