steering wobble...

[jacks3am]

try to move it around a little, did you check your tierods?

 

[nvycrmn]

so idler arm, pitman arm, and tie rod ends all appear/feel solid. no play. i am really thinking it is wheel bearing because just took it for a drive again and the speed of the steering wheel wobble changes with speed. think of how your brake pedal feels when the rotor is warped, how it pulsates right? that is how the steering feels, like something is warped. but does bad wheel bearing cause wobble? this is really ******* me off cuz i cant really drive it and my wife has my other truck...IN IOWA!!!!! need to get this fixed NOW but cant afford to just start replacing shit...

 

[nvycrmn]

oh, and it doesnt seem to wobble when i first start driving after the truck has been sitting for a little while. it took a few trips around the block, up and down hills, before it started to do it again...WTF! it feels like it is coming from the right side, which is the same side i need to replace half shaft. coincidence or could a bad cv joint cause this annoyance?

 

[jacks3am]

bad wheel bearings in my experience just drone like crazy, I would think its somthing else, maybe it is the half shaft or a bent rim or somthing

 

[panda24619]

lets replace the shaft and see. if that doesnt fix it then do the bearing. i have bearing grease so maybe we can repack it.

 

[nvycrmn]

thats what i figured about the wheel bearing. no bent rim, havent been offroading in months. tires are only a year old. think i could have busted a belt inside? but then it would do it all the time wouldnt it? this JUST started happening the other day but has gotten worse...

 

[nvycrmn]

my ball joints squeak like hell and probably need replaced, been on for almost 4 years now but not sure that would cause the wobble feeling that varies with speeds...

 

[JUST4FUN]

bad tire like a bubble in the tread area

 

[nvycrmn]

im gonna run to the tire shop first thing in the morning and see if they find anything wrong with the tire or rim...then i guess i will have to go from there. this sux, thats all i know!

 

[nvycrmn]

so...had the tires balanced and rotated...still broke. wierd thing is it is random. while i am driving, it will be normal, then a slight wobble, then really bad wobble. then it might go away for a little bit. then back to wobble wobble...i have no friggin idea.

 

[nvycrmn]

so what do you all think about tie rod end being the culprit? i know you mentioned it before blue. is there any way to actually check it to see if it is bad? this is what we have:

steering wheel wobbles. doesnt seem to be as bad while accelerating but noticeable during coasting, sometimes so violent it shakes the whole damn truck. when shaking, wants to pull truck to the right, bad. doesnt really seem to be much of an issue at highway speeds (55+). tires are balanced and rotated as of this morning. i am down to thinking could be cv shaft (but no clicking) but probably tie rod end on right side, if i had to guess (because of how bad it pulls to the right and it only seems to be at less than highway speed). really need some more input here guys. gonna take it to a shop in the morning and see what they say, but i want to do the repair myself because i dont have a shit ton of money to pay the shop to do it! besides, PANDA has nothing better to do than help me! hahah

 

[nvycrmn]

so shop suggested idler arm this morning, so i replaced it. pretty easy job as long as you buy the $15 puller! i left the steering stabilizer off and took it for a short test drive. so far nothing but will have to drive longer/further to see if it comes back. after a day or so, i will put the stabilizer back on and see how she runs.

 

[jacks3am]

Oh yeah idle arm baby

 

[nvycrmn]

well bad news is, idler arm was not the problem. good news is...WE CAN STILL KEEP THIS THREAD GOING!

 

[panda24619]

that sucks! well maybe it is the short shaft...

 

[nvycrmn]

i have no idea. could be a million things when it comes to f-ing suspension/steering shit! i think i am going to keep my tie rod ends but just change the bushings. but they didnt look like they were bad. when i did the check (wiggle tire at 3 and 9), they didnt seem to give, it was the whole damn centerlink that was moving. like i said before, it didnt start wobbling until i got almost to work this morning. and you dont really feel it while accelerating, but if you let off the gas and just coast, wiggle wiggle wiggle. i think you are right, next step is gonna be half shaft...

 

[tmajikman]

Ok navy, I am also asking members on my local car/truck forum for some insight on your issue as well, as soon as I find out something I will let you know.

 

[nvycrmn]

thank you majik cuz i am at a loss here...i do have a question though, when people replace their tie rod ends, you dont actually have to replace the ends unless they are damaged right? couldnt you just replace the bushings? they are only 10 bucks!

 

[nvycrmn]

i just dont get it, no wobble the whole way home today! im gonna trade this damn thing in for a chevy volt if it keeps it up! hahah

 

[tmajikman]

so far, here we go bro.

1st response : exy's and f150's are very bad on ball joints(upper and lower). I on average sell at least one set a week, also if he has a steering stabilizer it could be blown out. And he replaced the pitman are but did he replace the idler also a common issue on these vehicles.

2nd response : I've actually replaced more idlers than I have pitman arms recently.

anymore info, I will post as well, both folks are Ford guys btw.
__________________