Front tire wobble
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2005
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Front tire wobble
2003 F350 2WD
I know this truck needs a alignment. It eats front tires
About a month ago it would start a death wobble after hitting a bump.
We had 2 new front tires put on it and it was fine.
One thing the tire guy did was used beads to balance them. He has recently lost his lease and is set up in a temp location without a balancer.
The tire guy is our friend and we always trade our labor for tires. So last week we stated getting a death wobble.
So I spent yesterday putting in new ball joints. My question is while I had the truck up off the front wheels I can grab the tires and it shifts side to side about a inch or so.
Is that normal?
On more thing is the power steering gear box has been leaking and has a leak at the pitman arm seal.
I know this truck needs a alignment. It eats front tires
About a month ago it would start a death wobble after hitting a bump.
We had 2 new front tires put on it and it was fine.
One thing the tire guy did was used beads to balance them. He has recently lost his lease and is set up in a temp location without a balancer.
The tire guy is our friend and we always trade our labor for tires. So last week we stated getting a death wobble.
So I spent yesterday putting in new ball joints. My question is while I had the truck up off the front wheels I can grab the tires and it shifts side to side about a inch or so.
Is that normal?
On more thing is the power steering gear box has been leaking and has a leak at the pitman arm seal.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 6
From: Massachusetts
2003 F350 2WD
I know this truck needs a alignment. It eats front tires
About a month ago it would start a death wobble after hitting a bump.
We had 2 new front tires put on it and it was fine.
One thing the tire guy did was used beads to balance them. He has recently lost his lease and is set up in a temp location without a balancer.
The tire guy is our friend and we always trade our labor for tires. So last week we stated getting a death wobble.
So I spent yesterday putting in new ball joints. My question is while I had the truck up off the front wheels I can grab the tires and it shifts side to side about a inch or so.
Is that normal?
On more thing is the power steering gear box has been leaking and has a leak at the pitman arm seal.
I know this truck needs a alignment. It eats front tires
About a month ago it would start a death wobble after hitting a bump.
We had 2 new front tires put on it and it was fine.
One thing the tire guy did was used beads to balance them. He has recently lost his lease and is set up in a temp location without a balancer.
The tire guy is our friend and we always trade our labor for tires. So last week we stated getting a death wobble.
So I spent yesterday putting in new ball joints. My question is while I had the truck up off the front wheels I can grab the tires and it shifts side to side about a inch or so.
Is that normal?
On more thing is the power steering gear box has been leaking and has a leak at the pitman arm seal.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46
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It is the entire linkage. The pitman arm is moving
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Freshman User
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2019
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Hello, Do you mean the steering wheel in the truck moves back and fourth an inch? If you are not sure as to the cause of your Death wobble ? I would take the truck into your nearest alignment shop and have them look at it and they will give you a free estimate as to what your problem is. This would be much safer and faster then you trying to guess whats causing all the play in your steering if your not sure how to check it correctly yourself. YouTube is also a great source for the DIY mechanics.
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More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 565
Likes: 33
From: Newcastle & Gillette WY
This is not normal. You can verify the tie rod ends and center link by jacking one side at a time and trying to replicate the movement turning the elevated wheel by hand while watching for play in those components. Or you can parallel park with one tire adjacent to a cub and have someone turn the steering wheel while you watch from below. It reads like your steering box is shot, and the extra play in the output shaft is allowing the seal to leak. Some seepage is normal over the years, but if it looks "wet" you have a problem.
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Freshman User
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After shooting the parts gun a few times I think I fixed it.
Axle pivot bushings. The problem was every time I jack it up I would put the jack stands on the axles.
I could not get that bearing to move with the trucks weight on it.
So new ball joints, drag link and tie rod ends did not help I also put in a new gear box mainly because it leaked.
Going to get it aligned tomorrow so maybe it will stop eating tires
Axle pivot bushings. The problem was every time I jack it up I would put the jack stands on the axles.
I could not get that bearing to move with the trucks weight on it.
So new ball joints, drag link and tie rod ends did not help I also put in a new gear box mainly because it leaked.
Going to get it aligned tomorrow so maybe it will stop eating tires
