2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission violent shaking from front left wheel

[Hootguy]

I cant seem to fix a problem i have with violent shaking of the left front wheel at about 35 mph,,,and only at that speed,,,past that or below that speed all is fine. .

It is like the dreaded death wobble we usually get at speeds.

I replaced the trackbar as usual. .

Checked the left shock and found a loose steel sleeve in my rancho 9000,,machined a new sleeve that fits tight on the new bolt,,,

Then i repalced the sway bar bushings and ends... .

Swapped wheels from side to side

Then tried my steel original wheel insted of my aluminum wheel.

Checked to make sure the steering box was tight.

I jacked up the truck slightly and checked the ball joints for looseness with a pry bar under the tire and felt no movement at all,,so i assume they are good... .

Unless that is not a good way of checking the ball joints???

After all that it still is undrivable,,,i mean it does it all the time no matter what,

And when it does start,,i cant stop it unless i almost stop the truck.

I did notice some play in the opposite side (right) tie rod end at the steering nuckle. .

Could this be it???

I dont know what to check anymore,,,,maybe a Duramax,,i dont think i want to go down a level

Thanks

 

[Extreme1]

I'm thinking that the clearance in the tie rod could be one source. On my '94, the right rod end is part of the draglink that goes from the box across to the pass side. A Luke's Link will fix it, the whole rod is expensive.



Try swapping the front and rear tires, you usually can't be sure which side the vibration is coming from unless you can watch it happen and even then they can vibrate together.

 

[Hootguy]

I didn't know there was a Lukes link for the tie rods too.

Where do we get them and how much are they??

I may get a track bar one too.

My truck is a dually with custom chrome wheels,,they dont swap front to rear,,i have to swap the tires if i want to do that,,

Is it posible its the other side wheel that could be starting the problem?

Thanks for the help...

I can sure use it,,,i'm tempted just to go buy a new Duramax instead...

 

[Sticks]

I would still take them to a shop and have them move the rubber, or at the very least, re-balance them if you can't just swap them around.

 

[Joe Mc]

Anything but that!

I hate to comment without something positive to add to the link. However, I think hooter 69 "thinks" he wants a maxi pad. The situation is solvable it's just a matter of time . . . one thing we can't stop or never seems to be enough of . . anyway, if you feel it's time to go to another truck it might be time to switch up (instead of down to a non-Cummins as you mentioned) may I suggest trying the new Dodge/Cummins combo before you go down hill . . . . that is of course if you are willing to give up trying to cure the present problem.



Hang in there 69 - it get's frustrating but, eventually you'll get it - keep plugging away, hang in there-man!

 

[Hootguy]

Hey guys

Thanks for the replis.

I am most definitely interested in fixing the problem. .

But there is just no competent dealersships or repair shops around me,,. . all they do is throw parts at it. .

hell,,i can do that myself. .

I just would like some advice from people on this board that know the problems.

I'm going to change a loose tie rod end on the right side. . might help??

I hope to keep getting suggestions,,,i am at my wits end here.

Thanks all

 

[barbwire]

Hooter69, of all the fixes that you mentioned you did not say anything about balancing the tires, or checking for bent wheels.

I had the same situation once, it shook so hard at a certain speed, that I thought that the front end was going to vacate the truck. Wanting to start with the cheapest fix first and work my way up to the more expensive until the problem was fixed, I balanced the tires. That cured it . As unbelievable as it seemed to me.

Of course getting into a Duramax is probably just as cheap a fix:

 

[RobbieH]

Have you checked your alignment? If you are towed in too far you can get the dreaded DW. It's easy to check with a tape measure and a buddy.

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

Guys, I don't think 69 wants to get in a chevy, he is just frustrated in the problem at hand as the fix isn't there yet.

I at one time had a bad shake too but come to find out, the lug nuts were loose. Easy fix after 6 studs ere ground down... .

I too, would also either get them balanced as maybe a weight fell off and your doing all this for nothing... ... . S*#t Happens... .....

Don

 

[Hootguy]

Well. . i'm gonna take your advice and get the wheels balanced again.

I did swap out my spare for the right front whre the hoping occurs. .

I'll get it done tommorow,,,,swap out the rear tires for the fronts,,

My fronts always wear weird and cup up badly anyways.

The truck was alingned again about 2 months ago,,,but who knows how good the alignement guy is??

Hope to keep getting suggestions,,,,i'm trying everything you guys are recommending. .

I dont care what i have to replace,,i just want to know what to replace,,,

Thanks again

 

[CstlEng]

If you think you have a bad ball joint end, no matter what side it is on, no matter if it is on the tie rod or on the drag link, you should fix that and move on to the next thing. Lukes should fit all 3, no?



While that may be an ultimate cause, I am not certain that is the immediate problem with the hopping. The ball joint should make steering sloppy, or make things pull. This would then lead to accelerated tire wear, and then out of balance and the related hopping. On the right track with checking tire balance/ bent wheel. Then check all the other urethane bushings down there and wheel bearings on both sides. Then new shocks, cause the ones you have on right now have been getting killed.

 

[Extreme1]

Originally posted by CstlEng

Lukes should fit all 3, no?

Yup!



Hang in there, this shouldn't be too bad.

 

[astevenson]

If the tie rod was loose 2 months ago when it was alligned then that allignment could have changed as soon as the truck was moved. I would deffinatly get any loose parts replaced and then get it realigned. You might also check your tires you may have a broken cord in the tred which would cause a small bulge and would deffinatly cause vibrations and if thay are wearing unevenly then that could cause problems as also. aince you have coustom wheel you may have a tire shop rotate the front tires onto the back wheels. Hope you find your problem.

 

[Hootguy]

Well. . i got the tires rotated and balanced today. .

it seems to be better. .

It still does want to start shacking at 35 mph still,,but no as bad it seems,,

I'll test it out further tonight. .

I did notice that i have some up and down play in both tie rod ends... more on the passenger side.

Should i go with Lukes link,,or Linstadt link??

Anything else i should be looking at?

Thanks again

 

[Russknh]

I was wondering does this shaking move the steering wheel back and forth from side to side or does the entire vehicle shake up and down?

 

[KB0OU]

front end wobble

I have not seen if you have all wheel drive or not.

I would deffinately replace any loose tie rod ends.

Check wheel bearings, I had to replace mine at 250,000 miles.

Do not buy at Dodge, you can get them about 1/2 price at parts houses, mine is 4x4, sealed bearings.

Wheel bearings can cause odd wear on tires and lots of other bad things!!!

 

[Hootguy]

Mine is a 96 3500 4X4

Does have about 200,000 miles

No odd noise from the wheels. . like a bad hub and bearing.

Where do you buy your hub and bearing assembly??

And how much are they?

I will change both tie rod ends at the steering nuckles... they are cheapfrom my contact at Dodge,,125. 00 for both the long one and the short one. .

Thanks

 

[KB0OU]

front end wobble

When I bought my front wheel bearings Autozone had one and Napa had one, I got both at the Autozone price which was cheaper than the Napa price, a little over $200. 00 each, they wanted over 2 times that at Dodge Stealership.

Same bearing, made by the same company.



PS

Mine did not make a lot of noise or anything, just noticed my tires were wearing funny, started looking and found a little too much play in the bearings. One was completely dry, no grease inside, and about to come apart.

 

[rkressg]

Do you have a partally frozen u-joint. I did not see if you were a 4x4 or not.