Death Wobble
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Death Wobble
I have a 1981 F100, 300-six, B/W 4-speed. I have replaced the rotors, calipers (& pads), all four tie-rods (& adjusters), steering box, wheel bearings, u-joints and had the tired balanced and the truck aligned. I STILL have a wobble in the front end at all speeds. The king pins are original, but seem tight. The rear axles do not appear to be bent and the wheels are not bent and the tires are good (says the guy that balanced them). Any other suggestions......... Please!!!!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2011
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You said tie rods, there's only one tie rod on mine and it's 4x4. Is yours 2wd?
Did you check the radius arms and radius arm bushings?
Has the truck ever been in a front end collision that might've bent the frame?
A wobble in the front end at ANY speed indicates that the wheels aren't tracking in the same grooves as the back wheels. This is common in motorcycles where the rear wheel nut isn't set so that the tire tracks the same as the front and it's common in Jeep vehicles too.
Whats the condition of the tires? Are they new? Do they have a lot of miles on them? If they do have a lot of miles on them, it could be flat spots on the rubber, but I doubt it with all the front end work you've put in.
Did you check the radius arms and radius arm bushings?
Has the truck ever been in a front end collision that might've bent the frame?
A wobble in the front end at ANY speed indicates that the wheels aren't tracking in the same grooves as the back wheels. This is common in motorcycles where the rear wheel nut isn't set so that the tire tracks the same as the front and it's common in Jeep vehicles too.
Whats the condition of the tires? Are they new? Do they have a lot of miles on them? If they do have a lot of miles on them, it could be flat spots on the rubber, but I doubt it with all the front end work you've put in.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Charles Town, W bygod Va
"Death wobble" is something that usually only happens once in a while, usually at higher speeds and only when you hit a bump just right. If you have a shake at all speeds all the time the most likely cause is a seperated tire or bent wheel. Jack it up and spin the wheels and watch the tread area from the front. you should be able to see any wobbles.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2011
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Bashby is right, the tire could've separated on the inside.
While you've got that thing up in the air checking the tires, check and see if they're feathered or if there are any flat spots worn onto the surface of the treads. If they're old tires and the alignment had been off for quite a while beforehand, that'd be common. You won't find any unevenly worn tires on a vehicle thats aligned though, so if your tires are new, don't worry about checking for uneven wear and feathering.
Also, while it's up in the air, start grabbing tie rods and stuff and seeing if anything has worked its way loose. You said you've more or less replaced the entire front end, so nothing should be out of place, but it won't hurt to look.
While you've got that thing up in the air checking the tires, check and see if they're feathered or if there are any flat spots worn onto the surface of the treads. If they're old tires and the alignment had been off for quite a while beforehand, that'd be common. You won't find any unevenly worn tires on a vehicle thats aligned though, so if your tires are new, don't worry about checking for uneven wear and feathering.
Also, while it's up in the air, start grabbing tie rods and stuff and seeing if anything has worked its way loose. You said you've more or less replaced the entire front end, so nothing should be out of place, but it won't hurt to look.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
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From: Northern California
Also check the rivets holding the frame together in the front. If power steering leaked, it could "lube" the rivets and make it loose. Replace them with grade 8 bolts if loose.
Check the king pins by grabbing the tire with it on a rack and doing sideways and up and down motion with your hands. this will also check wheel bearings and spindles for looseness.
Other things that you did not mentioned that you should check:
1: worn or broke shocks or hangers
2: spindles
3: wheel bearings
4: warped brake pads or shoes
5: tires and wheels etc.. a tire balancing machine will tell you very quickly.
Check the king pins by grabbing the tire with it on a rack and doing sideways and up and down motion with your hands. this will also check wheel bearings and spindles for looseness.
Other things that you did not mentioned that you should check:
1: worn or broke shocks or hangers
2: spindles
3: wheel bearings
4: warped brake pads or shoes
5: tires and wheels etc.. a tire balancing machine will tell you very quickly.
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