Truck shimmy's when turning

[imaprobowler]

I believe this is a suspension issue, so this is where I'm posting. Whenever I turn (usually to the right), the truck does this odd rocking where it's almost like as if I'm turning steady and all the sudden the truck rocks back and forth moving me back and forth, yet I'm holding the wheel steady. It's never done this before... it's very new. I haven't wheeled it or done anything dumb, I'd say if I did. I thought maybe my tire pressure was low, they were a little so I aired them up, still doing it, to the same degree it didn't get better, nor worse. I'm puzzled... It survived a 1550 mile drive from NY to KS with no problems at all, even though the clutch is still being stupid... nothing major. I don't get it.

[Cutlass327]

Is it 4wd? If so, may be a front axle u-joint freezing up.

Otherwise, I'd have to recommend jacking it up and giving it a good shakedown. Check bearing play, give the wheels a spin looking for a bad tire (broken belt, etc), an oil or grease patch on the tread allowing it to slide a little as that patch contacted the ground, or even loose ball joints, control arm bushings, etc..

[imaprobowler]

no it is a 2wd truck... However whenever I go up bumps or tall driveways, it does make a slight metal knock sound, not like ear jarring, but definitely abnormal... maybe my ball joints are going. These tires are 31" Firestone A/T's I think if a bad one was present something would have popped up. They only have roughly 9K on them... I'll check everything as soon as I get some more HW done, and I'm not working.... :)

[Oldmandan]

Check shocks and sway bar mounts. My old Dakota did something similiar, turned out to be a busted end link.

[AJ_Fritz]

belt in tire might be broken, look for a bulge.

[rangergt]

Turn it into a drag truck and just go straight. Sorry I had to say it:redface:

[fordnut71]

Turn it into a drag truck and just go straight. Sorry I had to say it:redface:

yea real men pull to the line an head straight to the finish line, while others run in circles trying to find it.

[AJ_Fritz]

dont listen to these other fools.... turn it right and left on a road course, also brakes are more useful there too.

[fordnut71]

what you need brakes for? they only slow you down.

[AJ_Fritz]

duh!? wait i forget, what are brakes for?

[imaprobowler]

You guys are hilarious lol. No tire bulges I've checked. last time I had a problem similar to this a ball joint went I don't know upper or lower but it was passenger side, and was replaced. Sway bar mounts and links appeared good last time I was under there, but I'll look again. I thought the sway bar links were making some noise, but everything appears OK underneath... it's puzzling... I want to get a set of MT drag slicks from a friend and get some power so I can make a drag truck! but drifting is still too much fun! Maybe that's why god created winter.... :D maybe I'll crawl under there tomorrow when I'm at work and take a picture or two if I can't find anything. Thanks for the input!

[D94R]

Check everything steering and suspension related up front. Only way you're going to find it.

[imaprobowler]

Check everything steering and suspension related up front. Only way you're going to find it.

Of course.... guess I'll be spending a lot of time on the ground tomorrow.... :(

[imaprobowler]

It's making a ton of noise when I turn to the right. It's loud enough that a guy In an F-150 heard it and looked. Only when I turn to the right, not the left. Wtf.... You think it's unsafe to drive on?

[boost23]

Have you jacked it up and checked the wheel bearings?

[beluga420]

Sounds like a wheel bearing... probably the outer from left side, if the sound comes from there... If it makes some kind of RRRRrrRRRrrr hard rolling noise it's probably this, happend on mine and when I looked the bearings they were all crunched up.

[Ryan]

RRRRrrRRRrrr.

That's exactly what it says in the repair manual under the trouble shooting guide. Lmao.

[Ron83ranger]

i had a wheel bearing go bad and it sounded like a big rock was stuck in my tire. thump thump thump.

