4x4 or alignment?

[6.slow]

Looking for some ideas. At about 48 mph, the truck seems to simmy like out of balance tires. It's the worst at 48, but ranges about 20 mph each way. I'm thinking it's the alignment. I just put new 285 Trxus on, and don't wanna chew 'em up. I know they are balanced as are my stockers. I'm pretty d**n sure it ain't the tires, I switched back and forth and rotated tires til my floor jack was red hot! I know the truck does take some "abuse" -(I call it work!) Bouncing though muddy jobsites and over those car-stopping things they call curbs... I use my 4-wheel drive on average 4-5 times a week, so I really concerned something isn't disengaging. Is there a way I can check it myself in my garage? I don't feel like waiting to see results on my new tires. Any help would be appreciated. 03 2500HD 285's on 16x8's stock everything.

 

I tried with the stock wheels and tires, but it's only worse. The steering wheel seemed to dance side to side. WTF? The 285's seem to soak up most of it. please help, I'm gonna go bald here.

[Shaners]

Shocks?

[Fishpilot]

Before you spend $50 on an alignment check the torque specs on everything from your lug nuts to the shock bolts, focus on steering and suspension up front and hopefully it will go away. This is free if you have a torque wrench and fixed my death wobble in my last vehicle. Hit all the bolts with penetrating oil to get a good reading with the wrench.

[mmmikkke]

Get yourself a magnet-mount dial indicator from ebay for $50 and then check your wheels (!) for out-of-round. You can "balance" an out of round wheel, but it still ain't round and it still shimmys.

 

Some aftermarket aluminum wheels are notorious for being out of round.

 

Also, is there an interference between the front wheel and the hub that's preventing it from seating?

 

The dial indicator will find this for you also.

[6.slow]

mmmikkke, goos advise, but I get even worse shimmy with my factory wheels. ??? Been switching wheels and rotating them repeatedly all weekend, so I can say there ain't nothing between the wheel and hub.

 

Shaners, could my shocks just go like that? Drove fine two weeks ago.

 

fishpilot, think I give that a shot. I'm all about a free/cheap fix!... What is this "death wobble" you speak of?

[1911HD]

Jesse, when you are on the highway, does your truck hold the road in a straight line or wander like an old Furd?

[mmmikkke]

Could be worn front suspension components, like maybe an idler arm or tie-rod end. Get a trusted helper to sit inside the truck and wiggle the steering while you lay under the truck cupping each joint in your hand. You'll be able to feel any joint that's sloppy. Also watch for visible loose parts. Maybe something's coming unbolted... Get yourself one of those led head lamps (walmart, in the hunting section, for $10 or so); they're really great for working in tight spaces where you don't have a third arm to hold your flashlight. You aim the light by moving your head.

 

Probably don't need to check ball joints. They're not likely to wobble your steering. They can cup or wear your tires, but that's not your acute symptom.

[Fishpilot]

The death wobble was on a Jeep and was very pronounced on such a short wheelbase. Many people lift Jeeps themselves and forget to check torques on things like tie rod ends, upper and lower shock mounts, and track bars. The dealer should have all the appropriate torque specs fro you. Even if it doesn't help you get to work on your truck for free.

[Trouttrooper]

Sounds like something similar that happened to me on a '95 chevy once. I had it in 4hi driving through some deep sloppy snow. Got back to the highway, put it in 2hi, and started down the road. I couldn't go much faster than about 20 mph because there was one hell of a shake through the steering wheel.

 

Thought it was snow packed on the inside of the rims making the tires out of balance but that wasn't the case. After about 5 minutes of putting it in and out of 4 wheel drive, backing up and going forward, I heard a clunk sound from the front end. No shake down the highway after that.

 

My only guess is that something in the front end didn't completly disengage (frozen?). Maybe something like that is happening on a more permanent basis with yours???

[BigBlockHead]

I use my 4-wheel drive on average 4-5 times a week, so I really concerned something isn't disengaging.

 

Try locking it in and see if the shimmy goes away. If something is not completely disengaging, the problem should go away with 4wd engaged. Might give you some idea if you should be looking at wheels/tires or the 4wd system.

