Front end issues - second opinion
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 14,069
Likes: 17
From: Melbourne, Ky
With the front end off the ground and the steering wheel unlocked, you should be able to steer the front end by the wheels. But if the ball joints are binding under load, you can't really test that.
What kind of tires are you running? how new are they?
There are a few places on the interstates around here that make every truck I have ever driven swim on the highway. Places like that, no alignment, tire, or adjusted air pressure will cure.
BTW, my 02 does not have a steering stabilizer shock, Never has, and it drives great.
What kind of tires are you running? how new are they?
There are a few places on the interstates around here that make every truck I have ever driven swim on the highway. Places like that, no alignment, tire, or adjusted air pressure will cure.
BTW, my 02 does not have a steering stabilizer shock, Never has, and it drives great.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 136
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From: San Diego area
Just watched an excellent video of how to replace them and figure I'll be doing it next weekend if the shop is stumped (I'll find out by Monday afternoon).
I'm hoping the 2nd alignment shop finds the caster off a tad but I'll bet money on sticky ball joints. The more I read, and the more I think about how it was steering, it just makes sense.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,951
Likes: 4
From: Gary,Indiana
Maybe I am just inept ??
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: San Diego area
Just an update. . .
The diesel shop sent it out to a second alignment shop after having the first alignment shop say it needed a new power steering pump. The second shop said it needs one new upper ball joint. It was "sticky" and had no grease zerk. I've read that there's no room for a zerk on the upper but well see how it drives.
I should be driving it tomorrow afternoon and will let you know the outcome.
The diesel shop sent it out to a second alignment shop after having the first alignment shop say it needed a new power steering pump. The second shop said it needs one new upper ball joint. It was "sticky" and had no grease zerk. I've read that there's no room for a zerk on the upper but well see how it drives.
I should be driving it tomorrow afternoon and will let you know the outcome.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: San Diego area
I just want it back and driving straight. When i get time, I'll do em all myself.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Just an update. . .
The diesel shop sent it out to a second alignment shop after having the first alignment shop say it needed a new power steering pump. The second shop said it needs one new upper ball joint. It was "sticky" and had no grease zerk. I've read that there's no room for a zerk on the upper but well see how it drives.
I should be driving it tomorrow afternoon and will let you know the outcome.
The diesel shop sent it out to a second alignment shop after having the first alignment shop say it needed a new power steering pump. The second shop said it needs one new upper ball joint. It was "sticky" and had no grease zerk. I've read that there's no room for a zerk on the upper but well see how it drives.
I should be driving it tomorrow afternoon and will let you know the outcome.
I installed Moog ball joints which do have grease zerks. I had to grind a tiny bit off of the tops though so they's have clearance for the 4x4 axel knuckle
Do yourself a favour. Get ALL FOUR done .......at the very least the top AND bottom of the one side. They have it apart anyway, and installing the second ball joint at that point takes only 15-20 minutes.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 136
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From: San Diego area
The lowers have zerks and were fine. I'll ask about getting a zerk installed in the other upper (don't recall if it was left or right).
I've heard Moog are the best. are there any others that are acceptable? I'd also like to make sure they don't install cheap ones.
I've heard Moog are the best. are there any others that are acceptable? I'd also like to make sure they don't install cheap ones.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: San Diego area
Update. . .
5:30 AM, I sent the shop (they have had the truck for two weeks) an email this morning before I left for work - requesting a price to change all four ball joints and that they use Moog parts.
No one called me so I called at 2:00. Guy said the alignment shop had finished it before he had read my email
. They did change the upper and lower but just those two - they did use Moog joints.
He said to call him back at 4:00 for status. I had to leave work early to make it home so the wife could drive me to the shop assuming it was done. I called at 4:00 and he said he wants to keep it one more day just to go over a few things.
I never take my vehicles to anyone and have always done the work myself (40 years of vehicle ownership). I think I'll be sticking to my original plan moving forward. This sucks.
Done ranting
5:30 AM, I sent the shop (they have had the truck for two weeks) an email this morning before I left for work - requesting a price to change all four ball joints and that they use Moog parts.
No one called me so I called at 2:00. Guy said the alignment shop had finished it before he had read my email
. They did change the upper and lower but just those two - they did use Moog joints.He said to call him back at 4:00 for status. I had to leave work early to make it home so the wife could drive me to the shop assuming it was done. I called at 4:00 and he said he wants to keep it one more day just to go over a few things
.I never take my vehicles to anyone and have always done the work myself (40 years of vehicle ownership). I think I'll be sticking to my original plan moving forward. This sucks.
Done ranting
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 91
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I never take my vehicles to anyone and have always done the work myself (40 years of vehicle ownership). I think I'll be sticking to my original plan moving forward. This sucks.
Done ranting[/QUOTE]
If you have the time and ability, then doing it yourself also gives the satisfaction........ not to mention its save you $$$$$$$
Hope it all is OK for you now.
Done ranting[/QUOTE]
If you have the time and ability, then doing it yourself also gives the satisfaction........ not to mention its save you $$$$$$$
Hope it all is OK for you now.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Austin, MN
If nothing changes when you get the truck back, my vote is the tires....I had a crazy hop in the front end of my truck when I applied the brakes lightly, I thought for sure it was rotors or sticky calipers.....It was also a little jumpy when turning corners....
It was the tires. All I did was rotate and....BOOM...problem fixed and it cost nothing.
I also had a Dodge Magnum wagon, same thing minus the braking....it just wandered all over the place....new tires and problem solved....
my two and half cents.....Good luck, hope you get it fixed and update us on the major pain...
It was the tires. All I did was rotate and....BOOM...problem fixed and it cost nothing.
I also had a Dodge Magnum wagon, same thing minus the braking....it just wandered all over the place....new tires and problem solved....
my two and half cents.....Good luck, hope you get it fixed and update us on the major pain...
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore
It doesn't look like anyone has suggested the u-joints yet. I just went through a similar scary steering issue. It turned out that I had a seized u-joint on one side. Based on what I've read, I think that seized u-joints are a more common problem than sticking ball joints.
Just thought I'd throw that idea out there.
Just thought I'd throw that idea out there.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: San Diego area
I appreciate the feedback.
The tires are brand new Michelin E rated units all around - less that 200 miles on em. The bad feel was there when I bought it and it needed tires. I drove it from the buy, to the tire store - no change in the steering.
If the diesel shop didn't notice bad u-joints when they did the brakes (all four) and tie rod, new steering gear, power steering flush and more - well, I'll see tomorrow.
The tires are brand new Michelin E rated units all around - less that 200 miles on em. The bad feel was there when I bought it and it needed tires. I drove it from the buy, to the tire store - no change in the steering.
If the diesel shop didn't notice bad u-joints when they did the brakes (all four) and tie rod, new steering gear, power steering flush and more - well, I'll see tomorrow.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
From: San Diego area
Nice.
I finally have it back. New Moog balljoints and Readhead steering gear.
Drives like it should (returns to center on the freeway), and I don't even think about having to stay in lanes, it just does.
The shop did what I asked but it was just too much hassle. I'm going to be doing everything myself from here on out , I guess cause that's what I'm used to.
I finally have it back. New Moog balljoints and Readhead steering gear.
Drives like it should (returns to center on the freeway), and I don't even think about having to stay in lanes, it just does.
The shop did what I asked but it was just too much hassle. I'm going to be doing everything myself from here on out , I guess cause that's what I'm used to.
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