Steering shimmy around 45mph
#1
Steering shimmy around 45mph
Truck has a shimmy around 45mph. You can let go of the wheel and it wobbles back and forth 5 to 10°. Put new shocks on before this was an issue. I've check wheel bearings, ball joints, tie rod ends, and idler arm for freeplay and everything feels tight. When I lift one side off the ground and wiggle the tire (9-3 oclock), this center link rotates forward and backward letting the toe change, probably about a 1/4". Since these are ball joints, I don't know what is supposed to constrain them so they don't wobble. Any help? These videos are with only the right side front tire off the ground.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz...VRQWHVBX1lhNHM
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz...k9qTnhCLVlCRnM
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz...1kzem4xMWFsUEk
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz...VRQWHVBX1lhNHM
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz...k9qTnhCLVlCRnM
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz...1kzem4xMWFsUEk
#3
#5
I agree with what you guys are saying. The pitman arm is tight. The idler arm has been replaced about 20k miles ago and may have a very small amount of wiggle but hardly anything. The ball joints have no detectable play. I had someone look at it that's done several front ends (no f150's) and he was confused too.
What is causing the play is the center link rocking forward and backward. These are ball joint connections. Even if I replace with new, what is supposed to constrain this motion? In the first video you can see how much it moves the tie rod, which is moving the wheel.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bzh...VBX1lhNHM/view
What is causing the play is the center link rocking forward and backward. These are ball joint connections. Even if I replace with new, what is supposed to constrain this motion? In the first video you can see how much it moves the tie rod, which is moving the wheel.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bzh...VBX1lhNHM/view
#6
Even though they are socket joints, they do wear out. To me, it looks as if it's way to easy to rotate that center link. The ones in my lifted 95 take a lot more than that to move.
It could be as simple as needing an alignment, wheels balanced, or even a tire. If a belt has separated in a tire it can cause some symptoms similar to yours.
It could be as simple as needing an alignment, wheels balanced, or even a tire. If a belt has separated in a tire it can cause some symptoms similar to yours.
Last edited by thelawdawg; 09-27-2017 at 07:52 PM.
#7
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#8
#9
The shimmy can be a greatly out of balance or out of round front tire for some reason.
A bulge, a broken belt, plug put in to save the tire for a bit longer life etc.
A plug in a tire is only good as a spare.
After you get the new tires on then worry about the steering parts wear.
As of the moment your asking for crystal ball answers.
Good luck.
A bulge, a broken belt, plug put in to save the tire for a bit longer life etc.
A plug in a tire is only good as a spare.
After you get the new tires on then worry about the steering parts wear.
As of the moment your asking for crystal ball answers.
Good luck.
#10
#11
I have had this issue many times because I have my torsion bars cranked up too far and it puts everything at an extreme angle because I needed more clearance for tires, then I put f350 blocks in the rear so now I'm kinda stuck with this same problem. I changed to a moog idler arm and it help tremendously but until I straighten out my angles I have to deal with it. I changed ball joints, upper control arms, everything.
#12