New user here. I have a 2004 Dodge 2500 diesel AT 4x4, 4.10 rear, plow & tow package, stock wheels & tires, 54k. This just started this evening when I exited the highway on my way home. I take a sharp turn at >10mph I get a major shimmy in the front end as if I had the 4wd engaged in dry pavement (i.e. driveline fight). But no tire scrubbing, just a noisy squeeking. I thought I had a flat or something, but no. Drove around the block for awhile trying to isolate the noise. Checked underneath, but everything looked OK (visually). The truck as never hit anything or been hit. I do occasionally tow heavy loads (not in 4wd) and some log skidding (flat terrain about 100' in 4wd low). Maintenance has been "by the book" schedule B.

Obviously, I'll be taking it to the shop next week, but I was wondering if anyone else has any idea what this might be or has experienced anything similar.

- Pete

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welcome to DF...

sounds like you got hit by a possible death wobble, judging from your pic, looks stock all the way, one thing I could suggest is to go get an alignment and have them add the maximum caster that they can put into it. The DW has plagued the front end setup that you have for years, the caster thing has proven to be one of the best fixes for it. urethane control arm bushings also help alot but are a bitch to install.

 

Isn't there also an aftermarket heavy duty draglink/control arm for these things to help?

 

there was for the 2nd gen trucks. one end of the tracbar had a ball joint on it, the new designs dont have it, it's a bushing on both ends. I havent heard of the DW happening on a sharp turn so it may not be the problem.

However, the caster adjustment fixes it 99% of the time (IMO). I've talked with 2nd gen owners who had lifted trucks, big tires, added the caster to their setup and never had the DW.

 

Nope, its not the wobble-of death. I am familier with that one and I hit sharp bumps on the highway tonight with NO problems at all.

 

sway bars all look good?

 

humm, could it be a bad ball joint? the shimmy sounds so much like the DW...

 

I'll jack it up tomorrow and check out things more throughly. Its just that this happened all of a sudden. Perfect one minute, then...

 

Well, good luck and welcome to the forum

 

well, hopefully you'll find something when you look at it... before you do, if you dont already have one, visit the top of the forum and look at the merry christmas thread... links you to the FSM for your truck... the file is big (200M) but worth it to download.