austin1972

Hi All,
So, my wife has pretty much stolen my truck from me and left me with the Jetta tdi wagon I got to replace her car that got T-boned. It's kinda like when people get dogs for each other, the dog always bonds to the wrong person.

Annnyhow, I had the truck (2006 4wd) today for the first time in months and noticed a weird feeling/feedback in the wheel, like something was jiggling or loose in a way it shouldn't be. It's not severe but noticeable. I swear I can even feel it in the pedals. The steering is no more vague than when I bought it 30K ago.

I searched the forum but couldn't find anything that was really similar. So, what do you think? Control arm or joint thing? Should I be worried?
Thanks in advance!

Oh, I checked the fluids regularly. They are fine.

madhat

Shakes left to right around 50-60 mph? Ball joints.

cletus

If it's doing it while turning you got bad u-joints.Just had to do both fronts at 36k

austin1972

Yep, at lower speeds.

Bark

Yup, if its not doing it at the speeds madhat said than try finding a really big parking lot and do some circles at ever decreasing turns in both directions. If it gives you a sort of mild loping feeling (like having it in a turn in FWD on pavement) its probably those darn front u-joints. My LF went at 71K (just after warranty). Cost me $900 bucks at the dealer to get both sides changed but I was in a hurry. If you are not in a hurry you can get it done for a lot less.

cletus

Mine was the same real jerky on low speed turns,kinda feels like when your in 4x4 turning on dry pavement.I thought it was only the driver side but both my front axle u-joints were rusted and siezed, I couldn't believe it at 36k.

Ramtough

maybe she is grabbing the steering wheel to get in and has loosened the column support up? Watch her the next time you see her get in. Just throwing that one out there.

RedRewster

I did my front u-joints myself in the driveway on a truck that has 100k + that had the under carriage was never taken care of. Costs me 55 a piece for the front U-joints from O'Reilly. Ball joints never hurt either... except your wallet! I know two guys who just put XRF on their trucks and love 'em. Just a thought... If you have it down for the u-joints. One of my u-joints gave feedback in the steering wheel and if I rolled the window down and passed by a wooden fence in the neighborhood I could hear it.

15 Digger

Good idea, have noticed mine wiggling on minor road problems. Thought about loose column mount. Have to check that.

austin1972

How do I check the column mount? It feels like the wheel and column are solid.

How do I verify the U-joints are the issue and how hard are they to fix?
Sorry for all the questions but I'm not a wrench jockey, however with this economy I'm trying to learn how to do more on my own vs. paying others to do stuff for me.

Thanks for all the responses.

Tom282

Thanks for posting this question! I just noticed the same problem with my '06 last week while on a trip. Feels like the truck is in four wheel drive when I make slow turns to the right or left. I thought maybe the steering stabilizer was shot, but as usual it sounds like it's a more expensive problem! I have 37K on my truck, and now I'll be looking for someone to post a good replacement front u-joint to buy!

Jeff in TD

This is an excellent write up for ball joint replacement, but it of course also outlines how to remove the front axles.

http://wiki.dieseltruckresource.com/...nt_Replacement

From there the caps are retained on the inside edge of the caps by clips.

austin1972

OK, we're up to column mount, U-joint(s) or ball joints. How do I tell which it is? This is all great info, keep it coming!

Oh, and that ball joint writeup is awesome. Even I understood that and the poster made it look like not too bad a project...Especially if I can bribe my neighbor into helping with beer and steaks on the grill.

Jeff in TD

For ball joints, jack up a front wheel and see if there is any slop. It can be helpful to have some pry, let up and pry on the bottom of the tire while you feel around to identify where the movement is. Be sure to chalk the tires and use a safety stand.

Front axle U joints, look at them very closely for rusty looking stuff around the caps, and try jacking a wheel up and turning it while the wheels are turned sharply.

Having taken the dash out, the column mount is pretty dang solid, and if you don't feel any play pushing the steering wheel up and down, I would think that to be OK.

p0wd3rp1l0t

i have this same problem, and i do not believe its ball joints or u joints-i believe its somethin with the trackbar or sway bar, because my front end was just redone and that noise, or feeling in the steering wheel and foot pedals are still there