I am lost. I just bought an 86 K5 Blazer and am really new to the resto thing. My first thing to tackle is the shaking. When I am moving the truck shakes whether I am giving it gas or not from about 10 mph to approximately 45 mph. After 45 it seems to smooth out and it's pretty comfortable. My steering box is bad but I'm not sure if it would cause this. I need new shocks as well. I took it in today to get the tires rotated and balanced and it helped a bit but not much. Any ideas? Shocks, steering box, alignment, ball joints...?
CK5
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86 K5 shakes like a banshee!
- Thread starter gm29chev
- Start date
We need more details. Is it lifted? Give us some details like tires,shocks,etc. Can you tell what is shaking, steering wheel, axles, tires?
buffblazer
1/2 ton status
this is my buddy, the truck is stock sitting on 31/12.5/15 bfgoodrich mud terrian Km2's.
the wobble he is talking about is the steering wheeling kinda vibrating in your hand, and the whole truck kinda wobbles almost like your sitting on tires with big massive cleats going down a paved road.
the wobble he is talking about is the steering wheeling kinda vibrating in your hand, and the whole truck kinda wobbles almost like your sitting on tires with big massive cleats going down a paved road.
badmix
1/2 ton status
could be u joints, ball joints, tie rod ends, drag link, pitman arm, steering box, drive shaft, motor mount, tranny mount, etc etc.
Seriously though, everything you and badmix mentioned could cause it.
The steering box certainly could.
If you have play, make sure its not loose on the frame, and that the frame is not cracked.
After that, I suppose the best place to start, is to jack up the front end, grab the tires, give them a good hard shake, and then start tightening up whats loose.
Good possibility that one thing is not causing it if the truck has not had much maintenance over the years.
It could be a combination of lots of things.
Doing one or two might stop if for a while, but it will come back.
The steering box certainly could.
If you have play, make sure its not loose on the frame, and that the frame is not cracked.
After that, I suppose the best place to start, is to jack up the front end, grab the tires, give them a good hard shake, and then start tightening up whats loose.
Good possibility that one thing is not causing it if the truck has not had much maintenance over the years.
It could be a combination of lots of things.
Doing one or two might stop if for a while, but it will come back.
Dang. I didnt know I would get that many posts back. Sweet. I will definately jack that thing up and start tightening stuff and will be replacing the steering box hopefully soon. And thanks for the advice. It shakes like a MotherF***er!
Make sure you check the frame closely where the steering box bolts on. Its real common for it to crack under or around the box.
Not the end of the world if it does.
In fact its so common you can buy strengthener kits from several sources.
Not the end of the world if it does.
In fact its so common you can buy strengthener kits from several sources.
The frame its self cracks due to stress put on it by the load on the steering box.
I'm not totally sure if a solidly tightened box would crack the frame or not. Most of the ones I have heard about were loose when found.
Its possible that the movement of the loose box cracked the frame, or the box got loose when the frame cracked.
Either way, thoroughly clean the frame and look for cracks.
I have to be a little vague about this problem, since I have never experienced it firsthand, and probably never will.
I run Fords, you see.........
OHHH, I'm going to hear about that one........
BTW, what you are feeling, folks here would call a mild shimmy. Wait until you get a Death Rattle!
Shimmy on Steroids.
I'm not totally sure if a solidly tightened box would crack the frame or not. Most of the ones I have heard about were loose when found.
Its possible that the movement of the loose box cracked the frame, or the box got loose when the frame cracked.
Either way, thoroughly clean the frame and look for cracks.
I have to be a little vague about this problem, since I have never experienced it firsthand, and probably never will.
I run Fords, you see.........
OHHH, I'm going to hear about that one........
BTW, what you are feeling, folks here would call a mild shimmy. Wait until you get a Death Rattle!
Shimmy on Steroids.
badmix
1/2 ton status
NO matter what the problem, i would get ORDs steering box brace kit. Its worth its weight in gold. No K5 should be without it, unless you go hydro steering but thats a different animal all together.
zombie1969
1/2 ton status
I'm not gonna mention checking the front steering and suspension because its been covered.Spin the tires and look for a bent rim or bad tire/bent hub.The rotors could be warped or have rust build up causing a vibration also.You could always take it to a shop and have it checked out then do the work yourself if you cant figure it out.Another thing that people overlook is the use of fix a flat.Ive found it when balancing a tire that for some reason wouldn't balance and when dismounted found it full of the stuff.
What part of Co.?
Another thing to check are the axle U bolts.
If you need stock tie rod and drag link ends, I have a full set of new GM in there boxes for a stock 10 bolt.
Another thing to check are the axle U bolts.
If you need stock tie rod and drag link ends, I have a full set of new GM in there boxes for a stock 10 bolt.
