NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

1972 c10 1/2 ton, 2wd longbed, with front swaybar from a 1-ton.
I've replaced the entire front suspension, balljoints, tie rods and ends, control arm shafts, and I've replace the bearings inner and outer, and shocks.
It's only the front left wheel.
When I take a hard right turn, at around 45 mph plus, I can feel a vibration. And when I get over 75 mph in a straight line, I can feel it again. I know it's not the front right, because left turns don't vibrate.
Also, when I hit a decent size bump (over 20mph) on the left side, the front wheel kinda makes a clunking noise.
What could it be?
Toad

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

body bushings

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

body bushings? That can cause vibrations?

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

something is loose. Go back over all the new parts and make sure everything is tight.

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

yes!

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

Lug nuts loose ???

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

Nah, I've checked the lug nuts, and they're fine.

I'm not doubting you jamon8, because I don't know, but what do body bushings have to do with a 75mph+ vibration in the front left wheel? I'm just curious. I will check them out too.

70rs/ss, I sure am dreading going back through all of that. Those cotter pins are a mother. Especially when the truck has a major oil leak that covers everything in a protective coating in about a week.

Todd

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

It's gotta be something loose (the clunk you hear when you hit a bump) I would start whith wheel bearings first (they can lossen up after seating, especially if installed a little loose to begin with) also the shocks could allow the tire to hop, and rebalance the tires cause wheel weights can get thrown off and cause a vibration. Good luck, did you do the a-arm bushings? If so check them, cause everything I mentioned could allow one wheel to clunk and wobble (vibration) sounds like you at least only need to look at one side. Not sure a body bushing would cause any of the symptoms mentioned, just my opinion (unless the clunk is the body clunking into the frame?!) ya never know!!

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

A loose or bad ball joint or possibly a tie rod end might have that effect.

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

my 70 was doin the same thing and it was the shock stud was loose in the frame , so ya may want to check that out , it was tight when the truck was on the ground but on a lift the stud was loose

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

I would also check out your brake caliper, make sure it is tight.

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

The best way I have found is to jack the truck up and take the weight off the suspension, grab the wheel in question and give it a good shake,up and down and back and forth. Have some else help to look for movement where there isnt supposed to be.

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

not sure if this would cause your vibration but it could cause the clunk when you hit a bump.
on the front suspension crossmember, (the one that the engine mounts to.)
check the bolts that hold it to the frame. mine clunked like that when i would hit a bump, but i could not find a problem. when i started the front end rebuild, i found that all of the bolts were loose and that the whole crossmember had been shifting around. i have not completed everything yet, but i believe my clunk will be gone. good luck to you.
Tony

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

the clunk started way back when, when I first put in my swaybar. Since then, I've replaced all that stuff to try and get rid of the clunk, and yet nothing has worked so far.
I've gone to a shop, and they can't find anything wrong with the front end, but there has to be something or else why am I clunking and vibrating. I think the reason they didn't find anything wrong for vibrations is because it takes a lot of force to make it vibrate, which is why I don't feel it at lower speeds.

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

Disconnect your swaybar and see if it quiets down, then check that out if it makes the noise stop, sounds like the problem started with the swaybar, start looking there.

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

I agree with 70, the best place to start looking is the last change before you started having a problem.

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

The swaybar was the last change before the clunking. The entire front suspension was the last change before the vibration.

Can a warped rotor cause vibrations? It's been warped for a while now, but with the new components, maybe it's translating throughout the truck differently now... maybe?

Toad

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

when you put the new tierod ends on it is insainly critical to get them in exactly the same spec as the old ones. if not your tires are trying to get used to the new angle they hit the assphalt. you need to get it alighned[sp] and then and have them check your tires for balance.

seeing as how it does it when you brake also have them check your rotors for run out as well.

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

allignment wont cuase a vibration.but itll help save your tires. rotate the tires to see if there is any change in the vibration(front to back) then you may need to get em balanced if it does. not sure about the clunk...good luck,.

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

If you have the same size tire front and rear try moving the front to the rear and see if it makes a differance. The noise and vibration may be totally separate problems. I have seen belts shift in tires making them shimmy on a turn and at higher speeds. If the problem goes away after rotation that may be your problem.

Re: NEED HELP! front end vibration
 

alignment will cause woble and vibration if they are to far off it will pull and push trying to share the load. 4x4 get it all the time from bent tierods and poor caster angles after lifts.