Wholy scary driving conditions batman! help

[adventureduo]

Just got back from running some errands and im glad to say the rig and I are in one piece! if you had to make a quick lane change you'd flop the rig for sure.

The rig is acting super weird.... let me know if this has ever happened to you guys... and yes, i checked and everything seems tight ( i yanked on everything!, havent touched a wrench yet).

You turn the wheel and it's like someone has cranked up your steering from MEDIUM to HIGH! It swerves like i have no caster correction! Then you try and correct and the fender dives as the truck corrects and goes back to the other direction! Its uber-twitchy and scary as all get out. Seems like there's a small delay and then all of sudden Ram assist! Feels like the caster bushings are gone or a shock is blown.. sway bar fell off.. it's really weird.

Like i said everything looks 'fine' under the rig. Anyone know whats going on? This just happened instantly this AM.. it was driving fine over the weekend.

Im going to tear into the rig ASAP tonight when i get off work.

 

[bigreen505]

I would start with exactly what you mentioned. I've had the same thing happen on a couple trucks and while the feeling was exactly the same, the cause was often different. I would start with the shocks, but check caster correction while there. I really don't know how to check for a bad shock. I had one that was obvious (went with a bang and leaked oil when fully extended on a lift), but the others seemed okay examining them for physical problems or jumping on a corner of the truck -- but driving was a different story. Replacing the offenders immediately cured the problem.

Also, check *all* your suspension bolts. I had one fun experience where I was having some odd problems a couple weeks after an alignment, but all the obvious suspension bolts were tight. The geniuses didn't tighten the UCA after putting on shims.

 

[Pskhaat]

Check your preload and star washers in the hub, I can almost tell by feel if I totally was off on the torque: feels similar. Next how about the two bolts through the front control arms, Durango_60 lost one on a trip a little while ago. And then I would guess the control arm bushings next.

At a stop, can you turn the steering full arc and see the wheels moving in turn?

Also (though obvious) make sure you have your lug nuts all the way in and you don't have wheel wobble which on a hub-centric wheel would do fine going straight vs. erratic at turn.

 

[adventureduo]

Thanks guys, yeah im getting this thing up on jackstands tonight and will check everything. Super weird.

Thanks for the tips! I posted over on mud too. Combined i'll find out what it is tonight hopefully.

 

[SOAZ]

Just got back from running some errands and im glad to say the rig and I are in one piece! if you had to make a quick lane change you'd flop the rig for sure.

The rig is acting super weird.... let me know if this has ever happened to you guys... and yes, i checked and everything seems tight ( i yanked on everything!, havent touched a wrench yet).

You turn the wheel and it's like someone has cranked up your steering from MEDIUM to HIGH! It swerves like i have no caster correction! Then you try and correct and the fender dives as the truck corrects and goes back to the other direction! Its uber-twitchy and scary as all get out. Seems like there's a small delay and then all of sudden Ram assist! Feels like the caster bushings are gone or a shock is blown.. sway bar fell off.. it's really weird.

Like i said everything looks 'fine' under the rig. Anyone know whats going on? This just happened instantly this AM.. it was driving fine over the weekend.

Im going to tear into the rig ASAP tonight when i get off work.

Reminds me of no swaybar as you mentioned. Good luck!

 

[ZooJunkie]

Bad ball joints will have the same affects. I would check all the joints in the steering linkage.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Is this what happens when you feed your Toyota....Steroids>?!!!!


Roid Rage!



......hehe:shakin:


all in fun!

.

 

[adventureduo]

Scenic! LMFAO!!!

 

[adventureduo]

Looks to be the knuckle stud nuts. I could turn them loose on the passenger side with one hand (that was the side making the vibration).

Tightened them to spec and took the beast for a test drive..seemed ok again... i'll know after i take it on the freeway at 60mph. Thanks guys!

Next project - front end rebuild!

 

[RAM5500 CAMPERTHING]

Looks to be the knuckle stud nuts. I could turn them looks on the passenger side with one hand (that was the side making the vibration).

I am willing to bet ya a whole $1 that driving with them loose, even a little bit tatered your trunion bearings!

I would check those ASAP

 

[adventureduo]

..Yep, thats why i said next project is a rebuild

 

[toyrunner95]

im glad im oblivious to what u guys are talking about. i know what the parts are but my first gues would have neeb a steering stabalizer. with the over size tires if the stbalizer went out, then it may cause the non direct force wheel to lag a bit plus cause vibration in the steering wheel. im glad you figured it out though.

 

[cruiser guy]

im glad im oblivious to what u guys are talking about. i know what the parts are but my first gues would have neeb a steering stabalizer. with the over size tires if the stbalizer went out, then it may cause the non direct force wheel to lag a bit plus cause vibration in the steering wheel. im glad you figured it out though.

Everything I've read says that the steering stabilizer is the last thing to do as it masks all the other problems. A lifted 4x4 doesn't steer like a car and the steering stabilizer is there to help the "feel" mostly, it's not a safety device.

I'm going to need to look at my hubs, I think I smoked one the other weekend and my steering feels a little off too!

 

[ntsqd]

I've run my '84 mini w/o a steering stabilizer for several years. Didn't notice any difference in the wheel once I removed it. Only a 33-10.50 though. Suspect that 12.50's or wider would make a large difference.

That being said, it is a shock absorber, so it would help the life span of all of the steering gear. Mine came off b/c of a bent tie rod being replaced by a Marlin-built. I'm tempted to go to a tiny ram when I convert to X-over.

 

[Pskhaat]

Looks to be the knuckle stud nuts

Crap! Now that you say this I did have this also happen to me! Sorry I didn't remember right off the bat. I was really lucky as I was driving down I-70 and happened to be 10 minutes from Slee's. I in fact lost 3 lower studs on the driver's side.