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Severe Steering Wobble

1K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  scrambled 
#1 ·
I bought a 97 F250 Ext cab 4x4 with a 7.3L diesel about 4 months ago. It runs great and tracks down the road fine but under the right conditions it can get a severe wobble in the steering. It usually happens when I'm going around a slight to moderate turn over a slightly rough road surface above 45 miles per hour. It can really through things around the cab. Once I slow down to 15 mph the wobble goes away and I can take it right back up to 55.

My father-in-law is a mechanic and and we had the front and rear ends off the ground and didn't see any play in the wheel bearings. He also had me turn the wheel and didn't see any play in the tie rods. It current'ly doesn't have a steering stabilizer, which I'm planning on getting put on this week. I also believe the PO might have lifted the front end a bit to level it out but I'm not positive on that.

I'm running the same tires on it that it had when I bought it which are LT 255/85R16's. Could there be any caster or camber issues that I'm dealing with? Will the stabilizer help at all? It tracks down the road nicely as long as I don't get that bounce going around a corner and once the wobble starts it can be quite unnerving, especially when you have to slow down to 15 mph on the freeway.

Thanks for your help.
 
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#4 ·
There isn't any slop in the steering when turning the wheel with the engine off. Everything seems to be good and tight, but that answers a question on my dads 80 chevy 3/4 ton 4x4.

I'll take a close look at the tracking bar when I put on the steering stabilizer. Could the tracking bar still be the problem if there isn't noticeable play in the joints when turning the wheel with the engine off?

Thanks for your quick responses. I'm new to the full size truck game having drive a 2 wheel drive ranger and Scouts for years before getting my first diesel.
 
#5 ·
the track bar will probably seem very tight, it is just one of those "if it does this then this is the problem" type deals. ive seen them where they would jerk the steering wheel right out of your hand at 30mph.......Marc
 
#6 ·
wobble

Check your toe on the allignment. My truck wobbled real bad cause it was toed in too far. made the poor truck jump all over the lane.

Travis
 
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