Front end help
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 116
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From: Napa Valley CA
Front end help
So before you all tell me to just do a search on death wobble, I have read whats on here and pretty much have tried it all.
Here the situation, I bought a stock 52 F1, drove fine. Put SID's drop axle on it along with the six degree shim recommended and now when i hit pot holes or bumps a certain way the whole truck shakes violently and wont stop till i come to almost a complete stop.
Now, I have replaced almost everything in the front end-
- New king pins
- Had the steering box rebuilt
- rebuilt the drag link
took it to a front end shop and they said everything was nice and tight when i moved the wheel back and forth.
The only thing i have left to do is get a alignment. DO you think that just an alignment being off would cause that ?
Im open to anymore ideas just don't really want to spend anymore time and money on the front end until i can put my finger on it.
Thanks!
Here the situation, I bought a stock 52 F1, drove fine. Put SID's drop axle on it along with the six degree shim recommended and now when i hit pot holes or bumps a certain way the whole truck shakes violently and wont stop till i come to almost a complete stop.
Now, I have replaced almost everything in the front end-
- New king pins
- Had the steering box rebuilt
- rebuilt the drag link
took it to a front end shop and they said everything was nice and tight when i moved the wheel back and forth.
The only thing i have left to do is get a alignment. DO you think that just an alignment being off would cause that ?
Im open to anymore ideas just don't really want to spend anymore time and money on the front end until i can put my finger on it.
Thanks!
FTE fan
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,674
Likes: 11
From: paradise, northern calif.
Im no expert but since no one else has had a chance to chime in, Ill think out loud with you. I got the death wobbel and did the same things you did (but i kept the stock axel)and I also put a steering dampner on the front ,changed My springs, and hanger pins to no avail. In the end My wobble was caused by an unbalanced front brake drum, and it was brand new. I changed it and problem solved. Im not saying this is your cause,,Did you change drums? Or you might call SIDs ,maybe they have seen this B4.Or if all else fails try the alighnment, I know camber is critical on these trucks and I like a littel toe in. Well My friend thats all that comes to minde, but I know there are people here that have gone thru this with drop axels and hopefully one of them will see your thread and help. like I said Im no expert but I wish you luck.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,849
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From: S.C.
Do you have C-clips on your tie rod ends to clear the axle. I also have a drop axle which was stretched the first thing I did after installation was to take it to and alignment shop that does big trucks which a lot have solid front axle because these guys know how to deal with the straight axle. The guy there checked it and said it was straight and adjusted the toe-in. Having the truck professionally aligned may solve your problem if it doesn't I would drop the other axle back in which may confirm you have a bad drop axle.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,013
Likes: 9,953
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Adjust your toe-in.
I think the specs call for something around 1/8" of toe-in or something like that. I'd increase it a bit, I think I set mine at 1/4".
I was in the same boat as you. I had gone through my front end, replaced worn spring hangar bushings, spring bushings, tie rods, etc. After I was done I had the "death wobble". I rechecked my toe-in....cranked it a bit more and havent had a lick of problems ever since.
Good luck
Bobby
I think the specs call for something around 1/8" of toe-in or something like that. I'd increase it a bit, I think I set mine at 1/4".
I was in the same boat as you. I had gone through my front end, replaced worn spring hangar bushings, spring bushings, tie rods, etc. After I was done I had the "death wobble". I rechecked my toe-in....cranked it a bit more and havent had a lick of problems ever since.
Good luck
Bobby
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 581
Likes: 2
From: Byron Bay Australia
Toe in is what comes to mind for me first, easy with a tape measure and as suggested crank in around a 1/4 inch. Start with that cos you could always decrease it a little later if you want, as long as it doent bring the wobbles back. Good luck. John
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Napa Valley CA
C clips? On drag link you mean?
Also drag link is not level, SID told me to heat up the arm on the spindle and bend it . Seems kinda scetchy I might try everything else mentioned first. I'll try toe in first then I guess I try bending the arm on my spindle to make the drag link level. Just seems risky heating all that up
Also drag link is not level, SID told me to heat up the arm on the spindle and bend it . Seems kinda scetchy I might try everything else mentioned first. I'll try toe in first then I guess I try bending the arm on my spindle to make the drag link level. Just seems risky heating all that up
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,188
Likes: 4,792
From: Burbank, WA
Here's a little secret. When Sid modified your axle, he used a LOT of heat and literally stretched the axle while it was molten red hot to create the drop on each end. The key is to let it cool naturally after you're done bending. It'll be fine.
Welder User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 50
From: northwest MT
Yep, toe in needs to be correct and the drag link needs to be level or as close as you can get it. You can bend the steering arm down by heating red and using a pipe or big wrench over the end. If you spread the heat out, it won't harm a thing. Just let it cool slowly.
Haha, Wayne and I were typing at the same time.....
Haha, Wayne and I were typing at the same time.....
Last edited by tinman52; Sep 25, 2011 at 11:35 PM. Reason: to edit
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,013
Likes: 9,953
From: Rio Rancho, NM
Its been my experience that the more the drag link deviates from being parallel to the ground the worse the bump steer will be. While "bump steer" isn't the same as the dreaded "death wobble" it can certianly add to the issues.
Adjust the toe, its the easiest thing to do. then go drive the snot out of it and see what happens
Good luck
Bobby
Adjust the toe, its the easiest thing to do. then go drive the snot out of it and see what happens
Good luck
Bobby
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 116
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From: Napa Valley CA
Alignment DID it
So i got an alignment and the death wobbles are pretty much gone. I had it try to do it on me once tho so does that mean its still tow in too much? Oh yah it was 3 inches tow in before they aligned it to an 1/8 in. Maybe if i set it to a 1/16 it will be even better.
Welder User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,269
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From: northwest MT
1/8" toe should be fine. I'd bet your axle needs to be tipped back a little more. Did they check or set the caster? Most shops either don't know how or are too lazy to change the caster on a beam axle.....