Ray, I saw the hole you are talking about. The brackets you used look like they would be a lot simpler to install than what I have. I will see if I can find a set.
Thanks again, Mark

 

Just a thought but after you installed new king pins, have you checked the lock pins to see if they loosened up any?

JB

 

The truck didn't shimmy from the factory, it didn't have shocks from the factory,nor radials and tubeless wheels, so putting shocks isn't the cure, although they will be a welcome addition, something is loose or worn out, recheck the tie rod ends,jack up one wheel and work the tire back and forth aggresively to see if one or the other rod end gets loose, watch steering box at this time also, if king pins are tight that won't be the problem, what I didn't see you check, or I missed it, was run out on the wheel, with the front end jacked up set a five gallon bucket along side the wheel front or rear, using a rod,screwdriver,stick set it on the can turn the wheel and see if it runs true side to side, there is a possibility of a bent wheel that will cause the shimmy.

 

JB, Thanks for the reply. I will check those lock bolts tomorrow. I didn't think about them working loose.
Thanks again, Mark

 

C600, Thank you. I'm thinking that the out of round driver's side tire may be the culprit. I will be replacing both of them soon, so hopefully they will solve the problem. I will also be adding shocks at some time also. I checked all of my wheels for sideways runout before I had them powdercoated. All six had probably .030-.040" of runout on the bead of the rim. I pulled them off of a mid 70s Dodge motorhome. None appeared damaged, from hitting a curb or something similar, so I'm assuming the runout is normal. Everything else in the steering has been rebuilt or was tight when I checked it. I do need to adjust the toe in also.
Thanks again, Mark

 

JB, I had to run to the shop to fill my wood stove, so I checked the kingpin lock bolts while I was there. They are both tight. Thankfully I can eliminate those.
Thanks, Mark

 

Thats all good then, with a little more toe in and new tires that may just correct the problem, although I don't see how the out of round would cause a shimmy.
I fought a lot of these problems on a 61 GMC 2 ton with torsion bar independent front end, long story short it was the lower ball joint.

 

Mark, I had a out of round tire on my 51 awhile back that gave me a bad shimmy at around 40-45 mph got new tires cured the problem.

 

If he has 3/8" toe-in now, you're saying to add more??

 

Thanks, Jim. The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that it is probably the out of round tire. And I believe having no shocks on the front to dampen bounce, may be allowing it to be worse. My front tires are not balanced either, so that may be contributing to the problem also.
Thanks again,Mark

 

I'm not sure more excessive toe in would have any effect on the shimmy, but it would sure play havoc with the life of my new tires.
Mark

 

Believe me, Mark, excessive toe in or too much toe out can cause a shimmy as the tire scuffs along the road. As someone mentioned, check the tie rod for being straight. Not uncommon for it to get hung up on a stump or rock or where someone winches it onto a trailer with the chain around the tie rod. This happens and instant excessive toe out.

 

You are probably right, Ray. I just always assumed that it would be much more of a problem with toe out as you dart back and forth correcting. I did check my tie rod and it is straight. I will double check the tie rod ends also, but I believe they are tight. I will post an update when I set the toe and get the new tires on.
Thanks again, Mark

 

You may have already thought of this, but test it after each correction. That way you know which one fixed it.

 

Thanks! No, I didn't think of it, I will do that.
Thank you, Mark