Need help with truck front end ideas

JOCCO · May 17, 2015

I have a truck 4whd 1 ton (older straight front end) If it hits a bump in the road it violently shakes the steering wheel and truck. We have been over the front end and cant find bad tie rod and such. A drag link was replaced. I have a new steering shaft and coupling coming and hope that gets it!!! Any other ideas or outside the box thinking thanks for any suggestions.

Goose · May 17, 2015

Have you checked the alignment?

rustyfarmall · May 17, 2015

Leaf springs or coils? I would inspect the spring mounts, both where the springs mount to the axle and where the springs are fastened to the frame.

robgIN · May 17, 2015

Death wobble is usually caused by either a bad steering stabilizer , if equipped or play in the track bar that goes from the frame to the front axle . Have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth and watch for any movement at either end of the track bar, it only take a little bit . The steering stabilizer is basically a shock absorber just take one end off and make sure it has resistance both directions, if its leaking or you can easily move it back and forth its bad .

stonerock · May 17, 2015

stabilizer

JOCCO · May 17, 2015

This truck does not have a stabilizer (one of those shock absorber types) might have to add one.

Wheatfarmer · May 17, 2015

don't know about your mode, but check and see if there is or should be a small wedge plate between the leaf spring and the axle.

Dieselbreath · May 17, 2015

I had the same problem on my truck. After checking it all out I found a bulging tire. After replacing the tire everything is OK. You might swap tires front to back to check it out.
Dan

Allan in NE · May 17, 2015

We had to install steering stabilizers on the Ford trucks back I the day to combat just what you are talking about.

Allan

Oregon Tractor Jack · May 17, 2015

You should also check your king pins. I had an old 3/4 Ford that would do that. One king pin was loose in the axle, we had to install an oversized pin in the on the one side.

jeffcat · May 17, 2015

I was going to say the toe in just a little. You want to see a front end go crazy try it with an old VW. You can end up it the ditch! Check stabilizer too.

Grampy · May 17, 2015

I had an odd one once, it was a sticky brake caliper piston. Never heard of that - or saw it before or since. I had replaced the drag link, replaced the steering damper cyl., checked everything. I was in the process of checking the ball joints when I looked at the right brake pads - worn bad, left side OK. Rebuilt the caliper, & installed new pads. No more death wobble !! Brakes should have been pulling to the right but they didn't.

Bob · May 17, 2015

If no shock absorber "steering stablizer" from the factory, install an aftermarket unit.

gab · May 17, 2015

A dry needle bearing that supports the short outer front axles will set up a vibration like an instant wash board or rumble strip. Seems like 70s- 80s GM trucks, don't remember being on 1 tons though.

Duner Wi · May 17, 2015

Try a smidge more "toe in".

RusselAZ · May 17, 2015

Helps to know what make of truck/pickup. If it is a Dodge it likely needs a trac bar. This bar keeps the axle from moving side to side and as the drag link also goes across the truck a bad bar will set up the "death wobble".

There also is a kit made to go on the bottom of the sector shaft using a bearing to keep the gear box from twisting the frame correcting the same fault result.

Sprint 6 · May 17, 2015

Double check the ball joints. Pull in out as well as up and down. Any movement is unacceptable on a straight axle truck.

504 · May 17, 2015

If it is a Dodge check the coupler just ahead of the steering box,they wear out and are available from the dealer. One more problem that Dodge had was the frame will crack behind the steering box.

IowaJohn · May 18, 2015

I've got that on a '99 grand Cherokee. Started to town with it got a couple miles turned back and when I got home the right front brake was smokin'

Pair-a-dice farm · May 18, 2015

(quoted from post at 09:54:59 05/17/15) I have a truck 4whd 1 ton (older straight front end) If it hits a bump in the road it violently shakes the steering wheel and truck. We have been over the front end and cant find bad tie rod and such. A drag link was replaced. I have a new steering shaft and coupling coming and hope that gets it!!! Any other ideas or outside the box thinking thanks for any suggestions.

Just another idea...radius arm bushings, if it has them. I had that happen on an F150 but I don't know if any other models are set up the same.

Need help with truck front end ideas

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