death wobble

[molsenice]

folks I am new here but been around a Harley forum and a Jeep forum long enough that I am sure someone here will recognize the screen name and vouch for my character.

 

I need help with a 94 GMC 2500. It is my primary vehicle and being in upstate NY, i haver a plow on it as well. the plow is a minute mount so when not in use, it is not on the truck

 

well in the last couple a weeks, my driver side tire on occasion decides to bounce like a basket ball and the steering wheel is dang near yanked outta my hand. this is at less than 30 mph.

 

yes I have checked for ice on the wheel, I have jacked up the tire but there is nothing obvious. I do not think a lost wheel weight would cause this kind of vibration.

 

a couple a buddies have suggested ball joints

 

 

folks - it is really bad and I do not want the wheel coming off

[Shaners]

Check the front shock and make sure it is in good condition with no leaks etc... a

blown out shock will make your truck almost impossible to drive.

[Trouttrooper]

Check the front shock and make sure it is in good condition with no leaks etc... a

blown out shock will make your truck almost impossible to drive.

 

2nd that. I'd say your shock is bad, especially since you mention snow plow. That front end is getting a workout when you raise and lower the blade.

[molsenice]

will do - next up replace shocks - hey there cheap enough and otherwise, I'm looking at a shot gun aproach to the front end with upper an lower ball joints and tie rod ends.

[mhraracing]

Check the front shock and make sure it is in good condition with no leaks etc... a

blown out shock will make your truck almost impossible to drive.

 

2nd that. I'd say your shock is bad, especially since you mention snow plow. That front end is getting a workout when you raise and lower the blade.

 

 

I 3rd that....most likely your shocks.

[molsenice]

well I got time this evening to look at the truck and I can not for the life of me find anything wrong. the shock looks solid, no leaks and relatively new - paint is all there - no rust. the ball joints are solid - could not wobble a thing. the tie rods are questionable - but there is usually some play from past inspections and other than the truck pulling to the right i did not have any bounce tonight.

 

as mentioned however, this is sporadic - soooo Monday, i will drop it off at a mechanic I trust and get his opinion.

 

hate to give up so easily, I am just pressed for time and will not trust it till i have a second opinion, even if it cost me money = cheap insurance vs my life

[diehrd]

well I got time this evening to look at the truck and I can not for the life of me find anything wrong. the shock looks solid, no leaks and relatively new - paint is all there - no rust. the ball joints are solid - could not wobble a thing. the tie rods are questionable - but there is usually some play from past inspections and other than the truck pulling to the right i did not have any bounce tonight.

 

as mentioned however, this is sporadic - soooo Monday, i will drop it off at a mechanic I trust and get his opinion.

 

hate to give up so easily, I am just pressed for time and will not trust it till i have a second opinion, even if it cost me money = cheap insurance vs my life

 

 

Broken belt in tire . .

[axlenut]

I agree, bad tire. Had same pull to right problem, had alignment done, everything checked and still pulled. Bubble in tire from broken belt that leaked air into space inside tread. Replaced tire and everything stopped. Will get worse as tire warms. Had same problem with rear tire except bubble in side wall, caused vibration like bad axle bearing.

[MustGoFaster]

wow. DW in something other than a Jeep. I don't know if that applies to your situation, but with Jeeps DW is usually a result of lift/large tire combo's it's a harmonic amplification of forces present in the system all the time, especialy gets bad if you hit a small pothole about 30-50mph. feels like it's gonna yahk the wheel outta your hand. scary stuff.

 

If you get a chance, head over to Jeepsunlimited.com and search for a few of the posts about death wobble there. lotts o stuff about correcting it.

[molsenice]

well the problem has finally been found

 

I finally managed to borrow another vehicle so I could drop off the truck - to my buddy. it took maybe 5 min to get the truck in and he called me back, wondering how i ever kept the thing on the road - he said the pitman arm and idler ling were not only shot, they were darn near falling off

 

no clue - looks like around 500 to fix - there goes the tax rebate

[molsenice]

well the problem has finally been found

 

I finally managed to borrow another vehicle so I could drop off the truck - to my buddy. it took maybe 5 min to get the truck in and he called me back, wondering how i ever kept the thing on the road - he said the pitman arm and idler ling were not only shot, they were darn near falling off

 

no clue - looks like around 500 to fix - there goes the tax rebate

 

well the pitman arm replaced, Idler arm and the sway bar lings were replaced. 4 new tires and an alignment - now the truck can do 70 down the highway and it is smooth and straight as an arrow

 

I hope so - damages rang the register @ 590 for the mechanics, 640 for tires and another 90 for the alignment.

 

cheaper than buyin a new truck thou, it is just strange how the symptoms and severity came on so quickly

[Tad83k]

Bent rim is also apossibility, I'm with everyone else tho, check your steering and suspension for anything outside of the obvious