steering wheel shaking
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: SW MN
steering wheel shaking
Sometimes when I am driving down the road with my 1969 F250 camper special, all of a sudden the steering wheel starts wabbling real fast. The tires must also be moving because the pickup moves back and forth in the lane that I am in. It doesn't have power steering. When it does happen, I slow down and then it stops wabbling and then I can speed back up and it won't do it. Would it be a tie rod?
Thanks for all your advice because I am scared to drive it.
Thanks for all your advice because I am scared to drive it.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,518
Likes: 3
From: Spokane, WA
Oscar, you didn't mention whether it was two or four wheel drive. I'll assume two. I would definitely start by checking the steering linkage. Especially where the linkage connects to the pitman arm. Also take a look at the radius arm bushings where the arms meet the frame underneath the cab. Good luck.
Jeff
Jeff
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 731
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From: in the springs
okay a lot of things can cause vibrations like that. a u joint going out a wheel that is badly out of of balance tie- rods and ball joints would be the more likely culprits, easy checks to do at home, jack up the front end and support it on jack stands, have a helper turn the tire itself on either side back and forth while you observe the tie rod end if they are not moving as a unit they need to be replaced.( should not pop back and forth when the tire changes direction. the next check is on the ball joints grasp the top and bottom of the tire and pull out on the bottom while pushing in on the top if you get a significant amount of travel balljoint should be closely inspected and prbably replaced. if you are not sure what you are looking at and think you may have a bad part take it to a tire shop that can do alignments and the like and ask them to check it and show you what it is doing. if you do wind up replacing ball joints and tie rod ends i would recomend biting the bullet and rebuild the front suspension as it will be mostly apart anyway.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,222
Likes: 1
From: East Central Florida
There are no 4X4 camper specials, at least not OEM ones.
There are no ball joints on a 2wd F-250 either.
Perhaps you are thinking of King Pins?
Most likely the problem is excess play in center link that connects steering together. the next most likely cound be the steering box itself, but the fact the truck goes from side to side indicates both wheels are undulating or wobbling together and that is common when the center link is worn beyond acceptable parameters.
It's under $70 for the part depending where you buy it and after it's installed have your "toe in" checked by a capable front end mechanic.
FBp
There are no ball joints on a 2wd F-250 either.
Perhaps you are thinking of King Pins?
Most likely the problem is excess play in center link that connects steering together. the next most likely cound be the steering box itself, but the fact the truck goes from side to side indicates both wheels are undulating or wobbling together and that is common when the center link is worn beyond acceptable parameters.
It's under $70 for the part depending where you buy it and after it's installed have your "toe in" checked by a capable front end mechanic.
FBp
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 970
Likes: 3
Does the truck have a steering dampner on it? If it does I would suggest you disconnect it on one end and try and move it back and forth thru it's normal travel.
If you don't feel any resistance or voids in that resistance replace it. If it doesn't have
one install one. You can spend a fortune trying to stop the gyroscopic event that takes place on I beam or solid front axles, the mfgs. have all failed except for the dampner.
If you don't feel any resistance or voids in that resistance replace it. If it doesn't have
one install one. You can spend a fortune trying to stop the gyroscopic event that takes place on I beam or solid front axles, the mfgs. have all failed except for the dampner.
Cross-Country
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: sierra vista, az.
Years ago I had a 68 that did the same thing.
It mostly happened when I slowed down or hit a small pothole and then it would shake violently!
Dad changed out the center link and it worked fine.
It mostly happened when I slowed down or hit a small pothole and then it would shake violently!
Dad changed out the center link and it worked fine.
