Shakey Brakey

[astrojohn]

MY 2000 Astro, is giving me fits. I've developed a shaking in the front end. From 0 to 55, it is not noticeable. But anything over that, it starts to shake, and gets worse, as the speed increases. I jacked it up, and checked out everything that could cause it to shake. The wheel bearings, tie rods, idler arms, and all that. Everything seems normal. I did notice I had one brake caliper frozen up, and when I turned the wheel, it was hard to turn. So I replacec the caliper, and I have good brakes.
I had a slight shake before replacing the caliper, but it got worse since replacing it.
I thought I had a tire that the plies were separating, as I noticed when I drove real slow, the van would shake back and forth.
I swapped out tires, one at a time, to see if I could determine which wheel it was. Nothing different.
I'm wondering if I do have a warped rotor, from the siezed brake caliper. I've had warped brake rotors before, and never had them shake like they do now.
Is there something I'm overlooking?

[Smiliesafari]

Check your idler arms. They are a real common problem.

[doyoulikeithere]

idler arms and ball joints are both good and likely suspects.
Mine have had both those. One had a bad center link.
Have another good look or get a second opinion on all those front steering and suspension parts.
You must have missed it first time.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

I would also see about getting the tires balanced and checked if you don't see anything else. It could be a badly warped rotor but it would have to be really bad!

[astrojohn]

Thanks for all the advice I've gotten for my shaking problem. They were all good things to be looking for.
Actually, I found the culprit.
I was so intent on finding something wrong in the front end, I forgot to check the rear.
I took it out for a drive, to get a real feel for what was happening.
When it started to shake, I noticed the steering wheel didn't shake, nor when putting on the brakes, the pedal didn't vibrate.
So when I got home, I jacked up the rear of the van. I checked if the axle bearings had some slop, and when rotating the tires, on one side was a huge bulge. 3/4 of the tire tread was like new, and the bulge area, was down to balding. The tread was distorted, so this tells me the plies in the tire separated.
Its funny how a person may think a problem is coming from a certain place, only to find it coming somewhere else.
I know I looked at the tires, when the van was sitting in the garage, and km
now I never saw the bulge. Must have been on or toward the bottom at those times.
I'm glad confidence has been restored in my old trusty Astro. 315000 miles and going strong.

[doyoulikeithere]

thats the thing with these vans.
You sit right at the front and it feels like everything comes from the front.

[Wiley]

This is why I ghost ride, no better way to look over the van than while it is in motion.