Is there an Expert in the House??? Wierd wobble/vibration coming from font end.

[sleepchamber]

   I am losing my mind here.  1985 Scottsdale 305/th350c I installed new tires four months ago and after about a month i started getting a wobble in the front end between 35mph through 55mph.....becomes a vibration at higher speeds.  Cant really say that it was occuring before the new tires, I barely drove the truck since the tires were so dry-rotted.  Really noticible when cornering at these speeds.  I installed new ball joints upper and lower....new bearings and races.....mechanic who installed balljoints says that all suspension parts are still good and tight.  Took the truck to the goodyear dealer who said that all four were out of balance...they balanced them....was good for about a month....still felt a bit of wobble at times.  After that month the wobble started getting worse again....took it to another goodyear dealer who roadbalanced the tires and said two were out of balance and one of the rims was barely warped.  Rotated the wheels all around....adjusted air pressure up and down...have now installed new brake rotors thinking that they had to be the culprit......guess what.....still have a wobble.  Goodyear says it cannot be the tires....WHAT THE heck?

[Captkaos]

Is it felt in the steering or the whole truck?  What kind of rims?  If you had them balanced twice and both times they were our of balance, what changed from the first time?
Have you check all the steering components?

[Da67goatman]

How old are your shocks?  They can cause vibes, also how about your tie rods and idler arm ect?

[sleepchamber]

Mechanic says that all front end items including steering are within specs and in good working order.  I feel it both in the steering and in the truck....can hear things in the dash vibrating at times.  Shocks only have maybe five thousand miles on them.  There was nothing that has changed between the rebalances....cannot see that any weights had fallen off of the rims...Cragar sawblades.  I have emailed Goodyear on this a few times and all they are doing is telling me to take it to a different dealer.  It has to be the tires....right? 

[Irish_Alley]

did the vibration move or change when the rotated the tires?

[Blazin]

Being in spec means just that, there is a certain amount of looseness that they can have and still be in spec. Different manifactures have different specs. There still could be some play in the front end / steering parts. Might be a combo of several of them being slightly worn, but still in spec causing issues.
You don't mention if its 4x4 or not. If it is have you checked the axle joints? Steering stabilizer?

[bake74]

     You said the good year place "road balanced" them.  I assume that is the same thing as road force balancing. 
     When tires get mounted on rims, most places balance the combo with weights unless you ask for the tire to be balanced on the rim first before any weights are added.  (this is a process and takes time, so that is why most places do not do it)
     If that is the case and they did that, then one are I would suspect is the rims are causing problems.  It is hard to tell if rims are out of balance unless there is physical damage to them.
     I would next get a second opinion on the front suspension parts if you have not already, though most shops can tell if you got bad suspension parts pretty easy.
     If it is the truck in your avatar it looks to be 2wd, less to go wrong then a 4wd.  Have you looked at your front suspension to see if anything looks like it is out of whack or different from side to side ?
     One last thing, if the tires are brand new, and have a deeper lug pattern to them, some need to wear down some before they settle in, though they should not be causing your truck to have a wobble or vibration. 

[bobcooter]

If it's 2 wheel drive, i think it may be the idler arm or the pitman arm or both.

[Stewart G Griffin]

1) DO NOT take your truck to goodyear;  Stop doing business with goodyear.
a) Will post negative links concerning goodyear business practices shortly.
b) There were on 20/20 or something concerning bad/shady business practices.
c) i've personally witnessed the above several times.

2) What type of tires and where did you get the tires?   Let me guess-----goodyear?

[Bitzer!]

Just thinking out loud, could an unbalanced prop or centre bearing transfer vibration to the front?

[Korndiggity]

How 'bout the steering stabilizer? Had a truck do exactly that, years ago...

[jt1200r]

make sure the frame around the steering box is in good shape(no cracks)

[sleepchamber]

It appears to be everything in the differential.....worn out....loose....waiting for the estimate to replace with new....guess i need to go ahead and put a posi unit in there.  i can hear a sucking noise already..........