Vibration in steering wheel
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: Dubai, UAE
Vibration in steering wheel
Hi gang,
I felt a vibration in the steering wheel, and from my experience that meant that the tires needed balancing. So i had them balanced. Problem NOT solved.
To be honest, this vibration seems to come and go. Strange if you ask me! In fact Ive had the tires balanced about 3 times now, each time going to a better shop that says they can do a better job or has a better balancing machine. Anyhow, the problem isnt consistent and the guys at the tire shop say that they cant balance the tires any better then they have already.
Could the vibration come from something in the drive line????
the vibration felt is driving me mad and I hate that I cant get a smooth ride. Any suggestions are welcomed.
And while I'm at it, Season's Greeting to all the FTE members.
Cheers
I felt a vibration in the steering wheel, and from my experience that meant that the tires needed balancing. So i had them balanced. Problem NOT solved.
To be honest, this vibration seems to come and go. Strange if you ask me! In fact Ive had the tires balanced about 3 times now, each time going to a better shop that says they can do a better job or has a better balancing machine. Anyhow, the problem isnt consistent and the guys at the tire shop say that they cant balance the tires any better then they have already.
Could the vibration come from something in the drive line????
the vibration felt is driving me mad and I hate that I cant get a smooth ride. Any suggestions are welcomed.
And while I'm at it, Season's Greeting to all the FTE members.
Cheers
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 230
Likes: 11
Subscribing to this threas because the '06 I bought a few weeks ago started this same thing this weekend. The vibration is intermitent and sometimes I could feel vibration in the wheel (usually a front end problem) and sometinmes I could feel it in the floor and seat (usually a balance problem). I am going to get the tires rotated a re-balanced but I will be watching this thread for any clues.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
I get a slight vibe at 65-70 but I am running big ole mud tires, nothing out of the ordinary for me.
And to the OP if you are running Cooper STTs what do you expect from a mud tire? If you are not running the STTs coopers have been know to have balance problems, I have had a few sets, all have had some balance issue at one time or another.
And the leveling kits magnify any vibration due to the more extreme angles of the a arms.
Try to get the tires dynamically balanced(weights on both sides of the rim) or purchase some Dynabead tire balance poweder, put it in the rims, and it does an excellent job of keeping things in check. Could not balance my Boggers on the Ranger, put in 12oz of Dynabead, problem solved, rides like a Caddilac.
And to the OP if you are running Cooper STTs what do you expect from a mud tire? If you are not running the STTs coopers have been know to have balance problems, I have had a few sets, all have had some balance issue at one time or another.
And the leveling kits magnify any vibration due to the more extreme angles of the a arms.
Try to get the tires dynamically balanced(weights on both sides of the rim) or purchase some Dynabead tire balance poweder, put it in the rims, and it does an excellent job of keeping things in check. Could not balance my Boggers on the Ranger, put in 12oz of Dynabead, problem solved, rides like a Caddilac.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 393
Likes: 2
I had the same issue on an 2002 Chevy suburban I spent $700 to have rear end redone and still was there. So i replaced the u joints and just so happened it was the problem... so check them. Even the slightest wiggle could be the biggest vibe..
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 161
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From: Dubai, UAE
ccecilm2 - thats exactly what im experiencing. Any luck solving the issue?
Desert Storm - im running Cooper S/T's. Never heard of this Dynabead stuff, how's it work??
ggwash21 - how many miles did you truck have when you changed the U joints? I've got 28,000 km's on mine. I'd be surprised that the U joints needed to be changed with such low mileage. Regardless, how do you check them to know if they need changing.
As for the original question, could the drive shaft be out of balance and could that create the problem?
Desert Storm - im running Cooper S/T's. Never heard of this Dynabead stuff, how's it work??
ggwash21 - how many miles did you truck have when you changed the U joints? I've got 28,000 km's on mine. I'd be surprised that the U joints needed to be changed with such low mileage. Regardless, how do you check them to know if they need changing.
As for the original question, could the drive shaft be out of balance and could that create the problem?
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,313
Likes: 0
From: Sunny, Snowy, CO
I had an 02 with that problem. Was much more pronounced when it was cold. Changed the tires, had the alignment checked, and finally jacked it up (all 4 wheels) and put it in drive. Bent driveshaft.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 230
Likes: 11
I haven't done anything yet. Just noticed the problem on Saturday then truck went in for the brake booster vac line recall on Monday. Will try to get tires re-balanced and rotated this week and post back.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 393
Likes: 2
My 02 had 45,000miles on it. if you can wiggle the drive shaft a little bit(not talking the rear end gears moving) Mine had the SLIGHTEST i mean so little i passed it up. but that was the issue. What size tires are they? stock, over sized? stock wheels after market?
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 161
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From: Dubai, UAE
The issue with the bent drive shaft, did that produce an intermittent vibration??
