zigg
Full Access Member
Took the truck in for the alignment. Initially cost $65 plus a couple shims. They did mention that the u-joints on the front axle were dry and rusty and would be needing attention sooner rather than later, and a few other little minor things...
Since I had them replace the drag link, I expected it to steer a bit different(stiffer) but I couldn't keep it between the ditches at all, and once I turned a corner, I couldn't get it back to center, and it would jump all over the place. Really scary. I thought of the dreaded "Death wobble" I've heard of. When I called them, they said they had adjusted the steering box, and it was probably too tight?!
So, had it towed over there, and they said that it wasn't the steering box, but the front U-joints jamming up.
I was pretty skeptical, that the u-joints which aren't even in play while it's in 2WD could cause a 6,000lb truck to jump all over, but they insisted. Anyway, they where adamant that was the problem. So I placed a little wager with the owner. He said if he was wrong, he would pay for the work, if I was wrong, I was buying beers for the boys in the shop.
The long and short of it is, I got the truck back this morning, and it drives like a dream. Night and day difference. He showed me the joints, and a couple of them are so badly seized that you can't even get the caps off to see what's inside. Some others, the needle bearings were just pulverized to dust.
I really hate the taste of "humble pie", but sometimes ya just gotta eat it.
Now I gotta go out and buy some beer for the boys at the shop...(sigh)
Check those U-joints!!
Zigg
Since I had them replace the drag link, I expected it to steer a bit different(stiffer) but I couldn't keep it between the ditches at all, and once I turned a corner, I couldn't get it back to center, and it would jump all over the place. Really scary. I thought of the dreaded "Death wobble" I've heard of. When I called them, they said they had adjusted the steering box, and it was probably too tight?!
So, had it towed over there, and they said that it wasn't the steering box, but the front U-joints jamming up.
I was pretty skeptical, that the u-joints which aren't even in play while it's in 2WD could cause a 6,000lb truck to jump all over, but they insisted. Anyway, they where adamant that was the problem. So I placed a little wager with the owner. He said if he was wrong, he would pay for the work, if I was wrong, I was buying beers for the boys in the shop.
The long and short of it is, I got the truck back this morning, and it drives like a dream. Night and day difference. He showed me the joints, and a couple of them are so badly seized that you can't even get the caps off to see what's inside. Some others, the needle bearings were just pulverized to dust.
I really hate the taste of "humble pie", but sometimes ya just gotta eat it.
Now I gotta go out and buy some beer for the boys at the shop...(sigh)
Check those U-joints!!
Zigg