I’ve got a 2011 F-250 with 189k miles, and I’ve noticed a steering wheel shimmy. It tends to happen at higher speeds, especially when I’m not towing. It’s inconsistent—sometimes it seems tied to specific road sections, but recently I noticed it happening on curves on the freeway.
I’ve read about the ‘death wobble,’ but this doesn’t seem persistent like that. Any thoughts?
Are we talking about a death wobble situation? If that’s starting, it could be the track bar bushing wearing out. Best way to check is to get under the front end while someone turns the wheel back and forth and look for any play.
@Ember
Got it, I’ll check that out. Thanks!
Could be a tire or wheel issue up front—maybe worn tires, or you need a balance or alignment. Could also be bad bearings or steering components. I’d suggest hitting a tire shop that does alignments; they can check the bearings too.
Tip: If you feel it in your feet, it’s likely from the rear; if it’s in the steering, it’s probably the front end.
@Keats
Appreciate the reply.
@Keats
Just to note: Tire or wheel balance issues would be consistent—like if it starts vibrating every time you hit 45 mph. A wheel won’t balance itself out intermittently, nor will a tire defect just fix itself. The fact that your vibration is inconsistent could be a clue.
Alignment issues show up as uneven tire wear, a steering wheel that’s off-center on a flat road, or pulling to one side, but alignment doesn’t usually cause vibration on its own.
@Maxwell
Yeah, good point.
Try checking the track bar ball joint and steering damper—that might solve it.
The steering stabilizer could also be causing issues.