I have 33x12.5 Cooper S/T All Terrain tires on Mickey Thompson rims.
Trucks got a 2.5" levelling kit as well.
I have 33x12.5 Cooper S/T All Terrain tires on Mickey Thompson rims.
Trucks got a 2.5" levelling kit as well.
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,607
Likes: 151
From: SE Georgia
something else that occurs occasionally
take all 4 tires off and put them back on...but torque them properly and the right torque...150 ft-lbs I believe...check your owners manual to be sure
a while back some guys were having issues...and it turned out that the Tire shop guys had torqued them on tighter than hell with an impact gun
take all 4 tires off and put them back on...but torque them properly and the right torque...150 ft-lbs I believe...check your owners manual to be sure
a while back some guys were having issues...and it turned out that the Tire shop guys had torqued them on tighter than hell with an impact gun
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
From: South Carolina
ccecilm2 - thats exactly what im experiencing. Any luck solving the issue?
Desert Storm - im running Cooper S/T's. Never heard of this Dynabead stuff, how's it work??
ggwash21 - how many miles did you truck have when you changed the U joints? I've got 28,000 km's on mine. I'd be surprised that the U joints needed to be changed with such low mileage. Regardless, how do you check them to know if they need changing.
As for the original question, could the drive shaft be out of balance and could that create the problem?
Desert Storm - im running Cooper S/T's. Never heard of this Dynabead stuff, how's it work??
ggwash21 - how many miles did you truck have when you changed the U joints? I've got 28,000 km's on mine. I'd be surprised that the U joints needed to be changed with such low mileage. Regardless, how do you check them to know if they need changing.
As for the original question, could the drive shaft be out of balance and could that create the problem?
Tire Balancing Products
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,313
Likes: 0
From: Sunny, Snowy, CO
Nope, when I jacked up all 4 tires and slipped it into drive, you could see the driveshaft going up and down about 1/8".
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 161
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From: Dubai, UAE
Thanks for the replies.
So last night im driving home from the other side of town, no vibration. Well, minimal enough that that I'd be happy if the truck drove like that all the time. Then, I dont know if it was the slight bump in the road as that it happened while going around a gentle corner, but the vibration all of a sudden comes back! Drive some more, and it goes away again. Drive some more and its back. ....i dont get it.
Could this have anything to do with steering or suspension components??
I haven't had the truck to the dealer yet, as Im still investigating this problem.
Happy New Year everybody! All the best in 2009!!
So last night im driving home from the other side of town, no vibration. Well, minimal enough that that I'd be happy if the truck drove like that all the time. Then, I dont know if it was the slight bump in the road as that it happened while going around a gentle corner, but the vibration all of a sudden comes back! Drive some more, and it goes away again. Drive some more and its back. ....i dont get it.
Could this have anything to do with steering or suspension components??
I haven't had the truck to the dealer yet, as Im still investigating this problem.
Happy New Year everybody! All the best in 2009!!
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,313
Likes: 0
From: Sunny, Snowy, CO
Thanks for the replies.
So last night im driving home from the other side of town, no vibration. Well, minimal enough that that I'd be happy if the truck drove like that all the time. Then, I dont know if it was the slight bump in the road as that it happened while going around a gentle corner, but the vibration all of a sudden comes back! Drive some more, and it goes away again. Drive some more and its back. ....i dont get it.
Could this have anything to do with steering or suspension components??
I haven't had the truck to the dealer yet, as Im still investigating this problem.
Happy New Year everybody! All the best in 2009!!
So last night im driving home from the other side of town, no vibration. Well, minimal enough that that I'd be happy if the truck drove like that all the time. Then, I dont know if it was the slight bump in the road as that it happened while going around a gentle corner, but the vibration all of a sudden comes back! Drive some more, and it goes away again. Drive some more and its back. ....i dont get it.
Could this have anything to do with steering or suspension components??
I haven't had the truck to the dealer yet, as Im still investigating this problem.
Happy New Year everybody! All the best in 2009!!
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: Dubai, UAE
I dont recall saying that it had anythign to do with the levelling kit. I dont know what to suspect. maybe it is the levelling kit. I hear a 'clunk' when going over speed bumps to fast. I got bigger tires and a levelling kit. My buddy's F150 which does not have a levelling kit but does have bigger tires (he has 275's) his does make the 'clunking' noise and any vibration he felt was solved when he had his tires balanced. So i dont know. I gave the truck to Ford to install the levelling kit, I presume they did it right. But that doesnt mean that they did do it right. Over here, half-a$$ is more often then not, good enough. This si 95% of the reason why I like to be informed when I bring the truck in for a problem instead of blindly giving them the truck hoping they figure out the problem. Are there any component that need to be disassembled during the installation of a levelling kit that may cause the truck to vibrate if not installed properly?? My problem is that I dont know suspension or the front end well enugh to know when to start looking.