Thread: Need diagnostic help on SEVERE steering wheel shake

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Something is loose in the steering/suspension, whoever inspected it missed something. Did they unload the ball joints when they checked? You may not be able to detect a bad ball joint under load. The death wobble Pops refers to on beam axles is usually loose king pins which allow the harmonics of the rotating wheel/tire to do the wobble. Very likely that at least one of the components that holds the wheel straight is loose or broken. Strut rods like Pops mentioned would show up on braking too, so another symptom to check.

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Something is loose in the steering/suspension, whoever inspected it missed something. Did they unload the ball joints when they checked? The death wobble Pops refers to on beam axles is usually loose king pins which allow the harmonics of the rotating wheel/tire to do the wobble. Very likely that one of the components that holds the wheel straight is loose or broken. Strut rods like Pops mentioned would show up on braking too, so another simptom to check.

I don't know if they did unload the ball joints, so I'll put her up on the lift later today and look. Will check the strut rods as well.

Strut rods..........thanks Bob, couldn't remember the correct term.

Don

MM II front end with the stock type lower arms only need the strut rods, because of the narrow mounting, the ones with the wide spread don't use them.
Sounds like they said, something must be loose, and you missed it. Are you sure your new rims are seated all the way to the rotor flat, and not hanging up on the center of the bearing hub somewhere?

Pat

Originally Posted by HemiTCoupe

MM II front end with the stock type lower arms only need the strut rods, because of the narrow mounting, the ones with the wide spread don't use them.
Sounds like they said, something must be loose, and you missed it. Are you sure your new rims are seated all the way to the rotor flat, and not hanging up on the center of the bearing hub somewhere?

Pat

I don't doubt that I must have missed something, but , for the life of me I cannot see anything! I just had her on the lift and rechecked everything I could reach/see. Didn't take the rims' off, but they look, from the back/side to be fully seated. I do see about a 1/4" of spline showing where the steering rod mates to the rack...
Bart

First, check the balance of the rear tires, they can sometimes set up a shake that transfers to the front end.
Are all four tires the same make? Some brands are just incompatible.
The new front bushings on the inner A-frame ends, are they Ford or aftermarket? Some are too soft, allowing movement. Then again, some are too hard, causing flex somewhere else.
Finally, get a buddy to drive beside you and watch what's happening when it shakes.

Originally Posted by R Pope

First, check the balance of the rear tires, they can sometimes set up a shake that transfers to the front end.
Are all four tires the same make? Some brands are just incompatible.
The new front bushings on the inner A-frame ends, are they Ford or aftermarket? Some are too soft, allowing movement. Then again, some are too hard, causing flex somewhere else.
Finally, get a buddy to drive beside you and watch what's happening when it shakes.

All wheels balanced on Friday (Dynamic)
BFG rear, Goodyear front (but same problem occurred with BFG rear/Continentals front)
Inner A-Frame ends original Ford
Good idea about a buddy, doing that tomorrow morning... will try and have a video done as well...