[imaprobowler]

It's not really a thumping noise, it almost sounds like somethings lacking lubrication... like when something sealed inside a rubber housing goes bad and it rubs on the rubber, like that kind of noise if that makes any sense. I don't have time to look at it until friday unfortunately. But if I find time, it's going up. What's the easiest way to get under there and check? it's gotta be able to get up and go.... hence being a DD... thanks for the input guys

[Cutlass327]

Check that the brakes aren't worn down. Sometimes if they are just about to start squealing, they will chirp on turns as the rotor flexes to touch the squeaker.

[D94R]

Any right turn, or full lock right turns? Maybe it's as simple as your tire rubbing something?

You're truck has the mud terrain tires? (I can't remember). Maybe it's just "lugging" the edge of the tire as you turn. You say it didn't happen before, but did the long journey wear your tires oddly or anything?





Heres what you do to check. Go to Walmart. Start driving in circles. Set cruise control, lock steering wheel, hop out and watch as truck vere's off into lawn and garden section, catches fire, and burns down Walmart. There, your problem is fixed.

[imaprobowler]

Not sometimes it makes it going left too and not on full wheel lock, it's only when you're actually turning, literally turning the wheel not when it's already turned and you're holding it after the whimpy power steering pump is done crying it's brains out. It literally when I turn, and loudest at a low speed of 5-15mph going from straight to slight turn. however it make noise all the time, and I murder it... I just don't wanna lose steering when it matters most if it's something more important... And, I have a 5 spd, no cruise control, I have gotten out while it moves before, but the plan sounds great, I'm going to call state farm and upgrade my policy...

Foorgot to add, even though there was about 150 pound in the passenger seat and my fat butt in the drivers seat, maybe 500+ in the rear, the tread does not appear to have worn improperly. And I don't have the KM2's anymore, not it's just a knobby set of 31X10.50 AT's on stock 15X7 rim, 5" backspacing and they've never rubbed as far as I knew even with full double turn wheel lock....

[Cutlass327]

Not sometimes it makes it going left too and not on full wheel lock, it's only when you're actually turning, literally turning the wheel not when it's already turned and you're holding it after the whimpy power steering pump is done crying it's brains out.

SO it is only doing it when you turn the steering wheel? Sounds like you may be having a gear box/rack and pinion going out. The internal valving may be chattering.

If the pump is making funny noises, maybe it wouldn't hurt to totally flush the system and fill it with some Merc V. I did this in my old F150 and Ranger, and the pump kinda quieted down. It would also be cheaper to try this first, maybe the fresh trans fluid would clean out the system enough to get things freed up again.

[imaprobowler]

yeah, idk if the weight being thrown around in turning is making whatever front passenger suspension components make loud sounds, but I did it while sitting still so it has to be steering related solely... I just got a new steering rack like 2 years ago though... I had problems with the power steering pump a few years ago as well and I had it flushed but ranger pumps I thought were famously whiny? However, just pour some in? I don't have the resources to fully flush anything... hate being away at college... Just found out I got a lot of metal shavings in the rear diff and some nasty gunk in the tranny too.... woohoo I hate this truck so much right now, even though I love it...

[fordnut71]

maybe its doing the achy breaky heart?

[imaprobowler]

?...

[Cutlass327]

Not sure what it is called, but it looks like the body of a grease gun, only it is used to remove oil from things - has a hose on the end where the grease gun 'pump' would be. I used this to suck out the old stuff, then added in fresh. I had the engine running while I did this, so that it was always moving the fluid around. I used almost a whole gallon while doing it, but it is nice and clear red now, not dark burnt brown like it was. Make sure you turn the wheels from lock to lock a few times to work the fluid thru the gearing system while doing this, too.

[RacinGas]

I've heard of taking the return hose off and let it drain in a catch pan and plug the return side hole on the pump. Have someone turn the truck on and rotate the steering back and forth while you pour fresh fluid into the pump. Never tried it though.

[imaprobowler]

I'm going to start making preparations.... and also, I recorded a video of it making the sound. I'll have to get my camera out of my truck and upload it. Used it tonight when I swam since it's waterproof to record my form. But yeah, I'll definitely try all of this. Last thing I need is something detrimental happening that I won't have the ability to fix being away from home... thanks guys.