Steering wheel wobble.

Hello everyone, Please forgive me if I am writing on a subject that has been covered. I searched the forumn but was unable to locate the answer.

I have a 1998 Chevy K1500 (4x4). It's got 135k on it and runs great! :-) Wouldn't trade it. :-)

My problem is with the steering, it wobbles like the front wheels are out of balance or not aligned properly. However, I just replaced the tires (wobbled the same with both old and new). It has new shocks (bilsteins, same as factory) and I also had it aligned. The gentlemen at the place I had it aligned performed a 'front end linkage test' (basically grabbed the wheels and pulled, then put a board under each one and lifted while him and his buddy looked for loose parts). They were not able to locate anyhting. Both of them said the front end parts seemed pretty tight. Are they overlooking something? One guy said it sounded like a bad power steering pump to him, but wasn't real sure and couldn't offer any additional information that lead him to that conclusion. The crazy thing it the steering wheel doesn't wobble all the time. It does seem to wobble when I first get on the road everyday. Otherwise, no consistent speeds noted with the wobble either (it does wobble more often than not these days). I am at a loss what to look at next. All front end steering parts are factory, nothnig replaced. All front brake parts have been replaced. There was a post that talked about a steering wheel center sensor, never heard of one before. Could that cause it? I looked at the cost of a power steering pump, and 100 bucks on a guess is a little steep (plus the cost of a new belt at 40 bucks).

Also, about every 30K I use a turkey baster and replace the power steering fluid. The power steering pump itself is not making any noises and I have extremely good power steering (smooth and turns on a pin head with ease). The wobble causes the sterring wheel to move clockwise/counter clockwise approx 1" when it starts to wobble. Again, it does wobble more often that not these days. Seems real strange to me. I love my truck, and this is the only thing I have wrong with it.

Can anyone offer some advice on what I should check next? Please?

Thanks in advance,

JC

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Just a guess (or two), but I'd check the U-joints/driveshafts, both front and rear.

Also check the rear tires. I got a bad rear tire that separated and developed a bubble, and caused the same symptoms you're having. Almost any drive train vibration will transmit itself to the steering.

Check the steering stablizer. Looks like a shock absorber mounted on steering linkage.

Depending on the bend, a bent rim might cause this. As the tires warm up, the sidewalls will flex more and absorb the wobble.

Thanks for the above replies. A couple questions on them..

The receomendation above, to check the steering stablizer. I don't see one. Am I going blind? I don't consider myself a mechanical idiot, but may just be overlooking something. I'm going to be in the garage shortly changing the oil, will looks things over a bit closer then.

Second, It never did dawn on me to check the front driveshafts. What is the easiest way to confirm/deny they have issues? With the rear drive shaft it's a bit easier due to location. The front ones are pretty much hidden. Given the miles I was about to change the rear ujoints anyways. Better safe than sorry, had a driveshaft fall out on me once and it freaked me out. :-).

Thanks Again to everyone for the posts thus far. This has me a bit stumped, I love the suggestions so far. They are things I've not thought about.

JC.

My truck doesn't have a steering stabilizer as mentioned above.

Anyone have a good tip on how to check CV joints? It was suggested that I check them, just not sure how to confirm the front ones are good. I do plan on replacing the main/rear drive shaft ujoints simply because of age/wear.

Thanks,

James C.

You can generally check the CV joints by taking off the front wheels one at a time and turning the hubs back and forth by hand. Normally a bad CV joint with act up when your making a sharp turn, making a clunking or grinding sound... If you hadn't already had all the front end linkage inspected, I would suspect a bad idler arm. I had one do the same thing yours is doing on my '90. Wouldn't happen all the time, it would depend on road conditions or during a turn, the steering wheel would suddenly and rapidly wobble back and forth about an inch or to. It was easy to check. Leave the drivers side tire on the ground and jack up the passenger side. Grab the passenger tire on the sides and shake back and forth while watching the idler.