Author Topic: bad death wobble.... (Read 6518 times)

Halladay · « **on:** Jul 20, 2009, 06:53:08 PM »

ok so i was up wheelin yesterday and drove there fine in my 88 toyota pick up. (sas) wheeled for 3 or 4 hours then drove home. still no problems... then today i take my truck to pay my cell phone bill and my truck goes crazy at 30 to 40 mph. the steering wheel is shaking like crazy and it feels the the front axel is jumping side to side.... its really bad. what could cause this problem? oh yea and when i went out to start my truck this morning my driver side lower knuckle cap is leaking.... i dont know why but it looks like gear oil not grease. or it could be a mix. so that means the seal is toast. but what could be the problem with the death wobble?

Steve_925 · « **Reply #1 on:** Jul 20, 2009, 08:07:22 PM »

check your u bolts?

46&2 · « **Reply #2 on:** Jul 20, 2009, 08:32:35 PM »

I had horrible death wobble from about 35-40 mph only and it ended up being from a tweaked alignment. IIRC the toe was way off. Been a while though.I would check that first along with ubolts, shackles etc. My alignment is usually tweaked after one or two wheeling trips, especially if I hammer down a lot....

DeadlyPeace · « **Reply #3 on:** Jul 20, 2009, 08:46:17 PM »

Check out your tie rod ends too. Even if they feel tight (no play), if they move real easy they could be worn enough to cuase death wobble

Halladay · « **Reply #4 on:** Jul 20, 2009, 09:50:55 PM »

cool i never got the chance to chech anything tonight.. so i will 2marrow. before i work. ill keep you all posted.... im thinking though since that lower knuckle cap started leaking last night i think it might be somthing to do with that lower knuckle cap.... possible?

DeadlyPeace · « **Reply #5 on:** Jul 20, 2009, 10:13:44 PM »

Not necessarily, but still could be possible. A simple test you can try is jacking it up so the wheels are off the ground and try to shake each wheel from front to back and also front top to bottom. If there’s any play from front to back it’s something in the steering. If there’s any play from top to bottom then it could be bearings.

Good luck with it.

All_Set · « **Reply #6 on:** Jul 21, 2009, 09:29:55 AM »

Death wobbles suck, mainly because so many things can be the cause of it.

Support the frame on stands and start looking for loose/worn out components. Spring bushings, hogged out spring bolts, worn TRE's, loose wheel bearings, mud on/in wheels, steering arms loose.

Go through all the axle/steering components one by one.

In the pic is seems your front spring bushing is toast. (Looks like the spring is hanging low compared to the bolt. )(may just be the pic) I know a toasted bushing can cause death wobble.

Halladay · « **Reply #7 on:** Jul 21, 2009, 09:38:02 AM »

those bushings were toast and thats when my truck stoped have a little case of death wobble. i replace them and it went away. now its back and its bad haha

tryn2Crawl · « **Reply #8 on:** Jul 21, 2009, 11:02:17 AM »

MAke sure you have SLEEVES inside your bushings(springs, hanger etc)...I often wonder why Marlin's spring don't have them.I can only imagine how often they replace them after a good few trips of beating.......And then check your U-bolts....

Halladay · « **Reply #9 on:** Jul 21, 2009, 12:05:20 PM »

found a broken knuckle stud on passenger side...

Dingman. · « **Reply #10 on:** Jul 21, 2009, 01:56:26 PM »

That could very well be the problem, but i would still retorque everything again.

If your shackle bolts are loose then you will get a bad DW.

Slolyfe · « **Reply #11 on:** Jul 21, 2009, 02:53:11 PM »

Quote from: Halladay on Jul 21, 2009, 12:05:20 PM

found a broken knuckle stud on passenger side...

that probably has something to do with it.....

Retorque all you knuckle studs and tierod ends. That got rid of mine

4-lo · « **Reply #12 on:** Jul 22, 2009, 05:16:01 PM »

check your frame work by the steering box. buddy of mine had the same problem and there was a little crack on the frame. aslo your truss bearings, little bent in it will do the same. i got to the point of ditching the stablizer and going hidro assist but this is a daily driving truck. best bet is rebuilt the whole nuckle!!

yoshaleng · « **Reply #13 on:** Aug 04, 2009, 02:07:12 AM »

i had that problem too....then talked to one of my friends and he to check my tires. look for any uneven wears.
that can cause it to take place especaily on swamper tsl bias. 2 weeks later, i bought new set and sure enough, it went away.
just ask one of your friends and see if you can put their set of tires on and drive around....atleastt that way you can eleminate your options.

Halladay · « **Reply #14 on:** Aug 04, 2009, 09:44:11 AM »

good idea!

TacoRunner · « **Reply #15 on:** Aug 04, 2009, 11:08:18 AM »

Is your axle housing bent??

Halladay · « **Reply #16 on:** Aug 04, 2009, 11:55:06 AM »

not that i know of. my birfs slide in no problem

wingdaddy · « **Reply #17 on:** Aug 04, 2009, 02:32:34 PM »

My guess is you have a belt separated in one of your front tires. I had the death wobble for a long time. replaced all sorts of crap. Spent several hundred dollars

finally changed tires. Problem solved.

Slolyfe · « **Reply #18 on:** Aug 04, 2009, 04:06:17 PM »

Do you still have a death wobble or did the broken knuckle stud fix it?

Halladay · « **Reply #19 on:** Aug 04, 2009, 09:34:21 PM »

it is a little bit there still. i have yet to replace it because i have been tied up doing my duals. i took the broken stud out and tourqed all the studs and my u bolts and steering and its a little there. i can handle it but i want it gone befor i wheel it again

DeadlyPeace · « **Reply #20 on:** Aug 05, 2009, 12:13:09 AM »

When checking the tie rod ends, did you just try to move tie rods or did you remove at least one end and check each joint separately? Sometime if only one side is bad the good side will make them feel like they're both tight.

Halladay · « **Reply #21 on:** Aug 05, 2009, 08:46:18 AM »

i took a end off each end

95toyrunner · « **Reply #22 on:** Aug 05, 2009, 12:05:16 PM »

make sure your wheel studs are still tight and not coming loose, that happened to mine and gave a bad death wobble.

Slolyfe · « **Reply #23 on:** Aug 05, 2009, 12:31:48 PM »

Quote from: 95toyrunner on Aug 05, 2009, 12:05:16 PM

make sure your wheel studs are still tight and not coming loose, that happened to mine and gave a bad death wobble.

I tighten mine 3x a day during a trip and always get at least 1/8th of a turn out of them.

Dropmytaco · « **Reply #24 on:** Aug 17, 2009, 06:56:32 PM »

ha seems like i fix DW more on my rig weekly.. i think i've had almost all these problems.. broke knuckle stud, then the drop pitman arm came loose after locktight and impact. now i have a broken wheel stud and i think thats whats makin it DW

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