Terrifying front end shake on XM211

[BalooGreen]

I need some help, my xm211 shakes like there's no tomorrow when going straight at all speeds. When you go around a turn or even just a slight curve it's fine and drives like a dream compared to the shaking. I'm fairly new to all this and need some pointers. Thank y'all.

 

[M543A2]

Wheel balance and/or worn steering linkage joints could be the culprit. Either put balancing fluid in the tires or have them balanced with weights. Turn the wheel from right to left a bit while a helper watches joints for looseness.

 

[NDT]

Welcome to the forum. Probably best you park the truck and put the front axle up on jack stands. Next, inspect for loose wheel bearings, worn out tie rod ends, and disintegrated knuckle bearings.

 

[1944mb]

Check the king bearings-I'm not sure on these trucks if it happens frequently, but on a big truck, bad king pin bearings will do that. Jack the front end up and grab the tire top and bottom; rock it back and forth and see how much give there is. Have a helper look and see if you have loose wheel bearings or if the knuckle itself rocks and forth. Again, not sure on these trucks, but it can be common on others to set a "preload" on the knuckle. This is done with shims and you use a fish scale to check essentially the amount of force it takes to move the knuckle right and left. I quickly looked through TM 9-8024, but will need to spend sometime and see if they show anything like this. Or maybe there is an overhaul manual that better covers this. Also check even tire pressures, and steering linkages-grab wheel on right and left when jacked up and rock back and forth and see if there is any play-again a helpers eyes are useful.

 

[USMC 00-08]

need some pointers

Welcome to the forum! TM 9-1819AC has the information on rebuilding the front end. It should show parts breakdowns of what you need to look at.

You can download it here if you need to.

http://www.steelsoldiers.com/showthread.php?119880-M135-amp-M211-TM-s

 

[1944mb]

Thanks USMC. I was curious about that TM. Page 201 shows rebuilding the king pin bearings or trunion bearings as the TM calls them. Page 201. Rather then using a fish scale to check pre-load of the bearings they recommend using a torque wrench as the knuckle turns. Nice to have manual to look at!

 

[flatheadvff]

Had this problem on our tanker truck, local vol fire dept. Checked for wear in everything repacked all bearings wheel and king. checked all steering linkage and tire pressures. Tires looked good and had good tread. Still had problem finally swapped tires with pair from rear fixed problem. Hope this is helpful info, have you cured your problem yet? just curious. TAnker was m211 by the way.

 

[Jbulach]

Had this problem on our tanker truck, local vol fire dept. Checked for wear in everything repacked all bearings wheel and king. checked all steering linkage and tire pressures. Tires looked good and had good tread. Still had problem finally swapped tires with pair from rear fixed problem. Hope this is helpful info, have you cured your problem yet? just curious. TAnker was m211 by the way.

I would replace the bad tire/s and or wheel. Your only putting lipstick on a pig by moving them to the rear...

 

[nattieleather]

I believe in the KISS method of trouble shooting (Keep It Simple Smiley). Check the tires first. If you can get new rubber for them that would be the best. If not then try swapping as mentioned before. If it is tires then get new rubber and drive on. If that doesn't fix it then try the other checks. In other words start with the simplest thing first and move up from there. But having had an M211 myself in the past I know first hand that bad tires will give you a front end shake that will knock your fillings out. I put new rubber on and it was smooth driving from then on.

 

[USMC 00-08]

But having had an M211 myself in the past I know first hand that bad tires will give you a front end shake that will knock your fillings out.

Very true. I have experienced the same thing. A guy I know that drove these in the Army in the 1950's told me this as well. Of course after I needed the tip.

 

[dmetalmiki]

Had that happen on the M62 recently, Hit a pothole and the shake (from side to side) rocked the cab so badly I thought it was coming loose! And it chucked one of the rotators clean off the top. Scared my passenger half to death!. Everything tight and good. all bearing adjusted properly. Beats me.
Actually it was like a Willys jeep wheel wobble but 10931/2 times worse. I'm going to investigate further next weekend.