Well my $1500.00 D1 SD has the death rattle...Big time..

I replaced the front tie rod ends today... One was very shot..
But unfortunately that didn't fix it...

I looked at the steering linkeage. The bolts were tight and there was no play there....

I need troubleshooting advice.... Where do I look next...I'm working by myself and can't turn the steering wheel and look at the suspension components at the same time to see what might be moving around...

Help ?

John

 

Tech section has tips on this.

 

Yes, I've read those.. Check this, Check that...

What I'm looking for is the how.... I'm really not looking to disassemble the entire front end and shotgun the thing...
What I want to know is how to check the various items to find the culprit... Push here... Pry there....

From the way this thing acts when it "takes off" the problem should be fairly obvious if I know what to look for...

I'm going to get the entire front end off the ground tomorrow and see what shakes loose...

Thanks

John

 

If you checked the tie rods, ball joints, wheel bearings, pitman arm, lug nuts, steering shaft etc. then your swivel ball pre-load needs adjustment.

 

Hold wheel top and bottom and if you can feel movement it's swivel pin. Side to side is wheel bearings. Have somebody else do the tire movement while you watch, if you can. Way easier to spot movements. You can also do an alignment after you tighten up the front end, pretty easy as there's only one adjustment. Toe out, front to back horizontal centerline difference of 2mm.

 

So to clarify, grab wheel at 12:00 and 18:00, if it moves its swivel pin.
Grab wheel at 09:00 and 15:00, if it moves its the bearings.

I was unaware of the swivel pin "test", thank you IHScouts.

 

Spent a full hour with the pressure washer last night.. It's still filty...

Got it up on stands and started fooling around... Pushed and pulled on the tires and the entire steering box moved.... Both of the bolts were a full turn from tight... I could spin them with my fingers...

Going to go ahead and do the rear tie rod ends and the sway bar link.. And the stabilizer... That's shot....

There's now only a little play in the steering box itself... Is there a way to adjust that out ? Seems like I read something about an adjustment...

Looking that up now...

Thanks for all the input.. Its being helpful..

John

 

Let's make that all six of the bolts holding the steering gear on the truck were loose...

The death rattle is 90% gone now... I think the Track bar ends and new stabilizer will finish it up....

Then it will be driveable and I can start to troubleshoot the SRS and ABS lights...
The check engine light doesn't come on with the key so I'll bet that lamp has been pulled.... I'm gussing the three sisters will be next on my list...

John

 

Dude I commend you on trying, your terminology is all wrong, but thats ok, we know what you mean.
Death wobble.
3 Amigo's, on the DII only with that one, so dont worry about that.
The steering damper will have ZERO effect on the death wobble.
The ABS light being on can mean anything from a bad ABS sensor to a bad ABS pump, most remove the ABS pump fuse from under the hood.
Thats what I did 5 years ago.
As for the SRS light? Does the horn work?

 

Also consider doing all four wheels 8 bearings as well.