recently I posted about having my E4OD in a 92 F250 tranny hunting in OD with the rpm fluctuating from 1700 rpm to @1900 rpm. I drove the truck like this for maybe 50miles at most as I had to get it home. It was suggested to replace the neutral safety switch. I did, and the problem went away immediately. I then drove it for about 2 weeks without any problems ( @ 300 miles). Recently, it developed a shake that rattles the whole truck. I mean a tremendous front end wobble/shake that makes the truck feel like it will just fall apart. This just happened all of a sudden 1 day as I was driving on the highway. I thought a wheel was about to fall off. As I slowed down to @ 25 mph the shake went away. Now if I drive the truck past 30 mph the shake returns in various stages of severity, but sometimes it feels like the wheels will just come off. I can open the windows and see the front wheel actualy wobbling and shaking all over the place. I heard that bad clutch disks in a torque converter will cause a front end shake, but will this actually cause the front wheels to wobble also? This truck has a strange front end that does not have a stabilizer bar. The tie rods are the only thing that keep the front wheels pointes straight. Actually if I go backwards the wheels will slant at an angle as there is nothing to keep them staight. It looks like the truck has a radical camber adjustment, but only going backwards. I have rebuilt the front end @ 10k miles ego. All new ball joints, tie rods, tie rod ends, etc..

Has anyone experienced this type of condition before? I am trying to determine if I have a front end problem or a torque converter problem. Thanks.

 

One thing on the front end that you didnt mention are the I-beam bushings where they attach ot the frame can be crap. As for shaking the front springs can be bad. Even though, bouncing the truck by hand may show the suspension seems good. While driving is putting enough pressure on the coil springs to make this happen you will have to replace the springs. But try and look at the bushings at the end of the arms, they may be stock still and need a replacement. I would install a stabilizer also. The lockup clutch inside the converter can be going out if its not releasing completely causing a big shake. I am sure if it was the torque converter causing a shake you would feel it under your floor more than the front end. One of GMs cars had that problem and would shake at a stop light though from not releasing.

 

thanks for the suggestion on the I-beam bushings. The tranny shifts nice and smooth at all the same points as always and I am having a hard time beliving in the torque converter, but I have never experienced anything like this before. When I looked at the front tire as the truck was shaking, it was wobling so bad, I thought it would just fall off. the strange thing is that it only happenes above 30 mph. I have also swapped the rear wheels/tires to the front with no difference.

 

Yeah, thats some goofy stuff thats happening. Hopefully its something simple.

 

Jack up the front end and wiggle the tires while looking at whats going on. It could be bad wheel bearings, bushings, kingpins, tie rod or steering assembly. Get a manual for your truck at the auto parts store so you have pictures to look at. If you are missing some critical parts, this could be very dangerous. My front end was butchered by a previous owner in order to lift it, and it was very dangerous to drive. The last thing you want is for the front end to cut loose on a two-lane highway and swerve into oncoming traffic at high speed!!!