First let me say that this is a great forum. Since I got my powerstrock I have found lots of good info. Here is my problem I have a 01 f350 drw 4x4 55k and the front end is horrible.getting worse. Driving down the road I have to make contnious corrections in the steering. Truck wants to wander hit a bump and it jumps around(steering wheel).Hard to explain. Just does not feel right. Feals like there is something loose.Also there is a slight vibration at speed. Also noticed that the front tires are wearing really fast.Had an allignment a few thousand miles ago no help. Seem to be wearing evenly just a lot less tread then the rears. All the steering linkage seams tight. I jacked it up tonight and pulled the tires to see whats up. I thought maybe ball joints? Seam tight a slight play in the left upper. Am i checking them right by grabbing the hub and pulling up and down and side to side looking for movement in the ball joints? When I turn the hub there is a metal rubbing noise about every 3/4 turn. Seams like brake pads rubbing. only lasts about a quarter turn. Both left and right side. Hub on left side feels harder to turn then right. Does not want to spin freely. Could it be bearings? Sorry this is so long. But I know that you guys are good and can help. Thanks Don

 

O-well. Guess no one has any ideas .

 

to check your ball joints you should jack the front end up and leave the tire on then grab the tire at 6 and 12 o'clock and push and pull opposite each other. if there is any play its either ball joints or bearing looseness. if there is have a friend wiggle the tire and watch the ball joints. if they don't move watch the wheel against the steering knuckle. the movement should be pretty obvious. if you had your alignment done at an honest shop they would have told you that there was something loose. with loose parts an alignment is a waste of time and money. but if everything is tight and the alignment is in spec then your tire should not be wearing as you say. is the wear even across the tire or one one edge. run your hand across the tread if there is a sharp edge one way and not the other then you toe-in is out of alignment.

post your findings and we will go from there
tjbeggs

 

Thanks for the reply. As soon as the rain stops I will give that a try. The tire are wearing even. I ran my hand over them and all feals good. The rear tires and fronts are the same vintage about 10,000 miles. Back tires look brand new lots of tread. Fronts look about half the tread of the back. The town I live in does not have much of a choice in good shops. Would not surprise me if they did somthing wrong. When they had it I was out of town and told them to do brakes in the front, allignment and oil change. Brakes squeak like unreal, oil filter came loose and started leaking soon after. I will never go there again. The next closest place is about an hour down the mountain. I was hoping for an easy fix but things never go that way. I will let you know what I find. Thanks again

 

Don -- I have the same truck as you have, and I had similar problems I'm a carpenter not a mechanic , but I had to replace the front carriers that enclose the wheel bearing assembly. the needle bearings were worn out. My front end was also wearing tires and was a little squirrely. you might also check to see if the rear needs some friction modifier. these duallys seam to want to track a straight line. Hope this helps--Greg

 

busta-knuckles, What tires do/ did you have on your truck? I am starting to think that the tires I have are to blame mostly. General Ameritac. I was reading some reviews on general tires and people seem to get no life from them and have a hard time balancing them. Anybody have this problem with general tires?

 

Are you sure the 4 wheel drive is not engaged? Sounds like a lot of the symtoms are there...

 

The 4wd is not engaged. I had that thought too. Jacked the front up and checked that the hubs were not locked or not working. They work fine.

 

Don-- The tires I am running are "Hankook dynamic AT" they are not very good, however I have used general tires on other trucks. they were inexpensive, but I didn't have any problems other than wearing out quickly. --Greg