Front end "floating/skidding"

[buckbadly]

I'm sorry if this should be in street suspension, I thought it was for discussing lowering lol

I just bought a 2001 Tahoe from a private seller. It's in great shape and has had quite a bit of front end components replaced, followed by an alignment.

My issue is when we're on the freeway, and it's raining or has rained, when we run over those lines you see where they have sealed the cracks in the road it feels like the front end is "sliding" or "floating". It's kinda hard to explain how it feels. Also when we go over an overpass on the freeway and it has the up and down bump that is associated with the overpass, the steering wheel seems to want to jump out of our hands almost. Also when going over or steering through like the wide white paint lines on the road, it wants to kinda skid or slip, It's really weird to me how it's behaving.

Now I'm wondering if most of this is attributed to the need for front tires. It's a southern truck from florida and I'm not sure is perhaps they are not all weather tires, I'm in Ohio. I really don't know what it is, I've never experienced anything like this before. We've always owned and drove cars, this is our first go around with an suv of this size.

Maybe it's supposed to behave this way, I don't know. Any advice or suggestions would be very much appreciated at this point. I'm going to try to get it in the garage after the first of the year but I was hoping I could get some good suggestions as to what it might be before I went so I knew if they were joshing me or not lol

 

[buckbadly]

I noticed quite a few glances but no replies. If anyone needs any more info on it let me know, it really has my wife concerned with it as she is the primary driver of it...I'm stuck with my trusty 'ol 04 Intrepid lol

 

[z0lt3c]

Sounds like tram lining usually due to bad/rotted tires or steering linkage play. Either should have been noted by alignment shop. Check for play in the front wheels when rocking them at 3 and 9. How old are the tires?

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[buckbadly]

Im not sure how old the tires are, they are Michelins but they do show some signs of dry rot on the sides. It was said to have been aligned before I bought it so hard telling what they may have said. I'll try the 3 and 9 check once the rain stops lol...btw thank you for responding

 

[electro]

Basically, you want to go over all your front end components.

Quality tires that are balanced.

Tight ball joints, tie rods, steering gear.

Possibly if 4x4 check for play in drive axels..

 

[livingez_123]

By any chance did it come with RTD shock system that has been replaced with non electronic shocks? How is it around a parking lot? slow speeds under 20? does it get worse the faster you go?

 

[buckbadly]

it is 4x4, It has new shocks on it that are just stock shocks from what I can tell. It drives around town fine, there just seems to be something "off" in the steering of the truck. I will prolly have to take it to the garage in town and have em do a once over on it. I really love the truck and am glad I found this forum cause there is a ton of really great mods for these vehicles and looks like a wealth of knowledge to be found here. I attached a pic of the list the seller gave me of parts that were replaced on the tahoe before I bought it. One thing that really surprises me is how easy the steering is for such a big vehicle. As far how easy the steering wheel turns.

 

[livingez_123]

They are supposed to turn real easy at low speed and as the speed increases it stiffens up a bit. Does it have the auto level system in the rear?

 

[z0lt3c]

Im not sure how old the tires are, they are Michelins but they do show some signs of dry rot on the sides.

Given your list of repairs recently performed, I would start by suspecting the tires. The tires are stamped with date codes, you can figure out how old they are, but any dry rot on the sidewall is really bad. If all the parts on your list were actually recently replaced, but it has older dry rotted tires, well that seems a little backwards to me. There are some good lower priced tires options I can recommend.

 

[buckbadly]

Does it have the auto level system in the rear?

I don't think it does. Is that electric controlled? Air? I appologize for my lack of knowledge at this point. I'm learning more about these trucks every day. Also my wife said she's noticed a "rattling" feeling in the steering wheel the last few days?

There are some good lower priced tires options I can recommend.

That would be great cause I think we're going to look at tires after the holidays.