Vibration after 60mph

[cavscout]

I am getting some serious vibration out of my 87 FSB when I hit about 60mph. To the point that the passenger side seat starts shaking pretty bad. I have heard that the U joints will go bad and can cause this. Just wondering if anyone else has had the same thing happen and what did you have to do to correct it?

[JayT]

If you're lifted at all, it's probably what's affectionately known as "Death Wobble". The first thing to check is alignment... then all joints, ball/U/etc...

[cavscout]

No lift on it.

[JayT]

I'd still start with alignment... then ball joints. Jack it up and see if you can rock the tire at all (top to bottom)... watch the joint(s) as you do it (easier with 2 people)... I, honestly, missed mine and so did the first shop I took it to, it was so little movement... HTH...

[broncomatt]

An alinment is always a good thing. But if this suddenly started and you havent hit anything its probably not an alinment issue. The most common cause of vibration in the front end is either out of ballence tires (wheel weights do fly off) or worn out components (I.E. ball joints, wheel bearings, tie rods).
Jack up your front end and do the wigle test. If its ok, have the tires ballenced.
Broncomatt

[cavscout]

It has done it since I have had the truck. I will get the alignment checked and have the tire rebalanced. If that won't do it, I will start with the mechanical stuff. This one sat for about a year or so before I got and I am just in the process of fixing all the little odds and ends.

Thanks for the help guys.

[JayT]

Matt's right on (as usual - He's the man!)... Sounds like you've got the right plan. Let us know if there is any updates (problem found or not).

[bucketobolts]

Matt does make a good point. I had a set of BFG All Terrains that would not stay balanced for more than 4-5000 miles. About the time I would need to rotate the tires, they would need balancing. They were 33x12.50's on a set of 15x10 rims with a lot of lead to balance.

[broncomatt]

If it has sat for some time its very possible the tires are flat spotted. We get that here allot, cars seem to sit on the lot and when they get driven they have a vibration. A road force variance machine will ballence and fix a flat spoted tire.
If there is any loose components they should be fixed before the alinment, as it would not be correct if done with bad parts.
Let us know what you find.
Broncomatt