How's it going fellas,
I bought an 89 D150 318 auto in early March and I have a couple of problems with it, all and any help is appreciated.

1. While driving and as I hit 45mph it starts to shake pretty bad once it gets to like say 47-48 it goes away but I think I can still feel it a little but nothing as violent. This is really bad say doing 45 and over nice RR tracks or a little bump or pothole and I mean little, sometimes don't even need the help to get it shaking.

2. When I'm on the highway(every day to and from work) if I try to keep a steady speed it jerks (bucks) it'll do it with the cruise on also. If I continue to give it any gas (speed up) the jerking is not there.

3. Has anyone used coil spring spacers to level the front of these trucks? Mine needs anywhere from two to three inches to be leveled. I was looking at the 1" aluminum spacers which allegedly give you 2 1/4 - 3" lift and new coil springs.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

Crawl up under the front of the truck and grab hold of the different tie rods and give them a good shake and see if any of the tie rod joints are worn. Jack up one front wheel at a time and grab the top and bottom of the tire and push the top while pulling the bottom and vis-versa to check the ball joints. While it is jacked up put a lever/bar under the tire and lever it up while you watch the ball joints for movement. When was the last time the tires were balanced?

 

Thanks for replying SEAL, I have done the first part and tugged on the rods, idler and pitman arms and it all seems pretty solid. I have to go home and jack it up and check the ball joints tonight. As far as the wheels/tires I have not done anything to them and who knows when they where last worked on. I was trying to hold off on spending any $ on that until I bought new tires and have them balanced then since they do that with a new purchase. I went and checked the codes and I think it came back with 12 52 55, hadn't started it since like 0730 if that makes any difference as far as codes. I think 52 is running rich, if so how do I correct it?
Thanks again.

 

I assume we are dealing with a TBI. Look down inside the throttle body while it is running and check the injector spray patterns. You should see a fine solid cone with no gaps or streams at the base of each injector. The cones should reach to the sides of the throttle body.

We are talking about feeling a vibration in the steering wheel. Right? While it is jacked up look at the tires for a possible cord separation or bulge/bubble.

 

Yes it's TB and I checked the tires last night and the upper ball joint on the driver's side has some play in it so they're getting replaced hopefully that takes care of that deal. I'll be checking those injectors over the weekend. Thanks Seal

 

Well I replaced the upper ball joints and that took care of the shaky shake!

I installed the coil spring spacers and it leveled the truck really nice! They gave me the lift I needed to make it look just right IMO

I put a can of Seafoam in the tank and ran it a couple of tanks ago and the hesitation/sputter/jerking got a little better. Now it doesn't happen all the time, thinking about buying another can, see if that clears all that mess up. The " fine cone" was not present in my TB I did see some mist hitting the "flappers" (don't know the name) getting a mist but nothing fine and cone looking was being sprayed.

 

Any pics of the spacers that you used?

 

Here are some I found online the part number is 1906 they are 1" thick and give you a 2 1/2 - 3" lift. I replaced shocks and springs when I installed these just to get it all done at once.

 

I had a remote start installed on my truck and it works like a champ. Going to come in handy with these upcoming ice storms and in the summer heat, at first I wasn't sure if it would work and I am very happy with it.

 

I installed some headers on the truck and ran dual out it sounds great! There is only one issue I am getting like a power surge it idles up and down while I go to take off and while it shifts through the gears. Does fine on the highway. Can my O2 sensor cause this symptom? Question for those of you with more experience than a rookie like myself on these trucks. I also disconnected a little hose that comes out of the firewall on the passenger side no idea where it goes maybe that is causing a vaccum leak? The hose itself has no suction nor does it blow but the port where it should br plugged into may. There are two plastic hoses coming out of there one gray looking and the black one I accidently disconnecte during the passenger side header install. Thanks for your help.