I havent been driving my truck lately due to the plenum needing to be done but, I drove it yesterday just for shiggles and gits and when I go around a turn, the steering wheel jerks and does a sawing motion, I guess you can call it, on its own. Ive been under the truck to look at the front end and my track bar has no play in it. YET. Thank god. My friend who is more mechanically savy than I am looked at my front end as well and said I need new outer tie rod ends, pitman arm, and steering stabalizer. But my mind has been on the steering box for this steering problem. Could that jerking motion be from my box ready to fail or has it already? Ive done my seacrching and came up with nothing unless Ive been searching for it wrong. The tie rods have no more play in them when they did when I bought the truck andI had no problem then. So in a nut shell, could the steering box be the cause of my woes?

 

Also Ive been reading that the pitman arm doesnt really go bad unless its visibly cracked or something like that. So should I even replace that?

 

You might try checking the ball joints, and the wheel bearings.

 

ball joints are fine and the bearings are ok.

 

Death wobble can be generated from many sources. Just look at the steering components and how many moving parts. You'll have to do a process of elimination, hence the question about the ball joints and unit bearing.

How did you check them such that we somewhat are in agreement with you.


When was the last time the wheels were balanced?

Have you tried swapping wheels front to back and seeing if any change?

No on the pitman arm contributing.


Could it be the steering box, yes and no. There are other things to go through before looking at that. If it were the case, then it'd be like the steering box has loose bolts and it's jostling around.

Are you willing/able to take pictures and show them here? Useful shots of straight on (wheels straight) and of all the relevant joints.

Death wobble is dynamic response. If you have original tie rod ends, then those will be higher likely contributor AFTER making sure wheels are balanced and alignment.

 

Tight turn? open turn? At speed or slow? I reads like you are in 4wd on pavement.

 

I'm assuming you checked track bar and steering components with a helper inside truck turning steering wheel? Unlock steering wheel with engine off and have someone turn wheel back and fourth 4 to 5" or so fairly fast and watch track bar at both ends. Any movement of track bar at ALL means it needs replacing.

Also does it stop once you straighten out or slow down? Or does in continue?

 

Whi1t3Nukle, I jacked up the front end and pushed and pulled the wheel like you're supposed to. There is no play up and down. Just the little bit side to side. I know i need new tie rods but they're been that way since I got the truck and am having this problem now. The wheels were balanced when the P.O. got the new tires so i think it was October but no record to be sure.

merc, it happens around a turn at any speed and any radius. And i know im not in 4wd because i checked the front drive shaft and its not locked into the t-case (spins freely with hand).

CoonA$$(love the name haha), I have yet to check with another person. That was supposed to be last nights goal but my work said otherwise. So Ill try and get that done tonight. I dont get any sort of wobble when going straight. Just turning.

 

To me this does not read as the death wobble. You could have a front axle u joint binding so tight/bad that it is affecting your steering. I would pull the front axles and check the u joints.

 

This is death wobble: