Shimmy in steering wheel while turning

[airlaird]

Hmmm...I can't figure this out. I have slight "shimmy" in the steering wheel while I turn on curves. It seems to go away when I straighten out. Could this be worn Swaybar bushings, or a bad Old Man Emu steering damper??? ( about 5 years old)?
airlaird

 

[airlaird]

Oh yeah, I should mention, have a 4" lift with Slee Control Arms, J's in front along with 1.5 spacers.
Steve

 

[Tools R Us]

Cupped tires?

 

[airlaird]

No cuppage.... new tires

Cupped tires?

Excellent point..but they are new so no cuppage.
Steve

 

[cruiserdan]

Tire balance, possibly road-force related. The tire/wheel assembly may "balance" on a normal machine but with an abnormal ammount of weight.

A "road-force" balancer will measure wheel run-out and tire run-out independantly and will suggest where to "clock" the wheel within the tire carcass to reduce the inequity. This type of balancer will also expose a tire with a non-correctable heavy spot or a wheel that is bent or has an uncorrectable heavy spot or hopelessly out of round.

The larger the tire the more this type of balancing comes into play.

 

[powderpig]

Wheel bearing loose, Have you had you front end align after the work? if not you may want to have it check. read some past posts. some one else also chased the a few months ago. later robbie

 

[airlaird]

Wheels are balanced

Tire balance, possibly road-force related. The tire/wheel assembly may "balance" on a normal machine but with an abnormal ammount of weight.

A "road-force" balancer will measure wheel run-out and tire run-out independantly and will suggest where to "clock" the wheel within the tire carcass to reduce the inequity. This type of balancer will also expose a tire with a non-correctable heavy spot or a wheel that is bent or has an uncorrectable heavy spot or hopelessly out of round.

The larger the tire the more this type of balancing comes into play.

Well just yesterday I had took it to an alignment shop, the tires checked out fine....the shimmy is ONLY on turns so I believe the balancing is fine, so ya'll dont think it is the bushings or a bad steering damper?
airlaird

 

[Tools R Us]

the shimmy is ONLY on turns so I believe the balancing is fine, so ya'll dont think it is the bushings or a bad steering damper?

The sway bar bushings have nothing to do with it, a stiff steering damper may mask it but won't fix the problem. Most likely it's tire related have you rotated the tires front to back, did it change? Is it the same turning right and left? Did you see the tires spun on the balancer, look for side to side out of round. Could be wheel bearings, trunion bearings, maybe a loose tie rod?

 

[elmariachi]

The sway bar bushings have nothing to do with it, a stiff steering damper may mask it but won't fix the problem. Most likely it's tire related have you rotated the tires front to back, did it change? Is it the same turning right and left? Did you see the tires spun on the balancer, look for side to side out of round. Could be wheel bearings, trunion bearings, maybe a loose tie rod?

Steve...jack one wheel up and try and move the elevated tire back and forth. Do both sides and see if you feel any play. Then have someone else do it and look at all the tie rods and connecting rod ends while they are moving each wheel. Do this on both sides and I bet you find a sloppy tie rod end.

 

[Kalawang]

I'd vote for a busted Tie Rod End or two. Especially if you get road pull.


Kalawang

 

[clownmidget]

Yeah, I vote for the connecting rod ends on the back side of the axle. From my limited experience this comes into play under the circumstances you describe - only while turning.

 

[airlaird]

OK, i will try the tie rod ends. Thanks Guys
airlaird