Shimmying bad

[BBean]

I have a question that I hope someone out there can answer for me.

I was driving at highway speed, and hit a small patch of rough road. The truck almost jerked the steering wheel out of my hands. It went into a dance about 10 times worse than when you loose a wheel weight or the wheel is out of balance. I took it in aand they replaced the ball joints and track bar, and aligned the front end.



It did it again after about 60 miles on the highway, I took it back and they can't find anything that might have caused the problem. Any help would be appreciated. Bob

 

[EMDDIESEL]

Could be the center link or pittman arm too. You would think they would have caught that though after replacing the other stuff and doing an alignment. Something could have come loose too. Be careful untill you find a cause.

 

[BBean]

Shimmying

Thanks and I will make sure that they checked both of those. I am more than a little leery about driving at highway speeds again, until I am sure it is fixed.

 

[illflem]

Your steering stabilizer could also be shot. The stock stabilizers are junk.

 

[BBean]

Shimmying

Thanks again guys, will check these things out.

Bob

 

[WyoJim]

Geez illflem... I have 76000 miles on my junk stabilizer and it don't seem in need of replacement yet.

 

[Champane Flight]

Had one

Had a truck that did this to me once and they found a broken crossmember... ... ... ...

 

[NVR FNSH]

You can do a search on 'death wobble' and find more info than you'll ever want to read... .



What did they set the caster at? If you do a search my user name you'll find my saga with a '96 gasser.



Brian

 

[BBean]

Death wobble

Thanks Brian, I have changed out just about everything now from track bar to shocks, new ball joints, and steering stabilizer. Tommorrow I am getting four new tires. If that doesn't do it I might have to go out and buy an '03.



Just reading about the death wobble makes me feel better, as it really scared the crap out of me. I thought that I was the only one this ever happened to.



I'll let you know in a bit, but I think tires should slove the problem.

Bob

 

[NVR FNSH]

Increasing the caster on my '96 was what solved the problem. After changing all the other parts under warranty. If the tires aren't worn out I'd do the caster first.



Brian