Steering wheel bouncing while turning

[jonny4523]

I'm having an issue that I can't pinpoint. I tried the search function but didn't have a lot of luck.

I've very recently (within the last week or 2) been getting a steering wheel 'bouncing' feeling during turns. Definitely feels like slop somewhere, but I can't pin point where. When driving in a straight line, it's smooth. Higher speeds seem to be fine as well. Only thing I can think of would be something like a pitman arm bushing? Wanted to get some opinions before I just go start swapping stuff. I have recently had tires rotated and balanced.

Thanks for the help.

EDIT: Forgot to list my truck. 1999 1500 Sport, 5.9, 4x4

 

[dodge dude94]

Personally, I'm leaning toward front hubs, but before you jack it off the ground to check those, slide under the truck and just start inspecting things. Start yanking on all the steering linkage and make sure nothing is out of place. Then jack it up and test the hubs.

 

[jonny4523]

Personally, I'm leaning toward front hubs, but before you jack it off the ground to check those, slide under the truck and just start inspecting things. Start yanking on all the steering linkage and make sure nothing is out of place. Then jack it up and test the hubs.

Really? Like a wheel bearing is going bad inside of the hub?

 

[dodge dude94]

Really? Like a wheel bearing is going bad inside of the hub?

Yup. Check the other stuff first tho. Something else it might be, and I just remembered this, is your axle disconnect in your front end might not be fully disconnected, locking both wheels in.

 

[leadrofthepak]

There is a bearing that commonly goes bad in our steering column that can cause this symptom. If you can grab the steering shaft (just below the master cylinder) and can move that up/down and/or side to side that bearing is shot.

 

[jonny4523]

Yup. Check the other stuff first tho. Something else it might be, and I just remembered this, is your axle disconnect in your front end might not be fully disconnected, locking both wheels in.

That wouldn't be good. I'll definitely check for that. I could check that the same time I check the hub bearing.

There is a bearing that commonly goes bad in our steering column that can cause this symptom. If you can grab the steering shaft (just below the master cylinder) and can move that up/down and/or side to side that bearing is shot.

That sounds like an ugly job. I'll test it out though and report back.