General Ford Ranger Discussion General discussion of the Ford Ranger that does not fit in any other sub-forum.

Scary shimmy in steering wheel when turning...

  #1  
Old 07-15-2010
Jwad00's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas City, Mo
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Scary shimmy in steering wheel when turning...

Hey guys I have noticed a couple of times in my truck that when I turn the steering wheel there is a shimmy and the steering wheel will shutter like crazy! I was on the freeway a couple of times taking a ramp that curved to the right and there is a small bump in the road that I have hit a couple times and when I would hit it just right the steering wheel would shutter back and forth like crazy! It was scary to say the least. What in the world could cause this?
 
  #2  
Old 07-15-2010
filmont's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Bellbrook, OH
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Possibly low power steering fluid. Or even a CV joint. That's all I've got for you.
 
  #3  
Old 07-15-2010
btm757's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Norfolk / Chesapeake, VA
Posts: 3,980
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
The F350 and 250 at work do the same thing
 
  #4  
Old 07-15-2010
malydeen's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 632
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Im guessing ball joint or tie rod end. Jack up the front end and see if you can wiggle the tires at all. If it wiggles side to side its a tie rod. if its top and bottom its a ball joint.
 
  #5  
Old 07-15-2010
rolsmojave3's Avatar
Level III Supporter
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 2,852
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Ball joint or Tie rod end...does it make you swerve?
 
  #6  
Old 07-15-2010
wellcom2knoxvile's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Corvallis, OR/Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by rolsmojave3
Ball joint or Tie rod end.
joints are worn causing a violent shaking... this is commonly referred to as "death wobble" or "the suicide shake"....
 
  #7  
Old 07-15-2010
Jwad00's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas City, Mo
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Deng. Guess I'll be replacing balljoints soon it sounds. Doesn't really make me swerve just vibrates like hell for a second or two
 
  #8  
Old 07-16-2010
rstangboi's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Davis, Ca
Posts: 2,583
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
any chance you had ur truck off and turned ur steering wheel back and forth a few times?

i did that during my drop kit on the mazda...got air in the powersteering...caused suttering like crazy.
 
  #9  
Old 07-16-2010
rolsmojave3's Avatar
Level III Supporter
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 2,852
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Check the Joints before you just go replacing them.
 
  #10  
Old 07-18-2010
Jwad00's Avatar
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Kansas City, Mo
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by rstangboi
any chance you had ur truck off and turned ur steering wheel back and forth a few times?

i did that during my drop kit on the mazda...got air in the powersteering...caused suttering like crazy.
Yes lol. I was coasting down my street one time and turned the wheel with the key on but truck not running. The next day I drove it is when I noticed.
 
  #11  
Old 07-18-2010
01_ranger_4x4's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Muskegon, Michigan
Posts: 3,585
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 2 Posts
i would also geuss tie rod ends or ball joints. my 93 ranger did that bad on the highway when the tie rods were bad.
 
  #12  
Old 07-18-2010
Masteratarms93's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Goose Creek SC
Posts: 4,685
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by Jwad00
Yes lol. I was coasting down my street one time and turned the wheel with the key on but truck not running. The next day I drove it is when I noticed.
thats it. i did it when i had mine jacked up to do tie rods. you need to bleed out your power steering and replace the fluid.
 
  #13  
Old 07-18-2010
cheese_man's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: arthur
Posts: 2,126
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
also check you wheel bearings

you will need some assistance as you need some behind the wheel to see what part is showing play
 
  #14  
Old 07-18-2010
rstangboi's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Davis, Ca
Posts: 2,583
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Jwad00
Yes lol. I was coasting down my street one time and turned the wheel with the key on but truck not running. The next day I drove it is when I noticed.
thats exactly it then...or so i think.

what i did was drive it around town where i knew there was alot of couldesacks....and just turned alot....bled the air out of it and no problems since.
 
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
squrll
General Ford Ranger Discussion
8
02-09-2010 10:37 PM
mind37
Suspension Tech
0
05-25-2009 08:34 PM
zabeard
General Ford Ranger Discussion
13
07-05-2007 06:47 PM
FMD
General Ford Ranger Discussion
7
01-10-2007 08:51 PM
Jeremy102579
General Technical & Electrical
22
10-13-2006 10:31 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Scary shimmy in steering wheel when turning...



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:23 PM.