Vibration In Steering Wheel And Throughout Truck

[kjonjetmech]

I have a 1998 Chevy K1500 extended cab. This problem is getting worse, but after I hit a pot hole or hit a patch of uneven pavement I get this horrible vibration in the steering wheel and throughout the truck! All lugs on the tires are tight. Any ideas or something i need to check?

[hubbycap]

More info please. Is the vibration low (40mph) or high speed (70)? Do you feel it is more pronounced in the steering wheel?

 

I rethought this, EACH time you hit a pothole or uneven patch of pavement. Could be the tie rod ends.

[dlstewart01]

Shocks?????

[kpruitt]

balljoints?

[jrod332]

pitman arm??? Idler arm???

[Spurshot]

I'm thinking steering linkage and the non-rack & pinion trucks tend to wearout that idler arm pivot which allows a lot of steering play. I don't know if you have a rack & pinion steering in that model or not, but if not, the idler arm pivot is a good place to start. A good frontend shop will I.D. the problem quickly. Take it in for an estimate/inspection.

[pm26]

If the steering components are badly worn, you will have vibration beginning at very low speeds - like 20 MPH and up. Badly worn out shocks may cause wheel hopping, which is perceived too as vibration.

[pm26]

If the steering components are badly worn, you will have vibration beginning at very low speeds - like 20 MPH and up. Badly worn out shocks may cause wheel hopping, which is perceived too as vibration, but it usually will occur at higher speeds (45 MPH and up).

 

You can also have a broken steel belt in one or more tires. This will surely cause a very annoying vibration at all speeds. Jack up the truck and rotate each wheel by hand and watch the tire thread. If you have a broken belt, you will see waviness in the tire as it spins.

 

And of course, poorly balanced wheels will cause vibration too.

[GPSilverado]

I have a 1998 Chevy K1500 extended cab. This problem is getting worse, but after I hit a pot hole or hit a patch of uneven pavement I get this horrible vibration in the steering wheel and throughout the truck! All lugs on the tires are tight. Any ideas or something i need to check?

 

 

That sounds a lot like what happens in the not so Super-Duty Ford when the kingpins wear out. I would definitely look at the front suspension completely. Ball Joints, Control arm bushings, tie-rod ends etc. Also, if you have a steering dampener on it, it could be going bad as well.

[Spurshot]

There have been some good leads to check here. But, the fact that you had to ask leads me to think you should have a reputable frontend shop inspect it. As you can see, there are a number of possibilities and they usually are in combination with each other. You may find that many components in the front suspension and steering are worn out. With very high mileage, this is often true. You may need bushings, balljoints, tierod ends (inner/outer), pitman arm, idler, shocks, a steering box adjustment, etc., all at the same time. My 99 got all the above at once. I did most of it myself, except the pitman and idler.

[KMGZ400]

balljoints, my old truck did the same thing before i replaced them

[kjonjetmech]

There have been some good leads to check here. But, the fact that you had to ask leads me to think you should have a reputable frontend shop inspect it. As you can see, there are a number of possibilities and they usually are in combination with each other. You may find that many components in the front suspension and steering are worn out. With very high mileage, this is often true. You may need bushings, balljoints, tierod ends (inner/outer), pitman arm, idler, shocks, a steering box adjustment, etc., all at the same time. My 99 got all the above at once. I did most of it myself, except the pitman and idler.

 

A "front end shop" quoted me 3217.07 on the job! that is replacing Upper and lower ball joints, idler and pitman arm, steering box, upper control arm, and the two wheel alignment and changing out my rotors with no turns on them an dbrake pads in the front! I'm taking this truck overseas in June and need to make sure it's good for at least three years. Had another "mechanic" look at it and he said my tie rods, center, inner and outer, need to be replaced, but to last 5 more years especially in europe I should replace the whole thing! He told me to google front end suspension kits but cant find a stock kit for the truck! In the military, need help! I know F16's but not vehicles!

[kjonjetmech]

More info please. Is the vibration low (40mph) or high speed (70)? Do you feel it is more pronounced in the steering wheel?

 

I rethought this, EACH time you hit a pothole or uneven patch of pavement. Could be the tie rod ends.

 

it's at low and high speeds. it's a violate vibration back and forth, side to side. hit a pot hole or a rough patch! I need this truck to last me 5 years in Italy!