Archived Shimmey in low speed turn

[DMack]

I have 04. 5 2500 auto 4x4 w/44K. Over the course of a long road trip this past weekend the truck started shimmeying on turns under 30 MPH. It feels like when you have the truck in 4 wheel drive and make a tight turn on the pavement. Above 30 or in a srtaight line everything feels normal. No noise any speed and no vibration at except in the low speed turns?



I've been under the truck this morning looking at the u-joints in the front end and at the power steering fluid. Everything looks OK? I can't get the front tires to show any slope when trying to move them while grabing them at the top and bottom?



Where and what should I be looking for to trouble shoot this?



Dave

 

[DBraunig]

Dave,



Probably has one of the front axle u-joints seized. Raised the front of the truck, turn the wheels left like in a turn and then try to rotate the tire by hand, do the same on the right side, turning right.



If the joints are ok the front wheels will turn freely, if they are seized, the wheels will roll straight ahead, but will bind up when turning.



Dave

 

[DMack]

seized u joint

Dave,



You were right on. The left wheel is very difficult to turn while the right one turns freely. Both turn freely when pointed straight ahead. Can I expect the u joint to be the problem or is there something in the hub that I should be looking at?



I'm not familar with the way these axles work. I don't see a vacuum can? Are the hubs engaged all the time? All I see at the hubs are the brake line and ABS? Does the front drive line turn all the time and the shift on the fly takes place in the transfer case?



Thanks for your help,

Dave

 

[DBraunig]

Needs a left front u-joint. The driveline turns all the time, the shift is in the transfer case. The only real problem you'll have is getting the hub/bearing out in one piece. Lots of times the inner part of the hub will rust/seize up to the knuckle and it will pull itself apart when you disassemble it.



If your lucky enough for the hub/bearing to come out in one piece, clean it and the knuckle with a wire brush and put some anti-seize on it.



Dave