2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Experienced Death wobble

[CamaroZ]

I've owned my truck for about 2 months and experienced the death wobble last night. Now I'm wondering where should I start on how to prevent this! I experienced it twice within 3 miles of each other and drove slowly home. I Did notice when I tried to cross some mud yesterday, I had to give it a bit of throttle in 4WD to get across and I was given a bad vibration until I backed off the throttle. It felt like I was getting severe wheel hop! Now I bought this truck for $1,900 for a fixer upper and have replaced front u-joints, Transmissions lines , Front Brake overhaul and All brake lines. . I don't have alot of money to dump into the frontend. I'm just looking for suggestions on where to start.



Thanks, Tim

 

[kenny61]

Start by checking every component in your front end if it is a little loose change it, Don't forget to check your shocks. It's that simple. If everything checks out ok and it still does it do a search on death wobble alignment print it out and bring it to an alignment shop and have him align it to the specs in the post

 

[DLangford]

As Kenny says, use the search feature on this site to look at all the many posts on this. THat is what I did and it helped me to figure out the death wobble. ON most 4X4 trucks, the most common component to be involved is the track bar. That is where I would start. Have someone under the truck while you turn the steering wheel back and forth with the engine off. Any slop will be seen then.

 

[jwalton]

I had one and replaced virtually everything in the front end. Even steering box. Still did it. found a thread about alignment and told the tire shop to align it that way. Before the alignment new tires would cure it for a while. About half the tread wear and it was back. Since the alignment we've went through 2 sets of tires and no more death wobble. That thread was such a relief. No one else around my area had ever heard of it.

Good Luck.

 

[CamaroZ]

So far I've ordered. .



Solid steel Track Bar Retrofit Kit

3rd Gen Non-Adjustable Track Bar

Rancho RS5000 Steering Stabilizer



Now, I finally had some time to crawl under the truck in some daylight. LF Upper ball joint needs replacing but it's not too bad yet. LF Lower and Pas. Ball joints are tight but I would do all 4 when I do the LF upper. The RF Swaybar frame mount snapped the bolt off during the Death Wobble experience it seems. Unless could a broken mount cause Death Wobble?