Crab walking.

so after I made the turn onto my street my truck started kind of crab walking. I though the axle was loose but after jacking it up from the pumpkin that the passenger side didn’t really have any suspension travel as the wheel on that side went up first while the driver side was still making contact with the ground. Kind of stumped on what’s going on so any suggestions or advice would help

 

How're your leaf bushings? Do you have stock or aftermarket U-bolts/ubolt flip? Are your front cam bolts tight?

 

Didn’t check leaf bushings or cam bolts. Stock ubolt

 

What is "Crab Walking"?

 

Dif locked up due to internal issue? Not sure if it could have caused torque on one side lifting the one wheel when you jacked up the axle, but if that started while making a turn, it makes me wonder if something broke and jammed internal gears, as "crab walking" sounds like what happens while driving with a locked differential.

 

For suspension travel, dont rely on lifting it by the pumpkin. Mine also lifts passenger side before driver side. Put it back on the ground and press down on the bed rail, or step in the bed and bounce weight on either side to help see if a shock is jammed.
For the "crab walking", check the bushings on the leaf springs for wear, and look at the leaf spring perches to see if they appear to have moved (look for wear/rust on the leaf springs) which would indicate a broke alignment pin.
Check for movement by parking the truck on a flat surface and chocking the front tires on both sides. With the truck OFF and in neutral with parking brake off, grab the back tire and try to rotate it forward and backward. No need to be gentle, test your muscles out.

 

Black ice

 

Back end goes out one way while driving straight and I have to steer to keep the truck going straight while it looks crooked

Diff isn’t locked. 2012 sport

Gonna give that a go after work

not cold enough in Texas

 

There is more weight on the truck near the driver side rear (gas tank) that causes the truck to up like that when lifted from the diff.

 

If you need some help diagnosing let me know. I'm in Plano @richardbui23

 

The U-Bolts getting loose and allowing the axle to get out of it's centering slot/hole would be my guess. That's really what determines the alignment of the axle.

 

Remember, a crab walking condition can be caused by problems in the front end too. Lots of vehicles going down the road that way have serious front end alignment issues - generally caused by worn out components.

 

That's a good point. Definitely worth the time to look at both. I was thinking just about what could cause it to come from the rear but it could actually be from the front too.

 

Sounds like fish-tailing on ice. Even if it isn't cold enough per say if it is below 40 degrees low laying areas can accumulate dew/ frost/ ice. ie black ice.

If you have a sport you "wouldn't" if the differential is locked up because its an auto locking differential.

Have you checked your lug-nuts for tightness?

 

That would be awesome but I don’t think the truck will make it that far lol

That’s what I’m thinking. I’ll have to get under the truck again tonight

I thought it might be front end but on my way to work today I hear what sounded like a pin/bolt dropping off followed but some new noises in the rear

It’s not the road. Lugs was first thing I checked

 

Also reminds me. Did you ever get the driveshaft issue resolved?

 

Yeah, went two piece drive shaft with a double cardan right behind the carrier bearing. Had it made at Drive Shaft King in Dallas. Smooth as butter now.

 

What I meant was that one of the gears inside your dif may be locked up due to broken parts, doesnt have to have a dif locker to do that. hope you find the problem and its as simple as tightening a ubolt, having to open up anything can get expensive. I assume your warranty will cover it though if its still in effect. Good luck with all that!

 

Given that you think you heard something break, did you try spinning each rear wheel when you had the rear end up in the air? I wonder if something broke inside the axle / differential?

 

How's the frame?? Rusty? Any chance the frame was bent/straightened before?