Remnik

Over certain types of small bumps I can hear/feel a 'looseness' in the front end of my truck. You can hear it 'clunking' a little bit mostly on small/sharp bumps.

Also, when I turn corners at slow speeds I feel a back and forth movement in the steering wheel as I roll out of the turn. It doesn't happen on curves at higher speeds only on slow speed corners like in the neighborhood. It steers perfectly on the road and doesn't wander or pull at all. The steering feels nice and tight when going down the road and moving the wheel back and forth. In fact, it's probably the best steering truck I've ever driven on the highway.

Truck has 168k on it now. Wondering if anyone has experienced this or wants to venture a guess what might be causing it. Thanks.

ian515

HA! me too! does it make any cracking noises, and feel kinda like its "biting" into the road, almost like its in 4hi? check out my thread in the 03 drivetrain section. some think its the ujoints. I bet I have both ujoint and balljoint issues.

booman70

The back and forth movement in the wheel at slow speeds is probably your axle ujoints mine did the same thing

Chazmanian

Same exact issue here but on a 2005 truck with 32K miles.

This is what it was....


Fixed the pop and the clunk but I still have just a touch of play in my steering wheel. Its going back to the dealer on Tuesday as its at 36K now and the warranty is about up. I want a steering box or some ball joints.

rjm022

check your track bar, ball joints, tie rods.axle u-joints, and your steering box for play.

Remnik

I never thought of the axle u-joints but that would make sense for what I'm feeling in the front end. I'm gonna have the oil changed next week, I think while its in I'll have everything looked at. Could be a combo of things, that would be my luck. I just don't wanna hear that it needs alot of work. I know the ball joints would be pricey, anybody know what the u-joints would be for parts/labor?

ian515

seriously, this exact same thread is going on in the engine and drivetrain section....all the info you will need is there. except it is geared towards doin it your self....

Remnik

Just picked my truck up. The problem seems to have been mostly caused by 2 bad tie-rod ends which were replaced. One of them was scary loose. It seems to have solved about 80% of the issue. I haven't heard any clunking in the few miles that I drove it since picking it up. The back and forth steering thing has been greatly reduced but it still does it a little bit. At least it's safe to drive now.