Anyone else tired of being pushed around?

[Capt_Syko_420]

Ok, so it has been pretty windy here the last few days and I have noticed that the truck does not hold a line on the road. The wind pushes me all over the place like I am driving drunk or something. Also, there is a slight vibration in the steering wheel. There is a slight pull that will change directions from pulling left to pulling right. I have had it aligned and been told that everything is fine, it must be the tires. So we had 2 new tires put on the front and still doing it. I know that my upper/lower ball joints have torn boots, but seem to be in perfect working order as they are still tight from what I can tell. The rack & pinion is brand new. I mean I know this truck didnt have any maintenance done for at least 80k miles short of oil changes maybe. We got the truck at 82k and when we did the trans filter at 97k we noticed the truck still had the yellow plug in there. Since then things have been seemingly falling apart slowly and at a growing pace. Now I am mechanically inclined and I do know quite a bit about cars and trucks in general from many years of working on my own/friends vehicles. Also worked at a shop for a little over a year. Problem is....most of my experience has been engine problems, or electronics. I don't have much experience in suspension sort of replacing worn ball joints and shocks and tie rod ends and things of that nature. So any ideas, or suggestions would be great because I know that this 3 ton beast should hold the road alot better regardless of windy conditions. Its not like a storm or hurricane or anything, its just a windy day with gust of like 15-20 mph.

 

[DR3W]

Idk but all older expo`s do that to some extent. Might wana try a steering stablizer or shocks. Do your springs sag? And do you have air ride suspension?

 

[Capt_Syko_420]

no air suspension. the springs are fine i believe. dont seem to be sagging. and the shocks are worn. and there is a noise coming from the front end, and the truck seems more wobbly so im wanting to check out the sway bar links, just havent yet. idk, never heard this kind of noise before. kinda a rattle or popping noise when there is a bump or dip in the road. of course everything in this truck rattles, its horrible.

 

[nvycrmn]

check your shock mounts. the bushings could be shot.

 

[99 Expy]

I would check all of your front end suspension, you can check also check your ball joints by lifting the tire off the ground and trying to wobble it at 12 and 6, and 6 and 9. My sway bar links broke last year, you will really notice it when they are gone.

 

[panda24619]

i always drift. i figured it out... well nvy did for me when we were off roading. i told him this thing was in an accident and the frame most likely got bent... i think. i always drift right. its weird being in a wind storm and going stright. haha but check all your ball joints and bearings.

 

[seeker]

I have driven in some of those windy conditions in Texas. Had an old timer once tell me to crack open the back two windows. Seemed like he was joking.
I tried it once and it did helped a good bit. Check you shocks. Try to have a full tank of gas. The movement of fuel in the tank can cause more sway. Also Check the sway bar bushings.

 

[99 Expy]

Even with all new suspension, you will only get so far. I have all new shocks, and I replaced every bushing with energy suspension, and as I drove across Nebraska yesterday straight into 40 mph winds, I felt it pretty good, and had a few spots where I was blown around.

 

[Yoop33]

The wife recently went from an Accord to a small SUV and I had to explain the Wind thing cause she was having a pretty hard time with it. Was kinda funny