High speed hunting - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

guitarman · 11-25-2002, 01:02 PM

My front end wants to move left and right at about 55 mph not above that or below that. It's not a handful but it's nerve wracking. Anyone have an idea? My friend said it could be tires. They are pretty old but they have so much tread left I hate to spend the bucks if that's not the problem. Help!

ckhd · 11-25-2002, 01:35 PM

Is it the panel?

It could be so many things... Ball joints, tie rod ends, drag link ends, bearings, alignment, tires, shocks, those rods that the A-arms hook to. Basically, anything that can wear.

I don't have much 2 wheel drive experience, but I know that on my '69, the bushings in the front leaf springs were worn, and it caused a heck of a ride. Also, the ball joints and shocks on the '72 are worn, and it makes the drive "interesting".

guitarman · 11-25-2002, 07:10 PM

Yes it's the panel and I have new ball joints and two of the tie rod ends are new and the other two seemed OK.

bigvinnie · 11-25-2002, 07:20 PM

like was stated earlier, could be one thing or a combo of many.... a worn steering box will produce what you describe also... get the front wheels off the ground and start pushing and pulling on suspension and steering components and see if you find something that's loose...

if all checks out ok, do a tire rotation and see if that changes anything...

Sammy · 11-25-2002, 08:08 PM

once I drove a van that had a similar problem from a used car lot..and it's problem was someone had mixed bias plyed tires and radial tires that done some scary trackin down the road too..

guitarman · 11-25-2002, 08:19 PM

Thanks for the input guys.

conman · 11-25-2002, 09:38 PM

Be sure to check out the pitman arm. I've replaced one on two of my trucks and that tightened it up.

Longhorn Man · 11-26-2002, 12:45 AM

Lats keep it simplke and cheap here first...how much air you have in your tires? remember the tire pressure drops when it gets cold out, and can contribute to a "wallowing pig" sensation.

guitarman · 11-26-2002, 11:25 AM

Thirty five psi in the tires.

11-25-2002, 01:02 PM	#1
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	High speed hunting My front end wants to move left and right at about 55 mph not above that or below that. It's not a handful but it's nerve wracking. Anyone have an idea? My friend said it could be tires. They are pretty old but they have so much tread left I hate to spend the bucks if that's not the problem. Help! __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii

11-25-2002, 01:35 PM	#2
ckhd Registered User Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: St. Johns, Arizona Posts: 2,660	Is it the panel? It could be so many things... Ball joints, tie rod ends, drag link ends, bearings, alignment, tires, shocks, those rods that the A-arms hook to. Basically, anything that can wear. I don't have much 2 wheel drive experience, but I know that on my '69, the bushings in the front leaf springs were worn, and it caused a heck of a ride. Also, the ball joints and shocks on the '72 are worn, and it makes the drive "interesting". __________________ my 2¢ - t.i.o.l.i. Bowen 1968 K20 fleet 1969 K10 swb fleet 1972 K10 Suburban 1972 C10 lwb step 1992 K1500 'burb 1995 K2500 'burb 1997 C1500 'burb 1999 K1500 2000 K1500 'burb Why do I own so many Suburbans?

11-25-2002, 07:10 PM	#3
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	Yes it's the panel and I have new ball joints and two of the tie rod ends are new and the other two seemed OK. __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii

11-25-2002, 07:20 PM	#4
bigvinnie Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: escondido, ca 92026 Posts: 1,222	like was stated earlier, could be one thing or a combo of many.... a worn steering box will produce what you describe also... get the front wheels off the ground and start pushing and pulling on suspension and steering components and see if you find something that's loose... if all checks out ok, do a tire rotation and see if that changes anything... __________________ '72 short step, 350, 700R4, tilt, ps, pdb, a/c, lowered coils, etc., other work in progress... San Diego, CA 72 Stepside Project

11-25-2002, 08:08 PM	#5
Sammy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Bonne Terre, Mo Posts: 3,005	once I drove a van that had a similar problem from a used car lot..and it's problem was someone had mixed bias plyed tires and radial tires that done some scary trackin down the road too.. __________________ '69 Chevy Long Fleet & '71 GMC Short Step & Project "ODD BALL" "You can wash a pig, soak it in most expensive perfume. In the end it is still just a pig." ODD BALL build thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=478629"

11-25-2002, 08:19 PM	#6
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	Thanks for the input guys. __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii

11-25-2002, 09:38 PM	#7
conman Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Fayette, Alabama Posts: 155	PITMAN ARM Be sure to check out the pitman arm. I've replaced one on two of my trucks and that tightened it up. __________________ Fayette Alabama

11-26-2002, 12:45 AM	#8
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Lats keep it simplke and cheap here first...how much air you have in your tires? remember the tire pressure drops when it gets cold out, and can contribute to a "wallowing pig" sensation.

11-26-2002, 11:25 AM	#9
guitarman Do it well or don't do it Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Georgia Posts: 457	Thirty five psi in the tires. __________________ Try to be the person your dog thinks you are. Excellent paint and body site: http://www.autobody101.com/ Visit my Web Site http://home.attbi.com/~agfosteriii



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