What did I fubar on the Mounty now??

[section525]

So I dusted off the Mountaineer last Sunday and drove it down to work. It rode 1/2 way okay all the way there. I parked it at my friends house in SF on Monday night. It was a steep hill (I was facing down) so I turned the tires towards the curb and gently let it roll into it.

The next morning, with a little less than a 1/4 tank of fuel, the truck would not start due to the decline of the road and no fuel getting pumped. :thumbdwn:

So I man-handled the steering wheel to get the tire away from the curb and coasted the truck down to the next flat in the road.

But when I got it on the freeway, at speeds above 63.5mph I get a vicious shake - wobble - death vibration.

Figuring I blew the toe out, I took it in for an alignment/balance/rotation this afternoon. I got it back on the road and it is the same.

I haven't put it on jackstands yet, but what could it be? I'm thinking tie-rod ends. They look fine though. Could I have blown the ball joint(s) out instantly? It's not so much a steering vibration as it is just a rotational vibration. Weird, eh?

 

[Turdle]

So I dusted off the Mountaineer last Sunday and drove it down to work. It rode 1/2 way okay all the way there. I parked it at my friends house in SF on Monday night. It was a steep hill (I was facing down) so I turned the tires towards the curb and gently let it roll into it.

The next morning, with a little less than a 1/4 tank of fuel, the truck would not start due to the decline of the road and no fuel getting pumped. :thumbdwn:

So I man-handled the steering wheel to get the tire away from the curb and coasted the truck down to the next flat in the road.

But when I got it on the freeway, at speeds above 63.5mph I get a vicious shake - wobble - death vibration.

Figuring I blew the toe out, I took it in for an alignment/balance/rotation this afternoon. I got it back on the road and it is the same.

I haven't put it on jackstands yet, but what could it be? I'm thinking tie-rod ends. They look fine though. Could I have blown the ball joint(s) out instantly? It's not so much a steering vibration as it is just a rotational vibration. Weird, eh?

The alignment guy would have seen any broken-loose front end components--you'd think

Front drive shaft? u joints?

 

[section525]

I checked the rear shaft and it felt good. That sounds... bad. :

I'll check the front this weekend. I made a trip home tonight to pick up my other truck. Now I get to drive back at 230AM.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Maybe a CV or hub assembly?

 

[section525]

Maybe a CV or hub assembly?

The CVs looked good. It feels like it's coming from the passenger side though. Or that could just be in my head since I thought it was from my curb incident on that side.

I definitely do not want to go throwing parts at this thing though. I already have it listed on craigslist!!

 

[jimbo74]

bearing?

 

[section525]

bearing?

It's a pretty silent death-shake.

 

[Tbars4]

...i believe it is a power steering problem...when you manhandled the steering with power off...i believe if you turn the wheel with power full left-right, with out going full stop turn, 5-6 full times, you will get it back to normal...it's air on one side i believe...check with izwach as i believe he helped someone recently with this same problem....

 

[IZwack]

"izwach" reporting .. yes air in the system can cause a shudder as air is compressible. So first thing's first - bleed the damn thing:
- remove the power steering fluid cap and ensure fluid is topped off
- jack the front of the vehicle so that the front wheels are two inches or so off the ground. I say 2 inches cauz the wheel's caster angle will lower one edge of the wheel as its turned.
- then start el engine and cycle the steering wheel one full turn in each direction a dozen times, then all the way to full turn a few times (dont hold lock for more than two seconds).

while you do this, have some one watch the fluid in the reservoir and see if it turns milky (or visible tiny bubbles).

if that fails, then its probably user error .. at which point you're just going to have to say "oh well, time to convert the ooooolllll' Mountineer to full hydro".

 

[Tbars4]

...oops, roflmao, sorry...izwack is the man....

 

[IZwack]

izwack is the man....

well there's one mistake you made today . this girl's going to sleep, cya'll.

 

[Tbars4]

...one of many, i just got back from a night run...

 

[Gadget X]

This might be a stupid question, but have you had the wheels balanced? You might have just lost a wheel weight somewhere, maybe even "scraped" it off on the curb you parked against.

 

[jimbo74]

This might be a stupid question, but have you had the wheels balanced? You might have just lost a wheel weight somewhere, maybe even "scraped" it off on the curb you parked against.

i am sure he has checked this, section, is pretty mechanically inclined, but the simple thigns do stump some of the veterans sometimes....



section, this made me think of something else, how hard did you hit the curb? is it possible it made an impact bubble in the tire and is now causing some seperation or issue?

 

[FROADER]

This might be a stupid question, but have you had the wheels balanced? You might have just lost a wheel weight somewhere, maybe even "scraped" it off on the curb you parked against.

Figuring I blew the toe out, I took it in for an alignment/balance/rotation this afternoon. I got it back on the road and it is the same.

.

 

[leon63]

Hi izwach,

Thanks much for your advice! I replaced both bearing/hub assy's on my 98 Mounty yesterday, and steered the front end alot in the process with the engine off. When I drove it this morning I did a fairly tight turn at around 45 mph - and wow - I thought I was driving a bucking bronco!! I guess the steering is full of hot air - like me.

Thanks again,
Dan

 

[section525]

Wasn't the front shaft. Pulled it... still rides like ass. Bled the PS. Still bad.

So... hub next?

 

[skoal_mint]

If your thinking its the tires then rotate them, but I dont see it being a hub or else youd hear the noise at slow speeds or feel play in the wheel while its in the air

 

[Paraphoe]

Hi izwach

Hahahahaha, 2/2!

 

[section525]

I am at a loss. Bearings/hubs seem good. They easily turn by hand with no odd noises.

Everything looks good as far as I can see. Motor mounts look good. All the plugs and wires are happy.

Anybody want to buy a Mountaineer?