well here's the problem my truck gets a wobble in the steering wheel and the steering wheel moves about an 1'' in total movement at speeds from 35-50 and it doesn't always happen .. sometimes it happens sometimes it doesn't and when it doesn happen and i come to a stop it almost always stops when i proceed again ....well the thing with the wobble is it's not just the steering wheel the whole truck starts to shimmy .... when i had 33's on it the steering wheel would move a little but i couldn't feel it in the truck and now that ive went to 37's it's slowly magnified it in which i don't think it's tires out of balance (though im going to do that first ) has anyone had this problem or can give me some thoughts on what it is ??

 

Could be that you need a steering damper. Bigger tires will amplify any slack in the steering/suspension parts and make it easier for oscillations to start.

You also should check balljoints, tie rods ends, control arm bushes etc for wear/slop.

Scott D

 

maybe an alignment and tires balanced i had the same problem when i had my stock tires and i got an alignment and the tires balanced and it was gone

 

ok thanks im going to lift the front end up and look for any slack or play and also add a steering stabalizer ..then balance the tires and see what happens ....thanks for your help

 

Is the play in the thing coming from below, or is it the wheel itself? Maybe the steering wheel bushing/bearing is worn. It's under the center nut on the wheel, under the airbag. Don't remove the airbag unless you know what you're doing (I don't, myself, so I can't help ya there). Just a thought

 

This sounds like the same problem I have with my '02 F-150 SuperCrew (40K miles). This shimmy problem has occurred 4 or 5 times in the several thousand miles I've driven the rig since purchasing it a couple of months ago. It comes out of nowhere at about 35-40 mph. Stopping sometimes cures it, but not always. One time it got fairly violent as I was braking -- to the point where the front end felt like it was going up and down with each revolution of the wheels. It's very strange, indeed!

The funny thing is that it has not happened during freeway cruising. I've driven two separate 1200 mile freeway trips between Seattle and SW Utah with no problem -- very smooth at 75-80.

I'll be taking the truck to the dealer for a looksee in the near future.

Waid

 

try greasin the idler arm,usually fixes mine

 

I agree check your idler arm and make sure you have a dual shock steering stabilizer for your 37's

 

Amazing, this is the exact same problem i have been having. I put 33's on last winter and it started sometime after that. Right around 40mph the whole truck starts shimmying. If I speed up or slow down it goes away. It does seem to happen more when the truck is cold though. I am hoping a stabilizer will help.

Brian
'97 F150

 

Brian,

Do you have a lift? any pics ?

I aslo have a '97 and I want to put on 33's.

 

i have the same problem starts at 40 ends at 55 it is the weirdest thing, have 3 alienments done, new idler arm, all front end components good, had my 38" tires balenced 5 times, already had a steering stabalizer, i think it is my tires that are causing it, i am trying to work somthing out with interco so i can get new tires, i think that they are slightly out of round, i also tried rotating my tires and no change if i figure out what it is i will tell you