Ok, seems like I've been having weird problems with my truck recently, and now I'm adding another one to the list.
Here's the situation:
Driving down the road the other day, and a cat darts out in front of me. Of course I swerve to miss it, and I run about half way off the road. No biggie, wasn't going but like 25ish I think. Well, when I ran off the road, my passenger side tire went down into a hole, and then immediately hit the steep incline for the intersection. So it went down, then up extremely fast.
Well, it made quite the noise, and scarred the crap out of me. I arrive at my destination about 2 mile later. Didn't notice anything funny with the truck in those miles. So I park, and set the emergency brake (parked on an incline). Go to leave about an hour later, put truck in reverse, and it doesn't move. I realize I'm an idiot, release the e brake and truck barely, and I mean barely moves. I put it in drive, and same thing, it's barely inching along on idle. And after I release the gas pedal, its slows fast. Im worried now, and on my drive home, the truck is shaking pretty bad. Park at home, and I can smell burnt rubber/plastic. GREAT!!!
I sit at home and think maybe I bumped off a weight and that was causing the wobble, and the burning plastic smell was the ebrake not released enough (which I think I might know the cause of that, if that is the case). SO... This morning I get the tires rotated and balanced, hoping that would fix the wobble. No dice, truck wobbles just as bad, if not worse.

So... Did I mess up some steering, or suspension part, or is the rotated tires causing the wobble? Also, what was with the burning smell, and the truck not moving once I released the e brake?

Sorry for the long story, figured I full explanation was needed since a lot of different things happened in that time.

 

I'd say its time to jack it up, put on some jack stands and start spinning wheels and see whats up, IE, bent, broken and or stuck!!!

 

How often do you use your e-brake? Mine must have never been used before because the first time I used it (on a boat launch) It would not release. Precious. So I got under the truck with some JB80 and got them to spring back. Been going without it ever since.

Your e-brake could be stuck if thats the case. I'm thinking too that it could be happening if your front brake now is for whatever reason dragging because of the impact, but that seem odd to me. I also hit a curb with on of my cars on the ice a few years back, and man did it screw things up. I'd pull that tire off start look for bent broken parts. Compare to the other side.

Good Luck! That always sucks when that kind of stuff happens.... \
Next time just take out the cat!

 

Just thought of something else too. The burning smell might be coming from a bearing that might be out of wack now too, but I think you would hear a noise with that one, and not to sure it would smell like burning rubber, it would just heat up. Just another thought

 

you may have bent your axle...

 

hey man listen it aint worth wreacking your truck over a stupid cat or raccoon or dog just hit it

 

lol. just try to miss things as big as deer...

 

Yea, I realize I probably shouldn't of swerved, but I didn't swerve much. I only had about half my truck on the shoulder of a back woods narrow road as it is. But, next time, I'm hitting that sucker.

 

About everyday. Gym's parking lot is at an incline, so I put it on everytime.

 

Ok, quick update. I haven't had a chance to look under the truck yet due to rain during the day, and lack of garage. But, I realize that the wobble is only there around 40-50 mph, greatest at around 45. Once I hit 50 it is smooth sailing, no wobble. I had a slight wobble at 45 before all this, and the tire rotation, but this is worse.

So.... Think my tires might be unbalanced? I know 1 or 2 of them are worn funny, but I was hoping a balance would fix that.

 

Do you feel it in the steering wheel or does the whole truck just shake? bent wheel? They could probably still get it to balance out, but it would still wobble.

 

I'd definitely start with getting your wheels re-balanced. To me, it sounds like a symptom of wheels out of balance since the wobble varies at different speeds. That's a best case scenario solution, good luck.

 

A lil phrase to live by "below the bumper, run it over" haha

 

I definitely feel it in the steering wheel. Gonna call the tire place tomorrow, and see if they'll throw it back up and try to rebalance. Gonna try to stay back there while they do it, and poke my head under the truck to look for anything out of place.

 

You either bent the wheel that went off the road or ripped the balance weights off it. Another possibility is a broken tire belt. Tires that are worn funny should be replaced and the cause of the wear should be fixed (i.e. alignment).