need a kidney belt

[tracker975]

Here i am whining again.I have a shimmy or vibration if you will in the front end.I have had the tires balanced and replaced the front and rear driveshafts.all tierods seem very tight and my tires don't seem to have any play.I don't know much about that front end nor am i 100% sure how to check that birfield to see if that is the problem.The vibration starts at about 38 mph and sometimes goes away around 50 mph and sometimes stays.It also varies in severity from and extreme shake to a slight shimmy.

[XS CASH]

Is the shake in the truck/seat or in the steering wheel? Have the drive shafts ever been out or disconnected?

[Fullload]

Lift a wheel in the front either drivers side or passanger side and give it a wiggle up and down and side to side. (don't worry too much about side to side as it may be the steering) but if there is any movement then you must tighten or replace your front wheel bearings. Repeat for the other side and get out your haynes manual for the proper procedure.
You do not "need" the 2" wheel bearing socket. Notice i said need! you can use a hammer and a blunt chisel or screwdriver.

[KAC]

Ive had a bent spring throwing off some steering geometry

[tracker975]

The shimmy shakes the steering wheel and seems to shake the truck at times.If i hit a bump even a small road rut the truck seems to want to go all over the place.I am having a hard time finding an after market steering stabilizer that fits in the factiry brackets.The factory one is still in there and it is probably whipped by now.Yes i have had the shafts out and i replaced them with spares that are good.i made sure the marks all lined up,i don't know how critical that is but at this point this little rattle box keeps shaking up my beers.

[Fullload]

In that case you should double check your shafts. You have to put them in phase.
No easy way to describe this but here goes. the flange part of the driveshaft (where it bolts to the t-case) has to be 100% in line with the driveshaft flange (on the diff side)
Easy way to do it would be to remove diff end bolts (4) and slide out of slip yoke and re-install eaxctly the same as the t-case end. Line up the "ears of the shaft (where the u-joint caps are) and make sure the other end is the same.

Basically both u-joints have to turn at the same time all the time to be correctly in phase.

Any questions, or if anyone else can better describe it please add.

[Depot]

sounds like it may even be an eyelinement issue - check that too.

D

[TheSarg]

Just something i ran into, blown belt in my tire itself, didnt rear its ugly head till oddball speed and then damn near shook the truck offe the road.....easy tell, rotate yer wheels front to back see if it makes a diff.

[MuddMachine]

Originally posted by tracker975
The shimmy shakes the steering wheel and seems to shake the truck at times.If i hit a bump even a small road rut the truck seems to want to go all over the place.I am having a hard time finding an after market steering stabilizer that fits in the factiry brackets.

A good stabilizer will only mask the problem. Not the way to deal with it. From what you describe it sounds like a toe in/out problem to me. Measure rim to rim in front of the axle and behind the axle, you should have a 1/4" less on the front end, when this is not the case it causes the problems you've stated, especially the shake after you hit a bump. Contributing factors = worn tie rod ends and shitty (worn) tires. Good luck.

[BIGZOOK69]

sounds like a blown belt in the tires...try rotating front to back..worn bearing's feel like grinding and they pull the steering wheel...

[lil beast]

have a look at the rod that goes from knuckle to knuckle (forgot the name) i had the same problem and the rod looked good from the front but not the side view (had a bow in it).

[MuddMachine]

Originally posted by lil beast
have a look at the rod that goes from knuckle to knuckle (forgot the name) i had the same problem and the rod looked good from the front but not the side view (had a bow in it).

Thats the toe - in toe - out deal.

[Depot]

sounds like that eyelinement thingie :D

D

[MuddMachine]

Originally posted by Depot
sounds like that eyelinement thingie :D

D

What 'eye' thingie we talkin about ?

[leadfoot]

definitly sounds like a tire or front end problem. TheSarg and MuddMachine both have good ideas. but first you need to make sure everything is tight such as u bolts, spring bushings, wheelbearings, steering kinkage, box and steering shaft. the steering sometimes wear at the coupler near the box. if all those components are tight, you need to look for either a bad tire or an alingnment problem.

[tracker975]

I went over everything again and all seems tight i am going away snowmobiling for the weekend so i will continue on monday thanks for all the help.I will let you all know what i come up with.Remember i am not mecanic just a backyard junkie so some things take me time lol.