[Chrischin478]

When driving anywhere above 50 MPH my steering wheel shakes very rapidly. I got an alignment and my wheels balanced but it did not fix the problem. I jacked up the front of the truck and shook the wheel to make sure there wasn't any unusal play in the wheel but there wasn't. Does anyone know what might be causing this problem?

 

[StemsCornfedTaco]

My steering wheel shakes when I drive down the road, but thats cuz of not having an alignment... and since you have one, and the wheels are balance. rotate them and see what happens. couldnt hert. also if you have a body lift with steering extension, check that and your rag joint.

 

[Chrischin478]

Yea I have a 2" body lift, what should I check for on the extension?

 

[John Luttrell]

Assuming your truck is a late model taco, if the alignment and tire balance is good I check the steering rack bushings for wear.

 

[jhorn_007]

what kind and size tires and lift u runnin? ive had tires that balanced out but they would still shake... maybe they have a flat spot, soft spot or just out of round. are they new tires, if so did it shake before?

 

[StemsCornfedTaco]

Yea I have a 2" body lift, what should I check for on the extension?

If the bolts are tight, assuming you have a steering extension like mine from Roger Brown at 4Crawler offroad, Ill take pics if you want me to. Its basically a piece of round stock aluminum with 2 holes drilled in it, Something i could have made myself at my shop and save me 50 bucks

 

[Chrischin478]

I have a custom 2.5" suspension lift with 2" RB body lift and my 32" BFGoodrich T/A KO's have less than 2000 miles on them. I changed my steering rack bushings about 5 months ago so I know those are good. Yea I know what the extension is because I put the lift in myself and the bolts are all tight. I don't recall any shaking before. Just a quick off-topic question; what gear ratio should I switch to since my tires are 1" over stock. I've noticed a drop in the acceleration of the truck since I got the tires. Thanks

 

[StemsCornfedTaco]

I ran my 33's and didnt re-gear, drove the same as it did with the 31's. Is your truck a 5 Speed or Auto?

 

[rainman]

Are you running stock rims? What year?
I suspect your tires are out of balance. Also check your tire pressure.

 

[Chrischin478]

Yes I have stock rims, its a 1996. I got my tires balanced about a month ago and had an alignment about 2 weeks ago. I am getting my Mickey Thompson Classic II's put on this weekend though. My truck is an auto.

 

[hytenor]

I ran my 33's and didnt re-gear, drove the same as it did with the 31's.

"cough"...BS

well, unless you had 4.30s or 4.56s stock, then its not too bad

 

[hytenor]

Taco rims are Lug-centered and not hub-centered. If they were not balanced with the lug-center adapter they will not come out right.

after you replaced your rack bushings have you re-torqued them?

 

[Bassmaster]

I also had this problem and it ended up being a damaged ball joint. Just another posibility for ya.

 

[96tacolx]

A lot of times it can be how you tightened up the lugs on your wheels. Mine are sensitive as hell when I take my tires off then go to tighten them back up. I`ve put them on and the steering shake like crazy. Go back and loosen them up and snug them down just a little at a time to make sure it`s tightened up even. Then it would run smooth with no shakes. A lot of tire places will zip the lug nuts up against the rim and then go back and torque them.