Shaky steering 85 PU
#1
Shaky steering 85 PU
I got my 85 SR5 pickup today and on the ride home (200miles) I noticed the steering was shaky, I did have a 600 pound motorcycle in the back and it was pretty windy, but it seemed to be alot more movement than my steering, the truck is on a 5" lift and 35s, the front end isnt geared, only the back, I was thinking maybe the tires werent balanced, they were purchased at some place called "budget tire" (they are BFGs) It happened more at the 80mph range than in the 60s, anyone have a clue, is it bad or just been too long since i drove a toy?
#2
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Could be any number of things.
The weight in the back will make the rear end ride lower and each inch it is lower than the front adds about 1 degree of caster angle to the steering, so you may have gone out of the stable steering range. Try driving a similar speed with the bed empty.
Could be a tire flat spotted from sitting a long time, but that is uncommon with radials and usually the tire will round out again once it warms up.
Could be a tire has gone out of balance (weight fell off for example) or had a belt break. You might try putting the front tires in the air and spin each tire and watch for any runout in the tread pattern as it rolls by. Look for any side-side wobble in the tread or any up-down motion in the surface or sidewalls of the tire.
The weight in the back will make the rear end ride lower and each inch it is lower than the front adds about 1 degree of caster angle to the steering, so you may have gone out of the stable steering range. Try driving a similar speed with the bed empty.
Could be a tire flat spotted from sitting a long time, but that is uncommon with radials and usually the tire will round out again once it warms up.
Could be a tire has gone out of balance (weight fell off for example) or had a belt break. You might try putting the front tires in the air and spin each tire and watch for any runout in the tread pattern as it rolls by. Look for any side-side wobble in the tread or any up-down motion in the surface or sidewalls of the tire.
#3
Does it still have a steering stabilizer? Alot of the solid axle trucks I've ridden in and drove kind of have the tendency to "chase rabbits". Could this be what you are referring to?
#5
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Join Date: Apr 2006
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Could be a bent rim. When I first got my truck, the steering wheel would vibrate a lot at 50 mph. Took it to the tire shop to have the wheels rebalanced and the shop found one of the front rims bent. Rotated the bent rim to the rear and the steering wheel vibrations stopped.
#6
Thats exactly it, I am not very mechanically inclined with the truck yet, only been 1 day, but while I was driving that would be the best way to explain it, chasing rabbits, it would just swerve on its own seemingly. How do I check for a stabilizer?
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#8
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http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...ringStabilizer
#10
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whatever you do... dont use 4 wheel drive if only the rear is re geared. I replaced the stabilizer on my truck with an oem type replacement from NAPA auto parts and it made a big difference. just get the tires balanced and look over your steering system. Are you running stock steering with that 5 inch lift? You need at least a drop drag link for that much lift. if its all suspension lift.
#11
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On a side note you probably weren't really going 80mph. The speedometer will read quite a bit more than you are really going with the 35's. Unless you already factored that in when you said 80mph.
Rob
Rob
#12
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if you really were goin 80, and it dosent shake in the 60 and 70 ranges i wouldnt worry to much about it because 80mph in an 85 pickup with 35" mud tires with a 600 pound bike in the back is pushing it, my truck vibrates right when it hits 80 but up till 80 its smooth. also try goin 80 with out the bike and see if theres a difference
#15
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#16
You sure your calculations are right there? It says when my spedo reads 80 im going 96, and I know I wasnt going 96 up hills with my bike in the back, and while people passed me =x
#18
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Rob
#20
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In the Toyota, the speedometer actually reads the rotations of the rear driveshaft (or actually the transfer case output shaft). So for every rotation of that, a taller tire will roll farther. Thus for a given speedometer reading (i.e. rear driveshaft speed) a taller tire will roll farther in a given time. Moving farther in a given time = faster.