trying to kill the death wobble??????

[BradG]

i have been plagued with the death wobble on my 92 and now my 93. it started over a month ago and when i had some time i changed drivers side wheel joint and king pin kits, old ones didn't look bad. it was ok for a while then came back i tore apart pass side and looked fine so i cleaned regreased and even added a 1/16 washer on top. then decided to check drivers and add washer and it was shattered, i used carquest (local). thought i fixed but it still comes back when i go for my coffee or my 18month boy is sleeping peacefully. i should mention this truck is getting the beating of its lifetime with our rain made concrete snowbanks, i have had to weld my plow frame several times,steering box mount plate once and frame above it once. any advice would be appreciated since snow keeps on coming.

 

[Tippin Spotted Cow]

Have you checked your front brake rotors lately?

 

[B.G. Smith]

Check for slack/wear in the front suspension and steering, track bar if iit is 4wd. bg

 

[TBartlett1]

My 1990 W250 developed an erratic wobble on occasion at approx 120k as did my Jeep Grand Cherokee. I checked the front end & found no problems so I installed a steering stabilizer on the Dodge and replaced the steering stabilizer on the Jeep, problems cured.

Something had changed and although I could find no looseness so I suspect that over the miles all the joints wore ever so slightly and indivually they were not a problem but all together they were enough to excite the front end.



Did you try greasing it? I have found that my 1990 felt tighter after it was greased. I drove 124 miles a day and I could notice the difference which would last about a week.

And as I said the front end was not loose and was also original.



Hope this helps

Tim

 

[Greenleaf]

I had a Ford 4X4 that did this. It was the ball joints, In your case the king pins/bushings no less.

 

[KOG]

This one doesn't have a track bar. You need to check everything in the front suspension and steering as well as look at the rear suspension. Any lateral slop (hanger brackets, bushings), steering play (steering column, gearbox, rod ends, etc. ) can cause trouble. Plows, as you know,are really rough on suspension and steering.

 

[Makaio]

Brad,



For what it's worth, change your bushings and related parts EVEN if it looks good. The "Death Wobble" is from worn parts. A steering stabilizer will only mask it. Though your bushings may 'look' good, try running your fingers along the inner part that rides on the kingpin itself, you may very well find a worn spot or groove in there. It only takes a small wear spot on that little plastic bushing and that fraction of movement will multiply by the time it reaches the tires, hence the "Death Wobble". Keep it well greased too.



Aloha,

Matt

 

[GHarman]

Tires/Death Wobble

I just swapped out the M&S tires for the Big-O Mesa 235/85-R-16 E . They are well worn and will last only this summer. The first 15 miles was a crawl cause they would start shaking at 35 MPH. I know the Trunnions and steering are in good shape, cause they were checked by a Competent second party. There was no problem with the M&S tires. The problem is with the cheap tires! I jacked the pressure up to 70# in front, and took it to the Big-O shop and had them rebalance them. Wow! what a difference. So, now I am really watching for indications of problems and saving money for New Tires! They should last a couple of months as long as I dont take it on the Highway. GregH

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

Is the steer shaft to steer box coupler worn? Replace with a Borgeson.

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[GHarman]

Is the steer shaft to steer box coupler worn? Replace with a Borgeson.



Godspeed,

Trent

Thanks for the input. Got the Borgesen shaft. Steering box is tight. The tires are the culprit! I'll never bargain on junk tires again. I've had trouble with the Mesa's since they were new. When I changed over to the B. F. Goodrich Mud Kings there was never a hint of problems throughout a wide range of use. From rock crawling to highway speeds in 12 of the 18 Months that I actually had them on the road ( truck was down for 6 months for major maintainence). When I switch back to summer tires (Mesa's) the Wobble reappears. Get them re-balanced, it goes away except for a hint at high speed on a rough paved road. Probably get BFG's or Yokahama Geolanders? I like the tread design but I need to get a better price than $700+ out the door. I have never gotten more than 30,000 out of a set of tires on a truck because of the winding Mountain Roads that I frequent. Oh Well, lots of time to shop. GregH