I am having a problem with my front axle when i am moving slowly i can feel "bumps" in the steering like when i turn the wheel or i go over any small bump, i can feel it.

so im trying to figure out what the problem is i have "jiggled" the wheels with my hands and there seems to be a lot of movement, so i checked my lug nuts and they are tight, then i jacked it up and tried jiggling it again but it doesn't seem like there is as much movement(like the bearings). also i checked for loose steering components and there doesn't seem to be any. so any ideas from you guys? Thanks.

Travis.


edit: I can also feel the bumps in the floorboard with my feet while driving. also this truck is completely stock.

 

Wheel bearings or trunion bearings perhaps? See if you can figure out if it's the knuckle or just the wheel wobbling when you move the tire by hand.

 

The trunion bearings were shot on my Cruiser and the son's 85 PU

Go with the KOYO bearings (some vendors or the dealer)

If you buy a knuckle kit make sure it has the koyo brgs

When you change them, bag the upper and lower shims separately, so you know where they go back.

 

so basically i need the knuckle rebuild kit?

 

so would the knuckle being bad make the bumps and pops in my steering? or is that another problem altogether?

 

On mine, the bearing wore little gooves into the race. Every time I turned the wheel, the rollers would roll across the groves, and I could feel like a hesitation in steering.

 

i really need to be sure about this before i pay 150 bucks fr the kit because i have very little money right now.

also thanks Yoda and Trikekid for your help so far.

 

update kinda, ok so i got the knuckle rebuild kit from Marlin. also ordered new wheel bearings, and the HD inner axle seals, so hopefully i wont have a leaking axle in 6 months lol.

so now ive got the passenger side all torn apart down to the round ball thing on the end of the axle housing,( someone know what this is called so i dont have to sound like an idiot? lol) and on the inside of it on the flat spots it seems to be worn, i know there are supposed to be flat spots there, but it also has groves worn into it. could this have been causing the bumps i have been feeling? also what, if anything should i do about it? will post pics if need be.

also thanks to 4crawler for all the useful info on your site, it has helped me and my dad on this a lot.

 

oh also my kit came with new shims for the knuckle, anything wrong with just using the old shims i dont want to change anything?

 

whatever, im just gonna put it back together and hope for the best.

 

i have a 1984 4runner that I had a shop rebuild, I know what you are talking about. I think part of it is that its bump-stop steering, but mine was wheel bearings and all the other crap you mentioned.

 

Maybe your steering stabilizer is shot!

 

i hope not lol well we will find out.

 

I just used the same kit from Marlin. Use your old shims. Just make sure they go back in the same place and your bearing preload should be right.

Be sure and use the correct grease. It takes two different types for this service: one with moly (trunion bearings and birfield joints) and one without (wheel bearings).

 

i put the cv grease into the birfield joint but i put the same kind of wheel bearing grease in the wheel bearings and the trunion bearings. dont tell me i have to take it apart again.

 

Wow, thats strange what you described...If it helps any i had just a little tiny tad of wheel vibe at highway speeds...it would come and go (sparatic like, could even have been from road variations)...

...nonetheless, i replaced my OEM steering stabilizer which was dripping a clear, syrupy, liquid with a Monroe steering stabilizer & that shut it down QUICK/ it even holds the already good alignment better and i can let the wheel go on a good highway for abou15-17 sec & it will just hold a straight line.

So, check the steering stabilizer out, could help out but I'm in your shoes too... as I'm going to have to look for a knuckle rebuild kit as someone suggested.

-Regards

 

i actually suggested that on your thread. ya i just bought mine from marlin crawler i also bought the wheel bearings and marlins hd inner axle seals. if my problem is still there when i get it all back together ill get a new stabilizer. but my knuckles needed a rebuild anyways, they were leaking like crazy.

i think i found my problem, when i took the other side apart my wheel bearings were very loose.

 

i believe the round thingy your talking about is a birfield...

 

nope i know what a birfield is.