2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission need some help with Death Wobble

[PVanderlugt]

Hey guys, need a little help trying to figure out and fix my death wobble.

Little history truck below, has now about 130k miles on it. About 60k miles ago put in new Moog Ball joints, HD trackbar and a SS steering stabilizer. Tires are Bridgestone Revo2 about 50%left Billstein shocks put on with the Kore kit about 60k ago as well. Developed the DW, found various steering joints worn, converted to T-style steering with a new damper and had alignment done. Caster 3. 0 and 2. 9, toe 0. 06 and 0. 07. Still have a pretty good DW after all this. Ball joints and track bar seem tight, steering box is tight with no play. Any thoughts on what else can cause this? worn shocks this soon? how about control arm bushings? could they be worn and cause this?How do you tell that they are worn?

getting frustrated and tired of throwing $$$ at this

Pete

 

[AEdelheit]

I dont know what a SS stabalizer is but any cheap one like Rancho, tuff country and what not are not as strong as stock can cause DW, also are you sure the track bar bolts are tight and the holes did not oblong?

 

[fest3er]

Replace the suspension bushings. The OEM's (and rubber bushings in general) are known to be worn out after 90K miles. I replaced mine and the truck's tracking improved immensely. Shoulda replaced them long before 270K miles; wouldn't've worn out two sets of tires prematurely.

 

[PVanderlugt]

I dont know what a SS stabalizer is but any cheap one like Rancho, tuff country and what not are not as strong as stock can cause DW, also are you sure the track bar bolts are tight and the holes did not oblong?

Solid Steel Steering stabilizer is the brace to firm up the steering box. I did replace the old Rancho damper with a new one for the T conversion, but after 60k there really was nothing wrong with the old one. I will triple check the track bar again

Replace the suspension bushings. The OEM's (and rubber bushings in general) are known to be worn out after 90K miles. I replaced mine and the truck's tracking improved immensely. Shoulda replaced them long before 270K miles; wouldn't've worn out two sets of tires prematurely.

I presume that suspension bushing=control arm bushing? know of any good source for these? Dodge only list the complete control arm as replacement, not the bushing separate, and it seems that the parts places only stock bushings for the lower arms, not the uppers. any good links on how to do this? Factory manual not much help
Thanks
Pete

 

[BigPapa]

What size are your tires? Air pressure? Factory wheels? Wheel spacers? Lift kit?



Scott

 

[PVanderlugt]

What size are your tires? Air pressure? Factory wheels? Wheel spacers? Lift kit?

Scott

Kore leveling kit, (2 inch) tires and wheels are the factory standard size 265-16, no wheel spacers and running about 60 lbs in the front
Thanks Pete

 

[BigPapa]

Just a suggestion but it won't cost you much and it's not permanent.



Air your front tires up to about 75psi. Try it before you dismiss it as too simple. I have found this to help quite often with several customer's trucks.



Scott

 

[B.G. Smith]

Have someone get in the truck and with engine running, move the steering wheel about half a turn from side to side, you should be able to see where the slack is. bg

 

[PVanderlugt]

Just a suggestion but it won't cost you much and it's not permanent.



Air your front tires up to about 75psi. Try it before you dismiss it as too simple. I have found this to help quite often with several customer's trucks.



Scott

yeah, that sounds like a plan, easy to do as well, really like the cost!!!!





Have someone get in the truck and with engine running, move the steering wheel about half a turn from side to side, you should be able to see where the slack is. bg

I actually did that (again) and noticed that even tho the track bar joints were tight, the whole bar still moved a little. Upon further inspection found the adapter /conversion plate for the 3rd generation track bar was moving. further inspection revealed the bolt that goes thru the original attachment was not overly tight. torqued that baby back to about 600ft pounds. haven't had a chance to find my favorite pothole to see if it is any better. will report findings.

still would not mind replacing the control arm bushings, if nothing else to get the eccentric loose(frozen now) and dial in a little more caster. anyone have a good link on how to do that? I did see that Rockauto sells both the upper and lower arm bushings

Thanks again Pete