I just bought a used 2000 Scrambler 400 2x4. It's in great condition and everything appears to work fine. Well, the back brakes need work/pads, But other than that it seems to be mechanically sound.

The problem is though, at medium to high speeds the front tires start shaking back and forth pretty bad. I jacked the front end up and shook and wiggled and pulled and pushed all the hubs, tie rods, struts, etc etc........... back and forth, up and down, and everything feels tight. The tires are inflated equally, and dont appear to be deformed.

Any idea what's causing this?

Alignment? Or toe-in/out adjustment is all I can tweak I guess??

Maybe the front tires have leak stop crud in there throwing them off balance?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

rims bent?

 

I have the same problem with mine. Usually when it sits for awhile the tires get a flat spot.
Make sure the brakes aren't rubbing from a stuck caliper

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DS650powe

rims bent?</end quote></div>

Nope. Rims are straight and true.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Budman650

I have the same problem with mine. Usually when it sits for awhile the tires get a flat spot.

Make sure the brakes aren't rubbing from a stuck caliper</end quote></div>

Could be a flat spot. It has been sitting for a while. And if it has tire slime too........ I wonder if that stuff can sag to the low spot........ Just compounding the flat spot problem??

Hmmm............

 

I have some tire slime in mine and I doubt you would feel it much. It would spread out inside the tire as you rolled along. I doubt what you are describing is an out of balance problem unless of course you have 5 lbs of slime in there. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

 

ginther, check your messages

 

If it had fix-a-flat put in and not driven enough to spread it around it can make a big lump. You have to pull the tires to see if there's a ball of it in there. But, that's my second guess. Toe-out is my first.

Flat spots eventually even out, but that should be more of a bump up and down, not shaking side to side. If they do have flat spots you can try airing up the tires to their rated maximum inflation pressure and let it set for a few days. That should pop them out. Air them back down to the right pressure for riding. 30 years ago my dad had a set of truck tires he called Nylon Thumpers. It was pretty bad until the friction of the road heated them up and they rounded out. It was a bit like having square wheels when it was cold.

 

We use tractor tire sealant in 5 gallon pump bucket ( 2 pumps adequate about 16 oz) Have had customers over use sealant,throws tires way out of balance, have had bars try to shake out my hands on paved roads/hardpack! Could be problem,keep tryin!

 

Out of balance will cause the tire to jump up and down, not shake side to side. I agree with it being a possible break problem. I've had water get in a tire before throwing it off balance and the tire would jump off the ground from the up and down motion it caused.