Well, as expected, there is a shimmy and they could feel it, but after
checking the front end they blamed tires or suspension.
The part I liked is the way they talked about the modifications (mild -
Hotchkis suspension and wider tires on R/T rims). It was like it was an
arcane piece of technology with lot's of intricate parts inside. "Ooooh,
it could be the aftermarket suspension, but we wouldn't know what to do
with that, or those wider tires could cause the problem." Umm, guys,
it's a set of springs, and roll bars. The tires are black and round.
What's to understand?
Alignment shop next I guess.
If it's the shocks, then replacement is the only test I can think of.
There's no visible leaks.
Rob S.
Rick Barnes wrote:
> Could it be the shocks? When you lift the truck and the front end drops, it
> allows full travel of the shocks...just a guess..gotta think about that one.
>
> Rascal
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net
> [mailto:owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net] On Behalf Of Robert Schultz
> Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 10:42 PM
> To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
> Subject: DML: Help needed to find vibration
>
>
> Everyone:
>
> For the last three months or more, I've had a bad vibration or shimmy in
> my 00 QC 2WD. The vibration is felt through he steering wheel and at its
> worst the steering wheel moves up to 1/2" each way. It's bad enough that
> I really don't like driving the truck right now.
>
> I really started to notice it when I put new tires on the truck after
> the winter and initially thought it was the tires. They've been
> re-balanced and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with them. As a
> test I switched back to the winter tires (235/75/15) on the front and
> the shimmy was reduced, but not gone. I suspect this is because the
> winter tires don't follow the road as well. The summer tires are Khumo
> Ecsta 255/50/17. These tend to tramline much worse, and the shimmy is
> worst when the road surface is poor. My theory is stiffer sidewall =
> more of the problem transmitted tot he steering wheel.
>
> I had the truck in to the dealer and they checked the balance (again)
> and replaced the lower ball joints (uppers done last year). The truck
> was aligned last year after installing the Hotchkis 2" drop.
>
> The odd thing is that every time we lift the truck to change the tires,
> the shimmy is reduced, and then returns. For instance, I jacked up the
> truck today just to check things, and then on the way to the dealer it
> wasn't too bad until I hit a depression in the road that compressed the
> suspension. Then the shimmy was back full force.
>
> I'm at a loss. It's going back in Monday to see what they can find.
>
> Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, so when the dealer blames the
> tires (aftermarket = bad) or the Hotchkis suspension (modification =
> bad) I have something to tell them.
>
> Thanks,
> Rob S.
> ..
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