Front end
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Front end
when im going down the highway i hit a bump my truck starts to shake bad but as soon as i turn the wheel it stops, any ideas on whats cause this, the steering wheel does have play in it, dont know if that helps or not. any help would be appreciated thanks
Captain
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: SE Tx
Sounds like a case of the "death wobble"... Which can be caused by any number of front end components.. First thing to check is the track bar, thats what caused my death wobble ordeal.
With the truck running, in park with the wheels chocked (safety first), get under the front end. Have someone else slowly turn the wheels back and forth to full-lock. Look for any parts that have noticeable "slop" whilst turning. Pay particular attention to the track bar.
If it turns out that the track bar isn't the culprit, it's time to check your ball-joints... Raise the truck and support on jack stands. take the tire on either side and try to wiggle it in and out (push the top with one hand, pull the bottom with the other) and up and down (self explanatory). Its best to try to pry it up with a pry bar/long pipe/whatever you have lying around. Any considerable movement? Your BJ's are bad.
EDITED to add: also check the steering stabilizer (the shock looking thing on the long tie rod). Is it bent? then its bad. If it looks intact, remove it and push the arm in and out. Pressure required should be constant with no "dead spots"... also, it should require a fair amount of *** to push it in. If you can do it with your pinky finger, it needs to be replaced.
With the truck running, in park with the wheels chocked (safety first), get under the front end. Have someone else slowly turn the wheels back and forth to full-lock. Look for any parts that have noticeable "slop" whilst turning. Pay particular attention to the track bar.
If it turns out that the track bar isn't the culprit, it's time to check your ball-joints... Raise the truck and support on jack stands. take the tire on either side and try to wiggle it in and out (push the top with one hand, pull the bottom with the other) and up and down (self explanatory). Its best to try to pry it up with a pry bar/long pipe/whatever you have lying around. Any considerable movement? Your BJ's are bad.
EDITED to add: also check the steering stabilizer (the shock looking thing on the long tie rod). Is it bent? then its bad. If it looks intact, remove it and push the arm in and out. Pressure required should be constant with no "dead spots"... also, it should require a fair amount of *** to push it in. If you can do it with your pinky finger, it needs to be replaced.
Last edited by Mad_Scientist; Apr 30, 2011 at 01:10 AM.
