NHTSA Complaint #704728 — 1994 FORD F SUPER DUTY

TRAVELING NORTH ON I-5, SOUTH OF ORLAND, THE ROAD TURNED ROUGH AND I HIT A DEPRESSION (NOT A CHUCK-HOLE) WITH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO AN UNCONTROLLABLE FRONT-END SHIMMY, A VERY VIOLENT ACTION, AND I HAD TO GRAB THE WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS TO PREVENT IT FROM MOVING RAPIDLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE ACTION FELT LIKE A MAJOR SUSPENSION COMPONENT HAD FAILED. OR, LIKE A TIRE WAS COMING LOOSE OR ABOUT TO BE FORCED FROM THE STEEL WHEEL. THE COACH WAS SHAKING WILDELY, AND I FELT THAT I HAD NO CONTROL. THIS ACTION CONTINUED UNTIL THE COACH CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I IMMEDIATELY INSPECTED THE FRONT-END AND LUG NUTS, THEN LEFT THE FREEWAY. THE NEXT DAY, I HAD THE SUSPENSION CHECKED AT A TRUCK STOP IN CORNING, CA. THE ORIGINAL STABILIZER SEEMED TO HAVE CONSIDERABLE RESISTANCE, BUT WAS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC FOUND EVIDENCE THAT THE LARGE STABILIZER BAR HAD RECENTLY MOVED. THIS SHIMMY ACTION FELT LIKE IT WAS SELF-PERPETUATING -- LIKE THE TIRE WAS MOVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THAT THE STEERING PUMP WAS DEMANDING. *AK