Hey all, I just bought a 97 Caravan, and she has some issues I was hoping someone had some experience with, or at least could point me in the right direction. Yes I've done alot of searching and my suspected answers below are the sum of that and my own knowledge (which is limited with Dodge, but plenty with GM and Ford).

At low speeds, the steering wheel will shake back and forth pretty hard up until about 30, then the shake goes away completely.

When you turn (either direction) you get a clunk in the front suspension. I suspect this is sway bar bushings.

When you turn harder/faster, there is a loud creaking noise.

Engine has a minor squeeling (not belt tho) noise from the pass side. Prob one of the pumps or a pully?

PO recently has new axles installed, and put new brakes in the front.

Leaks a bit of oil.

Runs awesome tho, and has a nearly mint body. I want to get it on the road cheap. I'm hoping to not have to replace parts until it goes away.

Any help is awesome and appreciated!

Thanks
Andrew

 

If you haven't yet you could try rotating the tires from front to back and see if that makes any difference on the shimmy. Sway bar bushings are infamous for creating cluncks. I would put it up on a lift or jacks stands and have a look to attempt to verify where the noises are coming from.

 

Was planning on jacking her up when I get it and running it, will try the tire rotation tho!

I'll report back with anything I find, I don't get it til the weekend sometime tho.

Thanks again
Andrew

 

Tech who did the safety is a Dodge guy, he rotated the tires and it got rid of the vibration, and says the clunk is def sway bar bushings. Got her on the road for 701 dollars! Winner!

Thanks guys