Steering wheel on gravel road??

[JLRSR5]

Need some help diagnosing steering wheels issues.

It seems every time I drive on a gravel road/parking lot or off road where there are small pot holes and just uneven terrain in general at low speeds. 10mph or less my steering wheel is extremely jerky from side to side.

Almost feels like if I let go of the wheel the steering wheel will jerk one way or the other pretty vigorously. Any idea what the problem could be here? Power steering fluid level is fine, no leaks. All my modifications are in my signature. Thanks!

 

[Inv4drZm]

Play with tire pressures (try 30 psi) or your alignment could be off. Check the conditions of your ball joints or bushings in the suspension.

 

[Bumbo]

It almost sounds like how something with too much caster would drive.

I would start with what Inv4drZm said and then go from there.

SOME of what you are experience might be normal, but it might be exaggerated by some other suspension related thing.

I do expect my wheel to have a mind of its own off-road, but I dont really remember it being "pretty vigorous"...

 

[JLRSR5]

Play with tire pressures (try 30 psi) or your alignment could be off. Check the conditions of your ball joints or bushings in the suspension.

Here are the upper and lower bjs. The LBJ look a little icky. I had my mechanic check them for play a few months ago and he said they were fine, but again that was a few .months ago.

 

[blackoutt]

Sounds like 5100's on washboard to me! I had this complaint too and the only thinks I found to alleviate it were, slow down, lower tire pressure (as mentioned above), and/or move to nicer shocks.

 

[JLRSR5]

Sounds like 5100's on washboard to me! I had this complaint too and the only thinks I found to alleviate it were, slow down, lower tire pressure (as mentioned above), and/or move to nicer shocks.

Yeah I have not been as impressed with the 5100s as I thought I'd be given there popularity. They felt great for about 6-7 months, then now I feel they are mehhh.