[Shop-talk] Shaky steering wheel

[eric at megageek.com]

OK, Good afternoon all. 

Quick question, my daily driver started a really weird symptom yesterday 
on my way to church.  It seems that at low speed, turning the wheel a 
little bit creates a pretty major vibration in the front end.  This 
happens even with the truck on the lift.  I checked the power steering 
fluid and that is fine.  I don't know how to further diagnose this problem 
and I can't find anything on-line to look for.

Note, I drove the truck home w/out a problem on Thurs.  Then, during the 
day on Fri, I manually moved the truck without starting the engine (I 
turned the key to unlock the steering, then I put it in neutral and pushed 
the truck forward (and turned the wheel).)  I had to move it back an forth 
a few times like this.  Then, when I started the truck friday night, I 
noticed the shacking immediately.

So I'm guessing I caused this issue when I turned the wheel with the truck 
off.  Any ideas?  This is a 2001 Ford Explorer with 210,000 miles on it. 
(I know, but it still looks new!)  8>)  I'd love to be able to fix this 
before Easter.

Thanks again.

Eric P
"Be as beneficent as the sun or the sea, but if your rights as a rational 
being are trenched on, die on the first inch of your territory." Ralph 
Waldo Emerson