Dieseldude4x4

My 92 has a bounce type wobble in the front end that is driving me crazy. The wheel bearings are tight, the ball joints are tight, replaced all six tires, had them balanced twice at two different locations, rotors are straight, steering linkage is tight, steering box play is very minimal, and yet I still get this bounce type wobble. Starts at about 35, is real real noticeable at 45, and seems to fade a little around 55.

The truck has three different style wheels on it, not by me or my choice, but I have rotated tires and centered up the wheel as best I can and still I have this bounce. That stupid steering coupler that Dodge uses has a little slop in it and I am going to replace it with the Borgeson shaft. Even though, there has to be something in the front end rotating mass that is causing the bounce wobble in the first place.

Someone mentioned that the first gen trucks should have a centering type wheel where the lug nut centers the wheel on the studs. Never heard of this but it is possible I guess. Gonna replace the steering coupler shaft and see what that does. May have to try two new front wheels and then take it to the front end shop to see of the castor is off or something. I can't stand to drive it like this, that's for sure.

Any ideas?

Dieseldude4x4

Just ordered this and had it overnighted to the shack. Hope it will help.

http://www.borgeson.com/TruckProductDodge.htm

zulusafari

shocks?

Dieseldude4x4

Shocks are failry new and he said they are still very firm but you and I know there is a big difference between a man pushing on a shock and a 7000 pound truck pushing on a shock. That may be the next move also.

apache

Find a shop who has an old style on car balancer. This will run the tire up to 60 mph or so while on the truck. You might be amazed what you find. I have had and read of numerous shops uncapable of balancing tires correctly. You could check rim runout as well whit a makeshift dial indicator or? My vote goes to a bad balance or bent rim. Dosent your 350 with single rw have coned type lugs? that should center it. Check your rotors for mud packed in the slots also.

Dieseldude4x4

Checked the rotors out, they're clean.
There is only one set of cone wheels on the truck, the other four are different (dually here).
The spin balance on the truck was my next option. There is a place here in Petersburg that does that.
Checked the runout on the wheels, very little to none at all both on the side wall and the tread areas.

apache

Ive had good results adding a good steering damper, but thats really covering the problem. gotta be something out of wack

Dieseldude4x4

I've asked the NAPA guy to look for a dampener but like you say, I want to find the root cause first. At 35 to 45 mph, it will jerk the wheel almost out of your hands, it's worse than I have seen on any of my trucks ever. I drove it home from NAPA today and I was so disgusted, I just shoved it in the driveway and got out of it before I did something stupid like hang a for sale sign on it. I'm going to look at rotors again tomorrow and maybe move the cone wheels up to the front to see or maybe put the front tires off my 99 on this truck to eliminate tire/wheel problems.

Dieseldude4x4

Think I finally cured the bounce on the front end. Moved the two cup and cone wheels to the front and it is smooth as silk right up to 65 or so. Now the rear is bouncing so I know what I need to do, get some other wheels, the right ones this time.

For those that hate that crappy flex joint they stuck on these older trucks, the Borgeson replacement shaft is the way to go. Had it installed in about 45 minutes and no slop at all. There is a link to the site above for those interested.

Dieseldude4x4

Got four brand new wheels laying in the shop at the NAPA dealer. $98 a piece and they look good. I'll let you know how it goes next week after I get back from fishing once they are installed. May have to get two more for the front now so everything matches.

PumpDaddy

Mine USED to shake all to H, but Haulin in Dixie told me that the wheels need to be centered as best you can with 2 acorn style nuts, put the other 6 flat lug nuts on and then have the tires trued and balanced. The shop that did my truck had to rotate each front tire on the studs 6 times until they found the "best" running postion, tightend them down, balanced and trued them, and these where NEW tires, now even at 95 mph, I can hold the steering wheel with one finger. I keep 4 acorn nuts in the console just for this. So far have 25K miles on the tires and no shimey or bounce. The rims don't run true on the hubs, and the lug nuts won't center them up either.

Dieseldude4x4

Picked the truck up yesterday, no bounce, problem solved......

rolling18

im Sooo Jeallous! glad you had such a simple fix!!

what is "true-ing" a tire? how do you do that?
whee do you find a high speed balancer? is it a specialty thing?
thanks!!

infidel

Cheap simple fix if balance is the problem> www.innovativebalancing.com