Ball joints!!!!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 834
Likes: 0
From: South East Florida
could be bad camber too. do your wheels do the "sink inward at the top while in reverse" or at all thing? i thought it was my ball joints and i was told by two different techs or mechanics or whatever(one of them was an alignment guy actually) that my balljoints look fine. the alignment guy told me it was the camber. that he was amazed the one wheel would turn at all. he said i needed camber adjustment bolts or something in order to get it perfect. he did the best alignment he could and it was an immediate day and night difference. maybe you just need an alignment. it helped me out with the same exact symptoms dramatically.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
I wouldn't think ball joints would cause that kind of behavior. Are you sure they're bad? If not, start with an alignment and go from there. There are lots of other things in the front end that wear out. 
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 588
Likes: 0
From: Bellville TX. Wof Houston
You cant take it to any front end shop and have it looked at...
I do this all the time, When I'm NOt sure
Then I go home and fix it....
I do this all the time, When I'm NOt sure
Then I go home and fix it....
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
Likes: 38
From: Bonita Springs FL
I do that too, (I'm assuming you meant "can take it to any front end shop"), but a lot of times their diagnosis leaves something to be desired. My truck pulls to the left and the steering wheel is not centered. The alignment rack says it's all good, and the tech was stumped. He's trying to tell me it's the steering box, but I'm skeptical.
Or the last time I had a brake inspection done, they never looked at the rear wheel cylinders. They were leaking fluid everywhere.
Or the last time I had a brake inspection done, they never looked at the rear wheel cylinders. They were leaking fluid everywhere.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,436
Likes: 0
From: Montana
Are your tires balanced? Only time that happened to me was when I had thrown a belt internally on a tire and it had a small lump in the inside sidewall "Barely visible" Those are the only things that will give vibration besides a glown out shock....but that would be a slower bounce when turning mostly. Oh wait what about the drag link? I think thats what im thinking that mount on the passenger side that connects your steering opposite the box, it has a rubber bushing on it.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
If it is straight according to the Alignment Tech, and it still pulls to one side (the steering wheel not centered shouldn't affect it, unless you are holding it centered.) I would check the front tire on the side it is pulling to. take it to a tire shop and have it speed ballanced. My guess (I am a tireman by day, backyard mechanic by night) is that you have a split belt or a separating tire. If this is the case, get it replaced soonest possible, as they have a tendency to explode on the highway, and it ain't pretty.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 588
Likes: 0
From: Bellville TX. Wof Houston
I hear ya ....
It's hard to find a good front end guy. I used to take my cars to NTW
but the last time I went they did a very poor alinment.
I started going to Firestone. the guy alined the steering wheel back to stright.
firestone also offers the lifetime alinment...
Good luck
It's hard to find a good front end guy. I used to take my cars to NTW
but the last time I went they did a very poor alinment.
I started going to Firestone. the guy alined the steering wheel back to stright.
firestone also offers the lifetime alinment...
Good luck
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
I got it aligned about a month ago. They suggested the tires had a problem, But the tires came off my buddys jeep and they ride fine on it. Then he said it could be the drag link? I cant find a place that will balance them for me. Someone told me I could put sand in them myself? Thanks for all the replys.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
What size tires are they? if they are under 40" and not on Split Rims, a Walmart, or a Les Schwab or other tire shop will be able to ballance them. as for the sand Idea, it is a bad one. sand can shift in the tire while it's spinning and actually make it so out of ballance that it eats bearings and breaks parts. not good.
If you can't find anyone to ballance them, then I suggest CAREFULLY getting all four wheels off the ground and SAFELY on Axle Stands. then engage the 4wheel Drive, and put the truck in gear. then look at each tire. what you are looking for is a tire (most likely a front tire) that looks out of round, or has weird bumps or uneven tread surface on it. any of the above signs, and you should seriously consider replacing the tire.
If you can't find anyone to ballance them, then I suggest CAREFULLY getting all four wheels off the ground and SAFELY on Axle Stands. then engage the 4wheel Drive, and put the truck in gear. then look at each tire. what you are looking for is a tire (most likely a front tire) that looks out of round, or has weird bumps or uneven tread surface on it. any of the above signs, and you should seriously consider replacing the tire.
Last edited by BuddyFord; May 10, 2006 at 02:23 AM.
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