every once in a while when i brake hard the whole car shakes side to side. it doesn't feel like warped rotors because it doesnt happen every time and i dont feel the pedal pulsate. i did notice that one of my tie rod sleeves was bowed, could this be sometimes bending back and forth under braking causing my car to shake? what else could it be?

 

you might want to get under the front end and start looking for worn stearing and suspension parts. i'd especially look at the idler arm.

 

My '98 Blazer does this too. I was heading down a road that went from 2 lanes to 1 lane, the left lane becomes left turn only lane at an intersection, and some guy was there behind another car, I was doin about 60 and he found out he was in the left turn only lane and pulled right out in front of me, I slammed on my brakes and the car started to swerve left and right violently. Is this common in SUVs though because I've witnessed other situations like mine and it was a Jeep Grand Cherokee, his did the same thing mine did. Perhaps something to do with ABS?

 

how do i see if the idler arm is bad?

 

f you do want to check or don't know how to check go ahead and take it a wheel alignment shop. ask them what needs to be replaced before you give it a wheel alignment. most places are happy to tell you what's wrong with it(free estimate). then replace those parts and give it a wheel alignment

 

To check your idler arm you could put the car up on stands, slide under and grab the point where the idler arm attaches to the center link and see if you can move it up & down. I could move mine about 1/2 to 3/4 inch. I proptly replaced it.