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Front end problem?

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Old Jun 4, 2008 | 09:57 PM
  #1  
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suzuki_vinson
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Front end problem?

Got a couple problems. First something is wrong with my four wheel drive. If I put my truck in four wheel drive and run about 20 cant hardly keep it on the road. It pulls back and fourth real hard. And even in two wheel drive when im running down the highway it pulls a little. Kinda feels like your driving in bad wind or something. Just randomly jerks a little every once in a while. Next problem. Bout a month ago when I got out of my truck the door ajar light wouldn't go off. It was late and I was tired so I just went inside. The next day it was off and everything worked fine. It did it again last night so I did the same just popped the dome bulb out and went to bed. Got up this morning. And its still on? I know its probly just a micro switch. But has anyone else had this problems??? Just seems kinda random.
 
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Old Jun 4, 2008 | 10:19 PM
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Dome light problem... spray WD-40 liberally into the door latch, don't be afraid, this is common practice.
As for the wandering... what sorta shape are your ball joints in? sway bar links? how's the suspension?
 
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Old Jun 4, 2008 | 10:26 PM
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pretty good. only got 80,000 on the truck. baby it pretty much, its just kinda weird because it came on sudden.
 
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Old Jun 4, 2008 | 11:24 PM
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No suggestions on what is causing my truck to shake back and forth in four wheel drive??? Also thanks the wd 40 worked for my door ajar light.
 
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Old Jun 4, 2008 | 11:27 PM
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BigF350a
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Originally Posted by suzuki_vinson
No suggestions on what is causing my truck to shake back and forth in four wheel drive??? Also thanks the wd 40 worked for my door ajar light.
Do you have auto hubs or manuals???
 
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Old Jun 5, 2008 | 08:12 AM
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Id dare to bet you have an axle bearing going bad, on the inside of the unit bearing. They are replaceable. But they can cause what your desribing. If thats not it, Ive seen stuck/frozen u joints, that will cause the steering wheel to shimming, left to right, and is speed sensitive. As soon as the axle shaft was pulled, it was obvious the ujoint didnt move anymore, and was stuck in a somewhat angled position. Hope that helps.
 
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Old Jun 5, 2008 | 11:23 AM
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Make sure on of the brake calipers is not stuck, the wheel will get real hot.
 
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Old Jun 5, 2008 | 11:26 AM
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sounds exactly like what mine is doing!!!!
 
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Old Jun 5, 2008 | 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by rebelchevy02
Id dare to bet you have an axle bearing going bad, on the inside of the unit bearing. They are replaceable. But they can cause what your desribing. If thats not it, Ive seen stuck/frozen u joints, that will cause the steering wheel to shimming, left to right, and is speed sensitive. As soon as the axle shaft was pulled, it was obvious the ujoint didnt move anymore, and was stuck in a somewhat angled position. Hope that helps.
I've had to replace my axle joints before, my steering wouldn't easily return to straight after a turn, I had to use more force than normally required to get the wheels straight again. If I let go of the steering the truck would keep turning. This was at slow speeds.
 
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Old Jun 5, 2008 | 03:53 PM
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Jack a wheel up and stick a pry bar under it and pick up on the tire. If it moves look to your ball joints. Have someone pick up on the bar and look at the joints to see them with play.
 
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Old Jun 5, 2008 | 05:30 PM
  #11  
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From: Linton, IN
yeah, checked the b joints today and they seem to be good. It just feels like your kinda driving in bad wind when you run about 60 in 2 wheel drive. But when you put it in four its 10 times worse. I cant run over 20 or i cant even control it. I really havent had time to look into it further tho. Also when i put it back into 2 wheel drive it shakes a jerks a little harder then eventually gets better the further I go.
 
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Old Jun 5, 2008 | 05:38 PM
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Somethings going in the front end, pull the cover and see what the results are... Do you have manual or auto hubs?

If they're manual... put it four high, unlock the hubs (to free) and see if it stops.
 
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Old Jun 5, 2008 | 06:34 PM
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Im really betting on the ujoint in the axleshaft. Have everything unlocked/2wd. If you can, jack up your front end, and turn your wheel lock to lock. Have someone look and see if your axle shafts are turning. If the shaft turns, its exactly what I said it is. If it doesnt move, its something else. The shaft wont spin fast at all, just rotate while your turning the wheel if this is the problem. Definetely takes a second person though. One to turn the wheel, one to watch.
 
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Old Jun 6, 2008 | 02:54 PM
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Just had the same problem, bad u joint for about 6 months and then lost the hub, replaced ujoint and gutted lf hub till new hub is delivered, rolls great now. hub was $237 at Ford, seals and ujoint $80. + labor. didn't get that yet.
 
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