Front end shimmies

[lectro_static]

Not all the time but at medium speeds I seem to have a front end wobble. Seems to be when I go over a small bump like a man hole cover or when I am turning it will wobble for a bit after I straighten out the wheel. I have new front brakes, new drag link and really dont see anything wrong. Any ideas on where to start so Im not just throwing money at it and hoping?

[PJ 3]

I'd block up the front end and get a buddy to turn the steering back and forth while checking everything. Could be a bad bearing to. I know that my truck had a bad bearing in it and it did that.

[ellis93]

Knot on a tire or maybe a loose track bar.

[Richie O]

Any front end issue can cause this. I had a truck with some slop in the tie rod ends and it would only shake under the right conditions. My 93 has bad rotors and once in a while when I hit the brakes it will set it off.

[cougar]

This is one that can drive you crazy. As Richie O said, it can be a lot of things in the front end. What got me, is after rebuilding the front end and doing some front frame work on my 91 I still had the shimmy. Turned out to be my rear brakes doing this catch and release thing. Shortly after I picked up a 92 that was doing the same thing. Fixed the rear brakes and it went away on that one as well. The symptoms can be can be hard to track down so don't expect it to be easy. Fix the obvious first and go on to the next. Not sure if it was this forum or another I posted a list of what all I did on the front end, but some of it wasn't the usual. Check the forward leaf spring mounts to the frame for looseness. Cracked steering gear mounting plate is common. Mushy or worn out bushing in the leafs. Loose U bolts. Could be just your steering coupler or a bad shock.

[lectro_static]

Jacked up the truck and the only thing that seems bad is the steering coupler at the box seems a bit loose. Would that cause the tires to go crazy only at certain times? Seems to me it would be all the time but I cant find anything else it could be.

[PJ 3]

Jacked up the truck and the only thing that seems bad is the steering coupler at the box seems a bit loose. Would that cause the tires to go crazy only at certain times? Seems to me it would be all the time but I cant find anything else it could be.

That's what my truck did with the worn steering coupler also. I installed a borgeson and the problem disappeared. The steering box bracket was cracked also and changed at the same time so I really don't know the exact source but more than likely the coupler was my culprit. Couger hit the nail on the head saying this one will drive you crazy........it's all about a process of elimination I'd fix the coupler and go from there !

[lectro_static]

Put in a steering u joint, woodward piece I cut the factory shaft and welded the u joint to it. Drag link is aftermarket, tie rods appear to be good. Could the sway bar cause it? I did put lift shackles on it just a bit ago.

[CO cummins luvr]

shocks, missing wheel weight

[lectro_static]

Thought I got it, steering box needed to be adjusted. It wasnt really sloppy but just enough to make it shimmy at times. Still does it and it only does it under light to no throttle.

[cougar]

Thought I got it, steering box needed to be adjusted. It wasnt really sloppy but just enough to make it shimmy at times. Still does it and it only does it under light to no throttle.

Check ALL of your U joints. Both drive shafts and front axle. I had one that would bind a low speeds and start bouncing the truck. One on the axle can induce a shimmy even with the hubs unlocked.

[lectro_static]

How can I check my kingpins without tearing it all apart?