[6.slow]

Jesse, when you are on the highway, does your truck hold the road in a straight line or wander like an old Furd?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

1911HD: Thanks. She rides straight. Believe me, if it drove like an old furd, I wouldn't be able to feel anything. Does a broke-down "lawn ornament" shake when it's holding down your lawn?

 

GMC2500sle: Thanks. I know the feeling of caked up wheels and have come into habit of checking before I leave the jobsite. Know it ain't that. Couldn't be anything frozen, my garage don't get under ~50*, thaws both trucks overnight! It's a beautiful thing.

 

BigBlockHead: Thanks. Gonna try that now.

 

Still can't believe how helpful everyone on this site is! You people kick a$$! If any of you's come 'round my parts, I've got some beers with your names on 'em.

[6.slow]

I use my 4-wheel drive on average 4-5 times a week, so I really concerned something isn't disengaging. 

 

Try locking it in and see if the shimmy goes away.  If something is not completely disengaging, the problem should go away with 4wd engaged.  Might give you some idea if you should be looking at wheels/tires or the 4wd system.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Well, I got done trying that. No luck. I tried 4-hi to 4-lo and back to 2-hi. Even put the push button transfer case in neutral a few hundred times. Tried some launches in 4-hi and 2-hi. (ain't ballsy enough to launch in 4-lo) Made sure everything was used and abused. It all works the same, and the vibration is still there in 4-hi. 4-lo won't go fast enough I've ruled out the possibility of alignment problems. I've talked with to real live mechanics, and we think it's gonna be just a simple tie rod end. Guess I'm just a little nancy when it comes to this stuff. Like I've said before, I don't know sh1t about IFS. Probably too worried, but this truck does cost quite a bit.... I'm gonna take it to my buddy's dealership (for free!) tommorow after work and see for real. Thanks for your advise and suggestion, not to metion your time and patience-(everybody!)

[6.slow]

Well, I done found the problem. Turns out two things are wrong.

1. My factory tires were balanced for sh1t. (I only drove them for about 30 miles before putting on the MT's, so I never noticed.)

2. I got a bad tire from 4 Wheel Parts. d**n thing was an egg. Shop checked everything in the front end of the truck and rear too. Pulled driveshaft and checked all u-joints.... Had to put the truck in 4-hi on the lift and run it to see the problem.

 

Called 4 wheel parts and before I could get done telling my problem, the guy was connecting my to someone to get me a new tire! Excellent customer service, so far. Still under warrenty. Free. I like that, but I'm still out the time and the hair I pulled out looking for the shaking.

 

Has anyone else had this type of problem before? Is this gonna be a pain in the a$$ to get a new tire? What do I need to watch for? Do they just come out of round after some miles are put on?

 

I was so sure about the tires. Well, at least it was balanced!!!

 

Thanks for all you guy's help.

[mmmikkke]

Glad it worked out.

 

A story like yours is what led me to buy my own dial indicator.

 

Sometimes you need some hard evidence to get the store that sold you the tires to do anything other than rebalance, and rebalance, and charge your for shocks, and an alignment, and whatever else. The dial indicator gives you the evidence.

[6.slow]

If that wasn't the end of it, I took my factory tires to get rebalanced last night by a buddy. And turns out I got a bad tire on that set too! Two sets with tires out-of--round!!! WTF? Does burning up your tires cause them to get out of round, or do the tire manufacturers just hate me? The "factory" tires I speak of are the factory tires from the wife's 98 1/2 ton. I know, I know, they ain't up to the wieght ratings of my 2500HD, but it was either that or drive around on just the wheels! Besides it was just until my new tires came in. Now I just use them as a backup option minus the towing options.

 

I've heard that putting tires from one vehicle to another isn't the best idea, and the tires will wear to the first vehicle. Thus causing the second vehicle to ride like sh1t. I do have a little experience in the tire industry, (but I know my limits), so can anyone tell me, is this crap? I don't believe it at all. Again, thanks for you help.