Crazy Steering problem

[REZARF]

Hello Fellas-

Well, we have had over a foot of new snow here in Iowa, and I just got back into town after a few weeks of buisness. I took the cruiser up to the store today and had an awful nearly violent shimmy in the steering. Here is what I know:

I have such a violent shake on the front end I can literally see the tire oscilating and swinging back and forth with a ton of motion, side to side at about an inch. It shakes the entire front end and feels like the tire is about to be thrown off the axle.

It is more severe in 4WD (High if it matters, I havent tried Low) and is less severe if I am in 2WD H.

Is it possible the wheel bearing is loose? It is most severe around 35-40 miles per hour, but is noticable all the time. Would a birfield have anything to do with this?

In the past year I have replaced all of the following. All tie rods, center arm pivot, and steering stabilizer.

If I get on the brakes the violent shimmy goes away, as well as, if I get out of gear when it is in 4WD.

I am at a loss, what size socket is needed for the nut for the 4WD hub? I will be pulling everything tomorrow.

Any help is greatly appreciated.


REZARF

 

[Poser]

Tires size?

Suspension set up? ( SOA, SUA, lift springs, stock springs, stock/extended shackles, etc.. )

Caster angel?

Ubolts tight?

Everything else in steering and suspension is tight? You KNOW this, as you have put a wrench on EVERYTHING in the last hour?

" Just started doing this " ???


Too many variables man....help out a little...


Good luck!


-Steve

 

[Adventure Teq]

Seen similar problem when folks put extended shackles on without getting caster shims. With the shims intalled the prob went away. But unless you changed the caster somehow this might not relate.

 

[Poser]

Loose tire?

Snow/ice buildup causing massive out of balance issue? (been there..)


????

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Hub socket is 54mm

As for the problem, it could be alot of things... check everything for tightness... then pull the frton end apart.

 

[FLYINGLOW]

Snow/ice buildup causing massive out of balance issue? (been there..)
QUOTE]

I second this. As soon I got on the highway after wheeling in the snow all day Sunday, it shook like a dog passing a peach pit, and it only took 30mph or so to get bad.

 

[REZARF]

Tire size: 33x12.5" Super Swampers Thornbirds
Lift: 4" Spring under, with Caster shims, installed correctly.

I will crank down on everything once the temps are above zero.

It could be some snow and ice throwing the balance off, I will double check that too. Last night after posting I drove home the same route and didnt have nearly the experience I did on the way in. Perhaps it was the ice, I have had shimmy in the past but not like this.

I will crank on everything and let you know.

REZARF
<><
76 fj40

 

[e rock]

When you're checking all your bolts and nuts, make sure you check the steering arms and (especially) the lower bearing caps on the knuckles. If the nuts backed of even a little bit, the trunion bearings would get out of whack in a hurry and cause a serious shimmy.

My wife had a Cherokee with similar problems. It was fine 99% of the time, but if you were driving at least 50mph and hit a bump in the road just right, the driver's front tire would feel like it was coming off. It turned out to be one of the ball joints, but I still can't figure out exactly what was happening to it - whether it was separating or just worn out inside or what.

 

[hammerhead]

Sounds to me like you may want to verify caster setting. Factory was set at 1° but for larger tires that won't be enough. With 33s or 35s you'll need 4° or 5° to get a good feel and no death wobble...