This is for the 2001 Dodge Dakota in my signature. It is just a basic 2 wheel drive Extended Cab truck. I am trying to figure out where I am getting a vibration and shake in my steering wheel. It only happens between 65 to 70 mph but it is a fairly bad vibration. I believe I have warped front rotors, because of a shake/shimmy when I am slowing down to stop. It's not real bad, but it is present when I am coming to a stop from about 20 MPH on down to 5 or less. I have not replaced or turned my rotors yet.
I noticed this vibration problem this past Thursday on the interstate. I don't get out on the interstate much so I don't get much chance to drive over about 50 or 60 MPH. My truck does fine at the slower speeds, no vibration is present. I had the wheels balanced today and the vibration is not as bad as it was on Thursday but it is still there. So my question is, can rotors that may not be running exactly true cause a steering vibration at highway speeds as well as when you are slowing down to stop? The shop that did the balancing is a really good local independent garage. I have no doubts about their work, they are the best around here. They also rotated my tires in a standard front to back, back to front on the same side pattern. I rotate the tires myself on a cross pattern. My tires are not quite 2 years old, BFG Long Trail Tours, 235/75R15 with about 18,000 miles on them. I keep them at 37 psi. The wear patterns all look good, there is nothing on the tires to indicate any suspension problems.
I am scratching my head. My ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearing/hubs and just about all of my front suspension and steering parts are either new or fairly new within the last couple of years and they all check out OK. I have no play or abnormal motion from the wheels at all. I may try rotating the tires in a cross pattern and see if that helps. Thanks for any help on this.
I noticed this vibration problem this past Thursday on the interstate. I don't get out on the interstate much so I don't get much chance to drive over about 50 or 60 MPH. My truck does fine at the slower speeds, no vibration is present. I had the wheels balanced today and the vibration is not as bad as it was on Thursday but it is still there. So my question is, can rotors that may not be running exactly true cause a steering vibration at highway speeds as well as when you are slowing down to stop? The shop that did the balancing is a really good local independent garage. I have no doubts about their work, they are the best around here. They also rotated my tires in a standard front to back, back to front on the same side pattern. I rotate the tires myself on a cross pattern. My tires are not quite 2 years old, BFG Long Trail Tours, 235/75R15 with about 18,000 miles on them. I keep them at 37 psi. The wear patterns all look good, there is nothing on the tires to indicate any suspension problems.
I am scratching my head. My ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearing/hubs and just about all of my front suspension and steering parts are either new or fairly new within the last couple of years and they all check out OK. I have no play or abnormal motion from the wheels at all. I may try rotating the tires in a cross pattern and see if that helps. Thanks for any help on this.