Wobbly Front End at 45mph

might need to take it to a shop to see if the frame is bent....I am crossing my fingers after replacing this last set that the steers will last longer, if not I won't have too much of a choice but to take it to a real shop and have them look at the frame as that would be the only thing that I can come up with that will keep chewing up the tires.

 

Ok. Is this a typical problem with all Freightliners/Western Stars?

 

This tractor was in a wreck involving front end damage before I bought it.

 

and mine too had a wreck involving front end damage also before i bought it.....and i have been trying everything to make the steers last. it was a friend of mine that I was talking too on the phone about it and he told me that the frame could be bent....

I am just crossing my fingers now on this whole thing and hoping its not a frame issue. only time will tell...

 

Steer tire/rim out of round or out of balance. Alignments and kingpins never cause or fix sustained, speed-specific shakes/shimmies or wobbles, period!

 

So the word is shocks need replaced, tires need replaced, and I need 3 axle alignment. This seems odd sense I just received a three axle alignment in October. Could it be the fact that I'm off-road so much?

 

Do you have rubber shackle bushings? Freightliner had an issue from 04-06. They had a campaign to change the rubber bushing back to greasable bronze bushings. The issue was any any little out of balance caused the springs to vibrate. Normally, vibrations that are minor enough for the driver not to feel are harmless. But, the rubber shackle bushings amplified things and cupped steer tires quickly.

If you find that your steer tires are the cause, replacing them might be a short term fix. If you have rubber bushings, get them converted to greasable bronze ones and have the suspension and alignment checked so you don't tear up another set of tires.

 

OK. Shocks were replaced around truck and a 3 axle alignment was performed. Tested at speed and problem stilled occurred. I then went to a tire shop (TCI) on the recommendation of a fellow TTR user. When they checked the tires on the balancing machine , the passenger side steer was 28oz. out of balance and the driver side was 15oz. I elected on the advice of the mechanic to purchase a new set of Michelin steers. He informed me that a blow out could be just around the corner. After new tires were mounted (2oz. and 7oz., respectively), the tractor goes down the road straight as an arrow with no wobble at any speed. Thanks to all of you for your help.

 

I consistently get 250- 300,000 KM out of my steers. I only use Michelins and have had just two- 3 axle alignments in 10 years and over a million miles. 2005 Columbia.