HELP!! 94 GCL strange front end problem

[lrizzo2001]

Yesterday I was driving when I suddenly heard a pop, and then the front end started to feel like I was driving on 2 flat tires. They weren't of course, but that's how it sounds and feels. If I put it in neutral while it's moving it doesn't change the sound so I don't think it's tranny related. At the same time when I break the truck I can feel the same vibration in my brake pedal. The sound seems to be pretty much centered, and doesn't appear to be more on one side vs the other. I jacked up the front and don't see anything obviousely wrong. Rotors are in good shape etc. One side has a torn boot, but that's it.

Anybody have any thoughts?

Leo

[Bob D.]

Do a search for "Death Wobble" and see if those symptoms sound familiar.

[hardisk_c]

My vote goes to the CV joint. The damage to the boot would probably mean something is probably outside of the joint that is supposed to be inside (for instance the grease that makes sure everything slides by each other nicely) and now your having drivability issues because some of the internals are shot.

My

[lrizzo2001]

I don't think this is boot related, cause the other boot is fine, and as I said the sound and vibration is pretty well centered. It really sounds exactly like you would expect if you were driving on 2 flat and unbalanced front tires. It feels like something is no longer balanced..

I did also have symptons that sound like the death wobble, but I think it's just loose steering. I originally discovered both stabilizer links in the front were snapped off completely, I've replaced them, as well as the stabilizer dampner and that helped, but the steering is still loose, so it must be in the box. But I do notice that when I'm on the Main Highways my truck get's thrown around all over the place anytime I go over a patch of road that has grooves in the road from all the heavy truck traffic. I'm wondering if whatever keeps the front tires from moving left/right when the steering is straight has some play in it??