Issues after lift/rims

Hey guys, I've tried doing some searching on this but haven't found a real definitive answer on what could be my problem. I had new rims installed about a month and a half ago (16X8 0mm offset and 4.5 backspace) and had some issues with how it rode nothing major just a kind of bounce feeling. I then had my lift (eibach coils 5100s front and rear and wheelers 1.5" AAL, all professionally installed) installed and had it aligned and got the print out from the shop where it showed everything in spec. I began noticing a vibration/pulsing feeling coming from my steering wheel and gas pedal, comes and goes as I drive at various times. The guy that installed my lift checked and said everything was fine and it was probably a balance issue so I went and had my tires rebalanced and now once I hit about 45 mph my steering shakes pretty darn bad. What I can't figure out is whether this is a wheel issue or lift or both? I have a 4 cylinder reg cab. so there is no carrier bearing. I took some pics to hopefully help you all get an image as to what everything looks like. Thanks for any and all help .

 

Are the tires balanced....?

 

Yes should be. Just had them balanced again this past Saturday. Guy told me when I got my wheels from them that aftermarket is never as good as stock on the ride but I know good and well it shouldn't be that bad lol.

 

I have the same lift as you and had the same problem. But it was the whole truck shaking, apprantly when I went offroading the weights flung off so if he didnt balance them again when he said that, theres a possiblity

 

i have the same exact problem!!! I have a dc and i installed the cb drop to no aval

 

Hmm it's a possibility they could have fallen off since I've got them balanced on the inside but where I just had it done again that shouldn't be the problem. That or they don't know what they're doing lol

 

Check out the boot, transmission side. Perhaps a bearing is misaligned in the axle boot? everything on your photos looks normal.

 

Those are some nasty CV angles (well from the looks of it). What do you have the 5100's cranked too?!


Edit:

Eibach Coils = 1.6" of Lift so anything over 1.4" on the 5100's would be slightly excessive or could cause problems.

 

hmmm my boot looks like that?

 

Ok I'll look into the boot man..if that's the problem what would that involved to get it fixed? 5100s are set at 0

 

So you're only running 1.6" of lift and your CV's look like that?

Did you do something to the boots (pull them so the fins are further apart)?!

Edit: A shot from the front of the truck showing both CV's and trying to be as level as possible!


Edit Edit: My steering wheel does the same thing, vibrates about 1/2" each way.

 

Well I had them installed at a shop and I asked the guy if he set them at 0 and he said close to it or something like that. Where I have the reg cab 4 cylinder it may have gone up higher than 1.6 like it would with a heavier model like double cab v6. I have no idea what they did with the boots. I agree that it kinda looked like a harsh cv angle to me too. When i went back to have the AAL installed I told him to check the front out and he said everything was fine and it was probably a balance issue causing my vibes?

 

The Vibe issue is pretty much a balancing issue, are you running Hubcentric wheels?! Also, what tires are you running (the more aggressive the tread, the harder it is to balance)?!

 

Your front shocks are set at 0.85", because one groove is showing.

 

Would I feel the vibe in the gas pedal and steering wheel both? I don't understand why I wouldn't have had the vibes before the lift though because I had the rims first but I'm sure it's possible. It just bothers me if it's something like wearing my cv joints out or something. And sorry for my ignorance, but how do I tell if they're hubcentric or not? And ive got firestone destination ats a little aggressive but definitely nothing major at all

 

Oh cool I didn't know that man thanks lol. So I'm actually sitting at more like 2.5" then?

 

see the small crease on his boot closest to the transmission?

Normally, that tells you that the axles are being pulled. It's not the best thing for your axles or cv joints.

Good placement, there should be zero crease on the boot.

However the crease can happen if you just messed with it. But if the photo was taken when the truck was sitting and hasn't been moved, I'd check it out.

just an idea. rotational vibration would have to do with anything connected to the hub assembly and can go as far down as into bearings. Vibrations <45 mph generally balance issues or somethings out of spec on the hub assembly.

 

what do you do if your axle is being pulled?

 

If you got , yep.

What's the caster angle shown in your alignment sheet? You could have lost some caster compared to stock due to limitations of the stock upper control arm.

Next time you get severe vibrations, maintain a constant speed (use cruise control if necessary) and switch to 4Hi. See if vibrations change. Good way to isolate a front CV problem from a wheel balance or rear driveshaft problem.

 

Good catch! That could explain the vibes, that's a fairly steep CV angle.