Steering Stabilizer

[FRadisi]

My front end wobbles violently and causes the front end to bounce one side at a time at 35mph. Any slower and it completely stops, any faster and it becomes much less noticeable until highway speeds when it's there but not visibly shaking the front end like it does at 35mph. The wobble is a side-to-side movement and it can be felt in the steering wheel. What front end parts should I check, and who sells a steering stabilizer for a '91.5 D350? I've looked at most major suspension companies and they only go back to '94

[Ace]

I'd guess ball joints. But you really need to go through the whole front end and get everything checked and replaced as needed.

[Mark Nixon]

Check the tie rod ends, pitman arm and idler.
You'll also want to look real closely at the drag link bar, where the pitman arm passes through, as they have a propensity of ovalling out the hole.

Another thing to check is the lower coupler on the steering shaft, the one on the steering box, they get clearance in the coupler shoes, which is usually quite noticeable just driving the truck.

Mark.

[dpuckett]

Yeah, they will steer just fine without the steering stabilizer. Like Mark said, check your front end parts. Also, check your shocks, esp since the vibration is at 35mph or so.

Dan

[FRadisi]

Well it has developed into full-blown death wobble today. Hit 35mph and the front right feels like everything is just about to break right off the truck! It's now parked until I replace the idler arm, drag link, and get the frame repaired near the steering gear box since it has a slight crack.

[Ace]

...get the frame repaired near the steering gear box since it has a slight crack.

Well, there you go then. Make sure to brace and gusset the thing so it doesn't happen again:

http://stuff.is-a-geek.net/PhotoAlbum/1 ... TD_120.jpg
http://stuff.is-a-geek.net/PhotoAlbum/1 ... TD_119.jpg

I welded in a back brace, gusseted down to the cross-member and re-assembled it with new grade-8 20-pitch bolts.

[FRadisi]

Well I replaced the drag link and idler arm last night, the wobble is almost completely gone... just need to get the crack welded and then make a brace to bolt over it.