Steering Shake

[n20]

Around 55mph and up i notice a really good shake in my steering wheel. Shakes back and forth. Notice it really rough while turning at these speeds, it really starts to shake. It shakes slightly at lower speeds and more so over bumps or on rough roads like dirt roads. My steering is somewhat loose, moves about 10-20 degrees each way before response. Any ideas where to start looking first? Thanks

[pitamarillo84]

there are a couple of possibilities could be a bad factory steer stabalizer if you have one could be the steering gear becomeing loose and may need adj. could be your intermediate shaft that actually attaches the wheel to the steer gear plus a couple other things but i would start by checking those items first

[n20]

replaced the stabilizer awhile back. I've heard that the gearbox on these are prone to failure. How would i check the shaft from the box to the steering wheel? What would i be looking for in checking these?

[n20]

I replaced my gp's last weekend and while i had the intercooler tube off i did grab the shaft and i could shake it up down and side to side a little bit. It wasn't dead tight. Is this not good? Does that mean there is a problem with the shaft or the gearbox?

[Rob454]

Im assuming your wheels are balanced d your lug nuts are tight. On some tires if theire just balanced just so loosing a wheel weight will throw it out of balance. Remember your tires were installed and balanced by a kid making 7 bucks a hour. i doubt he went and tried to do his best to use the least amount of weight

[bad_blue_oval]

sounds like your steering gearbox is not tight against your frame. Is there mud inside the wheels?? I would check the torque of the gearbox mounting bolts before it possibly falls off!

[bad_blue_oval]

I just replaced my gearbox today for looseness. I had a ton of play in the wheel, so i tightened the pinion to take the play out. When i drove it the steering was sticky, wouldnt drive itself straight and i was always fighting it. Gearbox was just too wore out to adjust. Got a gearbox from napa for 200, works great, drives great!

[n20]

I'll have to check all those things out when i get a minute tomorrow. Info is appreciated!

[n20]

So i checked my gearbox to see if the bolts are tight and the box is tight against the frame. I crawled under the hood and grabbed the shaft between the firewall and the box and i can wiggle it like it is loose. Not an extreme case of loosness but it does move. I also noticed a slight creak and almost a rubbing feeling in the steering wheel when turned hard left. Leads me to think my box is toast. Any ideas?

[OregonStroker]

wheel berrings? grab around wheels and pull back and forth, if you get movement and some nocking noise its the berrings.