I’m having an issue with my steering wheel having an “oscillating” feeling to it when making sweeping turns at moderate speeds, such as when I‘m on an exit ramp or making a turn at an intersection where I did not stop first. Speeds will be in the 10-40 mph range. The wheel feels like its trying to move back and forth in my hands. When at its worst, if I lighten up my grip on the wheel, the movement can be seen. It only does this periodically…meaning for a day or so I’ll notice it and then it seems to lessen or go away completely…only to return again in a couple of days. The feeling is similar to what you get when in 4wd on a surface that isn’t slippery…kind of a “crabbing” feeling.
At first I was attributing this to road surface conditions, but lately I don’t think that’s the case. The truck has 29,000 miles on it. Has anyone else experienced this? At first I thought that possibly my transfer case was not disengaging, but when tested on grass and shale, only the rear wheels spin…so I ruled that out. Might I have a universal joint going bad already? Or is this more likely a steering gear issue?

My normal, long-time, excellent service Dodge dealership was one that had their franchise pulled by the incompetents that are currently running Chrysler. I now must go to the cross-town Chrysler rip-off incompetent dealership for warranty service, or travel 30 miles to visit a decent Dodge service department. I’d like to do my homework and diagnose the problem before going across town. Thanks in advance for feedback that anyone can give to me.

 

Every time that has happened to me I had a cord slipped on one of my front tires.

 

Hmmm... You're referring to a tire "belt" being broken? I hadn't considered that as being a cause. I'll have to check. If that is the cause then I must have more than one problem tire. I just rotated tires on Friday. The problem was there before rotation and I still have it after rotating them.

 

My truck was doing that and it was the axle u-joint.

 

That's what I was thinking. I guess I'll be crawling under the truck tonight, looking for the tell-tale red rust dust on the u-joints.

 

Thanks for the help!! Driver side front axle joint covered in tell-tale red bearing dust...appointment scheduled for Friday morning.

 

Dealership replaced both front axle joints...under warranty...problem fixed. 29,000 miles is all that's on the truck...

 

Glad it worked out for ya - how much would they have charged if it wasn't under warranty?

 

I don't know...and I wouldn't have found out...at least not at this dealership. If they wouldn't have been covered by warranty, I'd either have changed them myself or taken it to my old/ex-Dodge dealership. The old/ex dealership is always very reasonable on repairs such as this.

Its a shame that u-joints don't last any longer than 29,000 miles. I wonder how long this pair will last...

 

Have many other people had this problem? I am taking mine in tomorrow for the same problem. The truck only has 35,700 miles on it. I guess the only good thing is it went bad now and not in another 300 miles. Both sides of the axle are toast.

 

86000 km, done all u-joints, new front shaft, ball joints, now ready for ball joints and steer joints again. savin my pennies for a locking hub kit, havent done wheel bearings yet, think there waiting to be off warranty

 

I got the truck back, new front axle u joints, upper and lower ball joints on both sides and a new rear drive shaft. The dealer said it was cheaper and easier for them to warrenty the entire driveshaft than to change the rear u joints. This is the first truck I have ever had to have that much work done before 36,000 miles. I have put 100,000 + miles on trucks and not touched any of these parts.