Truck walks while driving
 

For some reason all of a sudden my truck tends to walk left and right while driving. I know the driverside front has too much camber and no more room to adjust it, still havent gotten that sorted out, but it feels like the steering is loose, but it doesnt feel loose when parked.
Also the back end does it too. i have a 2.5'' block drop in the back. But when i changed lanes it feels like the rearend breaks loose or wiggles back and forth.
Finally at about 50 the steering wheel starts to vibrate noticeably.

Whats happening to my truck? All this started all of a sudden about a month ago.

may need to get it re-aligned

Our new gran prix was doing the same thing your describing. wheel vibrating, things in the cab would even start to vibrate. although the back end didn't keep loosing grip like you say. we had it re-aligned and put new tires on it and it drives like a dream!:D :bowtie:

Re: Truck walks while driving
 

When you dropped it, did did you replace the panhard bar? Unless you changed it or adjust it, it will pull the rear-end off-center because of the lowered geometry. Some kits come with replacement bars and/or brackets, but I can't speak for any in particular.

My 2 cents . . .

Could be a bad tire (separating internally), worn steering gear (mine is really worn), out of balance tire or tires, and of course the front wheels might out of alignment. What do the tie rods and ball joints look like? Should check them out too.

my rear end was wiggling and kickin me in different directions, i found out both my shocks were blown out and my bushings were shot. i re-bushed it and got new shocks and it doesnt wiggle anymore

One more thought on the rear end......have you retorked the u boltsafter a few miles run time? It takes a little time for the new bolts to "take a set", & they will get loose. good luck......crazy AL:)

Measure from rear brake backing plates on either side to frame to see if rearend is centered. If not check the bushings in the pan hard bar if shot or missing replacing them may center it if replacing does not center it then you need a adjustable pan hard bar. Generally though the adjustable bar is not needed until you drop the rear 4-5"
You should also examine the bushings in your rear trailing arms if they are shot or missing they will cause this and need replaced.
The front end definately should be aligned also and anything worn keeping the front end from being properly aligned should be replaced. By not replacing these worn parts you run the risk of damaging further parts if bushings are gone by metal on metal wear, the chance of causing a accident that takes yours or others lives, and greater wear on tires and all other suspension parts leading to even more problems.
Time to raise it up and check her out from front to rear.
GMCPaul

I would bet a dollar to a donut its a tire ! Rotate your tires would be the first and cheapest thing you could do to try and fix or narrow your problem down ! Good luck from a retail tire and wheel man.

I was thinking the panhard bar or the u-bolts too - at least for the walking. The vibration is probably a tire problem.

Don't have too much experience with the "Tarzan" suspension though...

ok here is everything i left out

• less than 1k on front and rear tires
• front driverside sidewall seperated from the bead @ 400mi
• rear M/T reccomended tubes wrinkled in tire both went flat
• replaced them
  front stabilizer bar mount is pushed up about 1''
• new poly bushings in it
  new shocks
• front: Red Ryder BB gas shocks
• Rear: Adjustable air shocks
  Front end is out of whack
• driverside front tire has 1.0* Camber w/ no room to adjust
  Steering
• rebuilt pump
• feels tight w/ no play
• tie rods appear to have been replaced before
  Bushings
• new poly bushings throughout rear (-)panhard bar
  Drop
• 2.5'' squaretube block drop
• been meaning to get the panhard bar, just gotta find time to
  get down to Mothertruckers
  
  -Gonna check the u bolts now
  

one rear nut was a little loose but not all that much. there isnt anything that i can wiggle on the front it all seems tight. the driverside front wheel bearing is a little loose but nuthing problematic. today the truck felt like it was getting looser, i dont know whats wrong?
all so i noticed the steering twisting side to side when it vibrated too

any other ideas?

The steer wheel was shaking back & forth? if that be the case,I would take a good look at idler arm . can you shake it up /down?

Wander could be bad ball joints, but if you dont have a rear pan hard bar you cant tell for shure. If your steering wheel shakes it is not an alignment thing. Your tires will NOT shake from alignment. Out of balance tire, bad tire, bent rim, Or an idler arm whill cause wheel shake. If your tires take more then 4 oz to balance get a diferant tire. Good luck

scary thought, but check your lug nuts, sounds like something's bent in your front susp. maybe a spindle. fix it before something lets go though!
Jesse

yeah it looks like it is the idle arm, im still trying to figure out if i have stock springs or not im pretty sure they are aftermarket b/c i pulled yellow tags off em #3935895, i checked all the major spring guys web sites to find a match but nothing has turned up. Another thing that leads me to beleive they have been replaced, other than a large amount of rake, are the ball joints rubber boots look like a pickle fork as been taken to them.