I have a 98' Dakota 3.9l w/95,000mi. When driving on the highway i notice that my front end/steering shakes. Recently it feels as if I don't have full power steering. I've taken it to the mechanic to be checked and of course they say they can't find anything wrong. I have replaced both ball joints about a year ago, had the sway bars & front shocks replaced, new tires put on, and had a front end alignment. I was hoping someone could give me some suggestions as to what the problem maybe? I really don't want to be driving on the highway at 70mph and lose steering or have a tire fall off.

 

Try jacking up L and R front tires one at a time a give them a good up/down, left/right wiggle. Things should feel firm with no play in the steering or suspension. If there is any play then something is probably worn or loose. Pitman or idler arms, tie rod ends, etc could be the problem. If everything seems tight up front you might want to flip the rear tires with the front. Sometimes a poorly balanced or out of round tire or bent wheel can cause wobbling. If the wobbling seems to be more pronounced at one speed then is less or goes away at different speeds, it could be the balance. Good luck.

 

Don't forget about the Control Arm Bushings... The LEFT/RIGHT shaking of the tires, while elevated, will tell you whether they need replacing... My bushings SQUEAK like nothing you've ever heard and one is almost totally shot... I have had a little shake in the steering wheel lately and my front left tire was starting to wear... Replaced the sway bar rods yesterday and I did the wiggle test. Saw one of my upper control arm move at one of the bushings... NOT GOOD!!! I have the replacement bushings and have been trying to find time to replace them all... I am finding time this weekend!! Mine is a '99 Club Cab w/the 318ci... Can't wait to have a quiet front end!!!

 

I second the tire swap if all checks good. An out of balance tire can give you the wobble.

 

ever use a fix a flat on your tires. those can trow the weight balance off, which will cause what u described

 

It could also be loose wheel bearings. While doing your wheel wiggling make sure to check there also for play.

 

Well I took the truck in for an oil change and had the mechanic look it over real good. When lubing up the ball joints he noticed that both of them moved on the inside. I had lifetime ball joints put on the last time they had to be replaced. Apparently they weren't so lifetime. The good thing is, they're still under warranty and all i have to pay for is labor. So that saves me some money. I just hope once their fixed, the problem truely goes away. If not I'll be searching for a new mechanic. Thanks again for all the helpful insights.

 

I would say that if the lifetime parts are from the mechanic that did the job the first time you might want to take a stab at getting them done for free. That or do em' yourself not too hard at all...