2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission What is Wrong with Truck

[REFLOYD]

Ok here it goes.



1) My truck shakes like h*ll :{ when i get on the brakes, sometimes. Other times it won't shake and just comes to a nice smooth stop. Oh and i checked the brakes and they look good. There is no play that i could find in any of the steering components. Except the trackbar. :{



2) When cruiseing at around 45MPH the TQ locksup and the truck starts a little vibration. Could this be the transmission going out or something else?



3) Iam only getting 14. 4 mpg in town and on base here. Is this normal or is there something wrong? Is there anything i cando about it?



That pretty much sums it up. Any help would be appreciated.



Oh would bad shocks cause any of these problems? I have cheap monroe shocks from autozone on the front and stock on the rear(which i think are the factory originals). :{

 

[DrewStory]

This has happened to me a few times before, more often than not it is either my brake rotors are warped or the rear driveline u-joint is bad. someone else may have better ideas but thats where i would start.

Drew

 

[wcjp]

A friends 99' had a similar "shake" issue. My heat temperature gun told us which wheel was not warming up from the brake friction. One of his caliper's wasn't working.

 

[Joe Mc]

Assuming the "shakes like hell" is coming form the front end and since the only thing you can find wrong is the trackbar I'd start with it. There are several options - do a search here for luks link - it's a kit which allows you to rebuild your "factory" bar, emphasis on factory as the aftermarket ones for some reason will not accept a luk link - at least thats' what I've learned here. I replaced my factory trackbar @ about 98k with a lifetime MOOG one and then again just recently at about 142k. Could be the stabilizer shock, too? Loose wheel bearings? I don't think the Monroes could be the source of a shaking in the front end unless they were both loose at the top and bottom. Sounds like what you are experiencing is the dreaded "Death Wobble". Do a search here for Death Wobble and read away.



If you are experiencing a drive train vibration try driving until it starts then put trans in neutral if it stops then that at least will help narrow it down to driveline not suspension - could be rear driveshaft carrier bearing, bad u-joint. Hope the above helps a bit. Best regards.

 

[REFLOYD]

This has happened to me a few times before, more often than not it is either my brake rotors are warped or the rear driveline u-joint is bad. someone else may have better ideas but thats where i would start.

Drew

ok i checked my u-joints and they are all fine.

A friends 99' had a similar "shake" issue. My heat temperature gun told us which wheel was not warming up from the brake friction. One of his caliper's wasn't working.

thanks i didn't think about will have to try that tomorrow if i can find one of those guns.

Assuming the "shakes like hell" is coming form the front end and since the only thing you can find wrong is the trackbar I'd start with it. There are several options - do a search here for luks link - it's a kit which allows you to rebuild your "factory" bar, emphasis on factory as the aftermarket ones for some reason will not accept a luk link - at least thats' what I've learned here. I replaced my factory trackbar @ about 98k with a lifetime MOOG one and then again just recently at about 142k. Could be the stabilizer shock, too? Loose wheel bearings? I don't think the Monroes could be the source of a shaking in the front end unless they were both loose at the top and bottom. Sounds like what you are experiencing is the dreaded "Death Wobble". Do a search here for Death Wobble and read away.



If you are experiencing a drive train vibration try driving until it starts then put trans in neutral if it stops then that at least will help narrow it down to driveline not suspension - could be rear driveshaft carrier bearing, bad u-joint. Hope the above helps a bit. Best regards.

Actually yes the shake is from the front end.

Oh and i just replaced the stabilizer shock with a Rancho5000.

And I thought Death Wobble happened all of the time not just when stopping.

 

[Joe Mc]

Oops - didn't realize the shake was only when stopping - my bust for not paying close attention to your post - sorry.

 

[REFLOYD]

no problem but it does have its case of slight death wobble at times. like when i hit a pothole or something.

 

[AWray]

My truck does the same random shake/vibration when stopping. I think it's related to the brake shoes I put in when I upgraded the rear brake cylinders to the larger GM style. I think this is where I screwed up. The OEM replacements were something like 3 times more expensive. Tried to save some$



I used Performance Friction pads up front at basically the same time. I'm still trying to find the cause and solve the problem. Good luck.

 

[REFLOYD]

i figure on mine it is something with the brakes but i cant figure out if it is the front or rear brakes. It is the front end that shakes but i had a guy tell me that the rear could cause it also.

 

[AWray]

When my truck acts up, the whole truck shakes. I do not feel much, if any, shaking in the steering wheel. Another reason I suspect the rear brakes on my truck is how they act when cold. They tend to squeak, not work initially but then hit hard. Once I've used the brakes a few times, they act fairly normal.