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Shaking steering wheel on 96 caravan


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lynnnmike4e
New User

Sep 10, 2009, 7:44 PM

Post #1 of 4 (4421 views)
post icon Shaking steering wheel on 96 caravan Sign In

FrownI have a 96 Dodge Grand Caravan LE, 3.3. It has 200,000 miles on it and the steering wheel shakes when I am driving. It does not matter the speed, but it gets worse as I go faster. I have replaced the front tires, the brake pads and rotors, the left motor mount, the wheel bearings, the wheel studs, the lug nuts, and the rim. I am running out of options and I need my van, I have 2 babies to cart around. Please help, nobody I have taken the van to seems to know why.Mad


DanD
Veteran / Moderator
DanD profile image

Sep 10, 2009, 11:12 PM

Post #2 of 4 (4416 views)
Re: Shaking steering wheel on 96 caravan Sign In

Maybe have someone check whether the axle shaft’s slip joint on either axles are not seized or binding.
The inside constant velocity joint of both axles (for the lack of a better term) are telescopic and allow the shaft’s length to change as you’re going over bumps, making turns and to compensate for the natural length changes required for a shaft to rotate smoothly through a joint at an angle.
If one of these inner joints is binding; it will apply side force to the drive train; which will transfer into steering & suspension; causing a wobbling steering wheel.
One other thought; when the engine mount was replaced, were the installed lengths of the axle shafts checked. If the engine is not sitting in its proper position; one of the axles might be at the end of its telescopic travel; again putting side pressure on the drive train.
The engine must be bolted down via the engine mounts; so that the at rest axle lengths are 18.7-19.1 inches long for the right axle and 7.2-7.6 inches long for the left axle. This is adjusted by moving the engine left or right on the motor mount’s mounting bracket’s slotted holes.
Here’s a diagram showing where to take the measurements on the axle shaft. The van must be sitting on a level surface (wheels on the ground); with the front wheels pointing strait forward.
I’m not saying this is what’s causing the shake; but it is defiantly something to check.

Dan



Canadian "EH"






speed
User

Sep 14, 2009, 5:21 PM

Post #3 of 4 (4392 views)
Re: Shaking steering wheel on 96 caravan Sign In

i had a problem like that with mine and it just turned out i had gone through some tarmac and it got stuck on my rear tire after about a week or two it was fine. just a thought





GM ASEP 26 SCC Milford ASE certified in Brakes and Electrical on Thursday April 5th 2012


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Sep 14, 2009, 5:31 PM

Post #4 of 4 (4391 views)
Re: Shaking steering wheel on 96 caravan Sign In

Dan is right here. I have seen binding inner joints on many Caravans and it causes a bad shimmy under acceleration.



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