Alignment facts

I see what you are saying. The wheels to the hub pilot were designed to be a very close fit. Sometimes you find that the tolerances got lost somewhere and the wheels aren't centered to the hub. On a hub pilot type setup, the wheel hole to the hub is what carries the load, the lugs only hold the wheels on and provide power to the wheel.

 

Although it would be good to take a close look at the steering shaft and u-joints, I doubt that is the problem. It could be a number of things but definitely a rotational issue. Tire, wheel, brake drum etc. Check tires for run out and balance first and go from there.

 

Going to respectfully disagree;
I'm sure that it may be true some times, but I used to work for a company that runs a fleet of T800s for oilfield (crude oil gathering), and T600s, / T660s for over the road. Due to oilfield roads, the T800s got far more abuse, and steer axle problems were very common. Lots of our trucks developed this shaking problem around 300k mi., I think the cause was generally the steer shaft, but not 100%. The company ran premium tires, (specifying Michelin & Bridgestone), and I cannot remember needing to have a tire replaced due to a broken belt. Not to say it didn't happen, but again, I cannot recall, and tracking tire info at two of the three terminals I worked at during my tenure with them was one of my dutys.

Now an O/O since 2000, I run BF Goodrich, and have always felt that they are the best bang for the buck, whether I am spending company money, or my own. I have not had to replace a premium tire due to a broken belt, however, last October, when I purchased this truck, it had two different name (off brand) tires on the steer axle, one with about 75% tread remaining, the other nearly new. The slightly worn tire had a scalloped wear pattern on the edge, and the truck "hunted the road" when I test drove it. After a trip to the alignment / tire store, it WAS determined that there was a broken belt on the worn tire. As part of the truck purchase, I negotiated a new pair of BF G 244s, and will be VERY surprised if a tire is my problem.
Thanks for the input.

 

What he said!
Those things solved an off center "nightmare" type problem for me!!!!!!

 

Thanks Bender, and would you please define "run out"?

 

Variance of the tread face during rotation. You can lift the tire, place a block against the tread face and rotate the tire, watch for gaps or the tire bumping the block away during rotation.

 

It's the comment he said "at 30 Mph" that is keying me to a possible bad tire. Better to verify it isn't before something bad happens.

 

ENR, thanks for the link for those sleeve tools, cool product!

 

Once again, they solved the hopping problem I had with my 2001 W900.
I purchased the temporary ones, but I think the ones you leave on are probably better.

 

thanks guys for the help..gonna get me a set of the centering tools and i know that will keep some of the bounce out of the old dump truck..mike