Alignment and high speed shudders

Sitting at about 1300 miles, my OCD finally got the better of me and I took the truck in for alignment as I can't stand an off-center steering wheel. I don't have the before/after printout in front of me, but I'll post it later. Almost everything was out of spec.

Anyway, everything was brought back into spec, wheel is centered, and truck drives straight. Great. Several days later, I actually get a chance to drive on the highway and experience a shudder or buffetting at 65+. I Originally attributed it to wind because we had 20-30 mph cross winds that day. Unfortunately, I got out on the highway again this morning and it's still there, maybe even worse. I rotated the tires front to back to see if it might be a wheel balance issue, but that changed nothing - still shuddering.

Anyone dealt with similar? Could it be an unbalanced prop shaft? Maybe they didn't torque something appropriately with the alignment?

We were planning a road trip down to Wyoming this week, the timing couldn't be better.

ETA:

 

Does shudder change if you let off the gas then return when you push on gas? That may help you determine if it is engine or suspension. Another thing to check is snow or ice stuck in your wheels. That can throw off tire balance.

 

What upgrades did you do? Lift or tires/wheels?

 

Good thought. The shudder only dissipates when the speed gets down to the low 60s, though. It looks like the steering wheel isn't straight anymore, either, which is surprising because I've really been babying the truck.

 

Everything is stock/OEM.

 

Wow, funny you should mention the alignment. I am going to dealer this Wednesday for just that. I have to run the steering wheel to the left, maybe 5 degrees only, to drive straight. The truck does not "pull" in a direction, it tracks straight, but the steering wheel needs to be to the left just a bit. Like you I can't stand an off center steering wheel.
Wonder if the dealer gave you any grief over the alignment and if they charged you anything to fix it??? thanks.

ps: no shudder on my truck, been up to 85 MPH.

 

Lift the front and with hands at 9 and 3 on the tires, check for play in the steering components. Check other angles as well.

 

We’re you testing on the same stretch of road? I ask because there are several stretches of freeway I’ve been on that have become rutted by frequent high speed semi truck traffic. And I mean rutted. Not potholed or chunked up, but legitimately rutted for several miles. Made my truck feel like the alignment was out and steering was twitchy as the tires grabbed one side of the rut or the other.

Else, as others have suggested, check for ice build up, tire balance, and even take it back to the alignment shop for a check; most places around here will check/realign for 30 days for free or minimal cost ($20 maybe).

 

I wasn't charged for the original alignment. The service advisor remarked on the printout that they confirmed the wheel off center before the alignment. The truck didn't pull before the alignment, either, but I'm planning to keep the tires as summer highway tires and didn't want them to wear unevenly.

I dropped the truck off at the dealership again this morning, so I wasn't able to check for play in the steering. That was a great idea, and I wish I'd thought of that when I had the truck up in my garage.

Finally, I drove more than 50 miles on different highway and the shudder was always present, even on roads I know to be straight and even.

I'll update the thread with whatever resolution the dealer comes to, if any.