Help, bump steer problem

[mtfit]

my dealer has replaced ball joint, alignment, and has found nothing wrong with my 07 Power Wagon, horrible shaking when hitting a bump at highway speeds when towing my rock crawler total weight of 8k. trailer is loaded correctly. help.

[mudseeker]

do you use a hitch that distributes the wieght of the trailer?

[leolkfrm]

sounds like unbalance weight, do you sag the truck when loaded? if so slide the rockcrawler back 2 ft and try again. Are you within the safe towing range?

[mtfit]

ok, no I use the stock" hitch to tow, also I have towed since I have owned this truck 1/07, and this problem just started say 3mos ago. I have moved the crawler all over NO diff, the truck doesnt sag!!!
dealer has checked coils, shocks, tie rods etc. again claims NO problem?
25k miles on the stock BFG AT's, this did happen 1x when NOT towing.
help...... thanks

[leolkfrm]

Do you feel it more in the steering wheel or the seat? Can you better desvribe the shaking? side to side or up and down?

[Steve g.]

Whaddha expect... it's a dodge Just kidding Why don't you have someone stand by a bump so you can drive over it and see what's going on under the truck. You could also set up a camera below the truck on the road and do it that way.

[75K30]

This is a design problem. The 94-02 trucks are worse.
In any case, the "death wobble" (I hate that term) is casued by the trucks steering componets lack of ability to control the tires. Add larger tires, or something that may alter the steering geometry (caster) and viola, you get a case of the shakes.
Well while most can attribute this problem to weak, or fatigued components, and for the most part, can be true, the Dodge is the exception and not the rule.
Most dodge drivers, have experienced this, and some cover this up with a band aid steering stabilizer. This is a reasonable fix, but still a band aid and not the solution.
The problem is steering box mounting point deflection, and the box actually moves the frame.
This is responsible for the slow steering, and terrible response from dodge HD truck steering.
The fix: brace the frame to prevent the box from moving.
Make it, or buy it, it is up to you, bu if yo have a dodge, you will need it. Too bad the engineers that design the truck have not caught on.


Here are a couple of sources.
Windecker Machine Ltd. - Steering Stabilizer

BD Power - Product: Steering Box Stabilizer

Chances are, if the aftermarket has attacked it with this type of solution , the problem does exist, and there is probably nothing a dealership is going to do to help you. Good luck

[mtfit]

thanks, the shaking is in the steering wheel up and down (violently). I bought a aftermarket brace like the one shown, but it didnt fit a Power Wagon (sway bar disconnect) but I will check those links out. thanks again.

[leolkfrm]

you may need to put bags in the back to help firm up the suspension, however is sounds like a problem with the stabilizer disconnect

[87c10slammer]

if it has rack and pinion stearing then i would check the bushings. i dont knwo how many dodge intrepids my boss has brought me to replace those bushings. i keep telling him stay away from those cars but he picks them up cheap from the aucion so he buys them anyway. i dont like the way dodge has there steering setup it is a deathtrap waitng to happen in my eyes. sorry if i offended anyone its just from experiance