Help: shaking front end: ball joints?

[onezero]

How do you diagnose if ball joints are shot?

My '74 Avocado steering wheel and front end shakes when I get to between 50 and 55 MPH. I changed the steering damper but didn't help.

Thanks.
Shawn

[wcfvw69]

In all likelihood, your tires are out of balance and or out of round. If it's really a violent shaking, you could have a tire separating.

What I'd do it take it to a tire shop and have your front tires checked. If they check out ok, have the tires rebalanced.

As far as the ball joints. They would not cause a shaking or vibration. If they are excessively worn, they could contribute to the alignment going out of spec and then some un-even tire wear. When tires start to wear from a bad alignment, they go out of balance.
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[helowrench]

beyond the steering damper, I would start checking the tie rod ends.
Unusual though, as the 45-55 range shimmy is usually the damper.

What kind of shape was the steering damper bushing in the tie rod?

(The one the the damper end goes through)
If the metal bushing on this guy comes out, it can introduce enough play for this to happen.
http://www.jbugs.com/product/113425117.html

Rob
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[Al Capulco]

Sounds like a wheel balance problem. You may want to check to see if maybe you lost a wheel weight. How old are the tires? If you can find a front end shop that will balance your front tires on the car that would be the best way.

[onezero]

Ok--Now to find someone that can balance the thing rim! The last timeI had these balanced was years ago on a bubble balancer.
Are any of the new machines able to balance the stock thing wheels? Perhaps with an adapter plate?

Thanks.
BTW , what are symptoms of failing tie-rods?

Thanks
Shawn

[doublecanister]

I had 2 bent rims that caused a very rough ride at 45 to 55 but not in the steering. more like a kidney punch at speeds in the drivers seat.

I used a wide 5 wheel adaptor, and we never could get 1 wheel to balance, every time the guy spun it, the place for the wheel weight moved.

FIX: got new rims.

But I've read that some places can straighten bent rims. could check around.

As far as failing tie rods, not sure I've ever had one fail and cause this issue you're describing, kinda sounds like the steering stabilizer best guess.

Hope you get it fixed

T
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[helowrench]

For balancing, I have taken a brake drum in, and let them use it, bolted to the wheel for balancing.

For tie rods, look for differences in movement where the tie rod ends terminate.

Crank the wheel over to one side, and look at the each tie rod end with a flashlight while someone wiggles the wheel gently.

There should be no play in the tie rod end.
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Current VWs:
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73 914 1.7
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[ldj1002]

I used BB's to balance mine