So, I got my doors fixed and got all the fluids changed, full tune up and allignment and she is running fantastic. I do have one issue trying to figure out maybe someone can help with. After alignment it runs nice and straight but I am getting a side to side vibration/ shutter in the sterring wheel at speed. Funny is not all the time but mainly at highway speeds and seems to be made worse when going around a curve at speed? Car does track straight and rides smooth.

I have 139k miles, new General Grabber AT 285/75/16s, new sway bar bushings, freshly aligned? Any thoughts ideas? I was thinking balance but new tires and balance by PO or maybe the steering dampener may be shot?

Any help would be appreciated.
THX

 

take a good look at the panhard rod bushings and attaching bolts, also get the front end jacked up and check for play at the tie rod ends ( the allignment guy should have done that already) , have the wheelbearings been serviced ?

 

Damn... 285's ? Hope you adjusted the steering stops

if all the bushings are new then the next checklist goes thusly...

1. TRE's (ball joints) - condition? loose? boots intact? just because you can't move em by hand doesn't mean they are not beginning to wear out.

2. wheel bearings -jack up one side of the front axle so the tire is off the ground. with your hands at the 9 and 3 o'clock positions rock the wheel like you are trying to turn it, back and forth. If you get a knocking or loose play then your wheel bearings or steering linkage is suspect. do the same thing but at 12 and 6... if you get any play there your swivel pins are worn. Do this to both sides naturally, one wheel up at a time.

3. pre-load on swivel *****... the pins and / or bush (Railco bush on top pin) and Bearing (bottom pin) may need to be replaced or just re-shimmed (de-shimmed actually but I don't think that is really a word). This is a far more involved test as the steering linkages need to be off... save that for last.

And that steering damper is a last resort. the truck should be able to steer down the road just fine without it... replacing only the damper will also help to hide other issues. that's no good obviously.

 

And once all that is checked/adjusted/replaced then replace the steering stabilizer if it has not been done in the last 60,000 miles or so.