Suspension, bushings or somthing else?

[blueblur1984]

Howdy everybody. I have been noticing a weird tendency for my t4r to shimmy side to side and make a lot of noise when I hit a bump. This truck needs a lot of love (as the previous owner gave it none) so I plan on doing everything to this truck at some point or another, but I would like to get this shimmy and squeak handled sooner rather than later. Have any of you had this problem and if so, what was the cause? Is it the shocks? The bushings? Maybe an alignment issue? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[cdrewferd]

Couple things to check:

Sway bar bushings
Upper and lower ball joints
Outer tie rods
Steering rack

How about some more info too? Year, mileage, engine? You could also check the wheel bearings, but for side to side my bet is on the tie rods or steering rack.

 

[GhostRing]

I'm going through the same thing with my recently aquired '98 with 192K
The "shimmy" seems to occur most in the rear when going over bumps.
The front tracks well and doesn't seem to exhibit much steering play.
I am hoping it is simply the roached suspension unable to keep up with the
road conditions. I am planning new springs/shocks anyway, so I hope this is the major source.

 

[BillIam]

could be the panhard bushings, 192k miles is alot of potholes

 

[blueblur1984]

Couple things to check:

Sway bar bushings
Upper and lower ball joints
Outer tie rods
Steering rack

How about some more info too? Year, mileage, engine? You could also check the wheel bearings, but for side to side my bet is on the tie rods or steering rack.

It is a 97 SR5 with the v6, automatic, 4 wheel drive and 123k miles. It has been parked outside it's entire life so it's a little rough comsetically but I'll have to drop the skid plate to see if the same goes for my steering bushings. The wheel bearings are fine...I checked the fronts and the rears were just done. I can't say for certain but a friend of mine riding in the back today said it sounded like it was coming from the rear?

 

[blueblur1984]

I think I've figured it out. The noise doesn't seem to be linked to any steering, but it definitely picks up when I go over any sort of a bump. The shocks are original from the factory so I think that's the culprit...they really didn't seem to like the trail I took this weekend. I suppose it's time to start saving up for those toytec's I've been eyeballing.