Front End Woes
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 373
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From: Arlington, Texas
Front End Woes
Whats up guys? I recently (1month ago) rebuilt my entire front end. The only things that were not replaced are track bar, steering box, front driveshaft, and sway bar bushings. I'm having the same issues that I had before the rebuild. It just feels like the front is is on basketballs. Hopping and vibrating at any speed or rpm. On a smooth road or on the highway it feels like I'm hitting bumps that aren't there. I'm at a loss, so please guide me in the right direction, guys! Thanks in advance.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Arlington, Texas
Just want to add that all ball joints and the center link assembly is XRF and new shocks are Rancho 9000XL on setting 6. The steering wheel has a slight shimmy sometimes, at any speed. I can hear grinding, and it sorta sounds rotational. I thought it might be a bad drivers side Timken hub out of the box, so I replaced it with no change at all in the grinding sound. Passenger side dust cover in the axle tube is now leaking. The passenger side during the rebuild was way worse than the drivers side. The needle bearings inside the old hub were almost non-existent, and I also had to replace that side stub axle due to the missing needles. I am at a loss here and have thrown so much money into this truck (over 10k) with almost no return in my repairs. I WILL WIN!!! Please help! If Rich were to drive this truck, his head would explode!!! Lol
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Arlington, Texas
Yes I did. As a matter of fact, I had them balanced and rotated three days ago. Still no change. The tires did look pretty cracked though. BFG A/T 285/75/16
New User
Joined: Aug 2013
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It might not just be rotating the tires. I had the same issue with one of my cars a couple years ago. The steel belts separated causing a huge bubble in my tire and it drove me crazy for months.
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2012
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Did you have it aligned after all the front end work? You said you didn't change the track arm/bar, I'm assuming the bushings are still intact? My truck did the same thing, new track bar and lower ball joints fixed it.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Arlington, Texas
Yes, I took it down to Firestone to have them do all the alignment. My truck has lifetime alignment with them. Track bar is definitely on my list. I have a brand new one in my shop. The torque on it must be ridiculous, because I bent my 1/2" breaker bar trying to get the bolt broke free. The shop down the road from me wants $100 to change it out. I'll get it put on and report back. Thanks ya'll!
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 381
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Try using a low heat butane plumbers torch from any hardware store and heat up the nut holding the track arm. Heat only the nut not the bolt and only heat it for about 20-30 seconds, enough for it to expand. Immediately try to loosen it before the heat transfers to the bolt.
If that doesn't work, hit the nut on one flat using a stub nose flat chisel (nothing sharp) and a heavy hammer. This will oval shape the nut enough to loosen it. These techniques work for me.
If that doesn't work, hit the nut on one flat using a stub nose flat chisel (nothing sharp) and a heavy hammer. This will oval shape the nut enough to loosen it. These techniques work for me.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Arlington, Texas
Finally got a chance to put a set of my buddies tires/wheels on, and it still bounces and has a rotational growl. Last week I started getting an intermittent ABS light, but it goes off if i turn off the truck for a few minutes then drive it about 50'. I'm starting to think i didn't install the dust seal and the big seal on the stub axle correctly, or maybe even a bent axle itself. 
Any other suggestions guys? I have got to be missing something here. Also has a "tire rub" feeling coming from under my floorboard when I make a right turn that has a bump or a downward grade change from a parking lot.
Any other suggestions guys? I have got to be missing something here. Also has a "tire rub" feeling coming from under my floorboard when I make a right turn that has a bump or a downward grade change from a parking lot.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Mansfield Center, CT
I just installed the same shocks - Rancho 9000XL. Initially had them set on 5 and they bounced me all over the place. Adjusted them down to 3 - much better. May go down to 2 since most of my driving is highway.
Jim
Jim
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Arlington, Texas
Got a chance to put a whole new Moog track bar on it yesterday. Still feels terrible. I guess I'll try to find out which hub i should replace.... Again....... For the third time. I noticed when I have to turn to the the wheel left it growls just a bit. What side should I check?
I noticed when I have to turn to the the wheel left it growls just a bit. What side should I check?
New User
Joined: Aug 2013
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Check the brake rotors. On my truck the inside of the driver side rotor was eaten up and had deep grooves. Otherwise you will have to just take the wheels off and see which one has play. Normally if one goes the other isn't far behind so if you do find a bad one replace both and save yourself the aggravation a couple months later.