Looking for some input, This is hard to explain. When driving everything is fine, its only when I turn, it feels like its in-4wheel drive> the front end hops a bit, wheel jerks back and forth. Any ideas? sounds like a front drive shaft bearing/ u-joint to me? I hope its a warranty issue, if not this is goina tap into my trans. fund

 

are your tires cupped real bad on the outside edge? if so you will feel them bounce up and down as they rotate over the low, high sp[ots, try a quic tire rotation and see if it helps.fronts to back.

 

no, there pretty level, it actually jerks as if you were in 4wheel.

 

How do the ujoints feel?

Are you certain you are not in 4x? Maybe the t-case actuator is out of adjustment or broke.

Tony

 

I seem to remember seeing somewhere that our trucks are prone to being in 4wd when we think they aren't. Check the linkage and see if neutral is where it is supposed to be on the transfer case selector. One click back from neutral should have you in 2wd again.

 

could be axle u-joints....if it's not stuck in 4x4

 

Ya if its not in 4x4 I would lean towards axle u joints mine would bind and shake the wheel when turning kinda like 4x4 on pavement

 

just took truck to dealer, they said it was most likely the axle u-joints, ill post back later and let ya'll know. By the way had to put the truck back to stock last night< it felt so Slow this morn.

 

We've extended the front bearing life in our 2wd's literally giving us hundreds of thousands of miles without any bearing problems. If anyone is interested I'll be glad to explain how we're doing it.

I've not search all the threads so maybe others are doing what we are to "fix" the problem.

 

OK...Please 'splain!

 

After replacing two front bearings after only 100,000 miles or so we came up with a way to “pack” the front bearings. I’m not going to debate the right or wrong of it, I only know it’s been working for well over 400,000 miles with no problems at all. We have only done this on 2wd's but I don’t know why it wouldn’t work on a 4wd as well.

On the 3500 we take off the outer hub (not sure what you call it but it’s only on the 3500). Then we take loose the entire brake assembly exposing the anti-lock brake sensor. We take the proper allen wrench (metric) and loosen the sensor and pull it out. Then we attached a grease zirk to the hose end of a grease gun, insert that into the sensor hole and start pumping high temp. wheel bearing grease. We turn the wheel and keep pumping until clean grease comes out of the outside (you'll see dirty grease coming first). Sometimes grease will come out of both the inner and outer bearings. Then we put the sensor back into place, tighten and re-assemble the brakes, etc.

On the 2500 it’s easier. We just take loose the two big bolts that hold the entire brake assembly, take it off along with the rotor in one piece (careful not to pinch your fingers). This allows for re-assembly without having to spread the caliper. Once the brake assembly and rotor is off the anti-lock brake sensor is right there and it can be “greased” in the same way.

When I first bought my 03 I noticed right away that a front bearing was already going out. I “packed” it and got another 50,000 miles before I had to change it. Neither the 3500 nor the 2500 have had to have a wheel bearing replaced since. We pack them every 25,000 – 35,000 miles. Works for us and can be done in less than 1 1/2 hrs.

 

would this work on my 97

 

I'm not sure if it would or not. We tried it on a 2001 and it didn't work because the bearing hub assembly was different, if I remember correctly.

 

Kenni,
Thanks for the explanation. I'll have to give that a try.

Tony

 

2 subjects in one thread and interested in both.

I have the same bounce in my steering and it is just like being in 4wd but definitely not engaged. I'm looking into it and leaning toward alignment with the 315's vs the 265 stock tires or maybe steering box flex, but just guessing so far. I didn't do an alignment with the new tires and expect the 32" to 35" change played with the toe-in and/or castor. My mechanic buddy just did a pitman stabilizer setup on a 97 that looked like a great upgade for these front ends.

I did the ABS grease and glad to know it works out. I just took a guess when my first ones went out and the new ones looked pretty sparse for grease from the factor.

Cya