Got a little cavalier in my off road exploits now my steering wheel shakes....

[SupraRacer]

Its not too bad, but at 60mph the wheel will just shake back and forth maybe a centimeter or so. this started after i went playing in the snow. i went out and we were going from one field to the next, and there was a little water runoff rut. and figure about 4" of snow on the ground and well the rut filled up with ~8-10, so it looked not too deep, and one of the other guys tried taking it slow and got stuck, The radius of the runoff is about the radius of my 31"s. so i gave it a little run (maybe 5-8mph) and i hit it at about a 30* angle, well the truck bucked back and forth as i went through it with enough force to throw me around a bit, and bounce the truck into the air. (Went through it fine btw) but after that the wheel shakes a bit and of course there is a vibration but ive allways had it(i need my tires balanced).

Now i am very mechanically inclined. rebuilding engines, transmissions, you name it i can do it. but this is my first truck/suv. and the suspention is setup completly differant than what im used to working with. so what would you suggest i look for first? Its a first that i dont know where to start, so i figured id ask the pros.. thanks in advance.

 

[SidVicious]

My first thought would be that you have an alignment issue.

If your truck gets up in the air, there is a good chance that the impact on the way down could have messed up your alignment.

 

[SupraRacer]

well my alignment was already off, it allways would wander on the hwy. but i wouldnt have thought that to cause a shaking. after this weekend i plan to go up to NTB and get there 3yr alighment and tire balance. unlimited alignments and tire balancing.. cant go wrong. but thanks i hope all it is, is my alignment.

 

[Falls]

Check to see if you have a chuck of ice , mud or something stuck to the wheel / brake cal. ect.

I was out drift busting io 3 foot drifts an on the way home it drove kinda shakey ( everything was packed full underneath) , after a nite in the heated garage all was well.

 

[Mark86]

It could be that your tires are not balanced. Maybe you took off a wheel weight while offroading.

 

[SupraRacer]

al good advice, we got another little batch of snow and its ~10* out but all that i can look for real quick. thanks.

 

[Northof49]

I'd also check wheel weights and snow/ice buildup first. Both of those items can produce surprizingly rough vibrations!

If the vibration is felt through the steering wheel and not under your ass, your problem is very likely on the front wheels. Alignment out shouldn't cause shakes as much as pulling in one direction, wandering, bad tire wear, etc.

 

[Falls]

al good advice, we got another little batch of snow and its ~10* out but all that i can look for real quick. thanks.

Ok so now go out and play in the new snow......

Play now , worry later ......j/k

 

[dwm2112]

Possibly bent a wheel out of round...

 

[SupraRacer]

well the wheel weight is a possibility cause everything else looks ok.

lol play now worry later lol

 

[jacal]

well the wheel weight is a possibility cause everything else looks ok.

lol play now worry later lol

I'd say get to the car wash and spend $5 just rinsing out your wheels. Then see how it drives. I've experienced this a number of times now.


J

 

[ironadrenaline]

what about the wheel lugs?? check, maybe one just loosened up a bit upon landing.

 

[SupraRacer]

i washed it today as its now 60* here, lol literally last weekend we got 5" of snow.

andit still does it. I know what a loose wheel or bent rim feels like and this isnt violent enough to be that. it also doesnt even really do anything until you go above 50mph and if you are going 75+ it really vibrates. i can however see that my front comaber is very much out of wack. the passenger side has .5-1* negative camber and the driver side looks like it has positive camber. if thats that bad i can only imagine how bad my toe is out. but thanks for the suggestions. im going to try them all.