my 78 bronco has the famous death wobble, i just had all the ball joints checked and tie rods and everything is nice and tight how it should be. what can it be . im going to take it to leshwab tire center and have it aligiened and see what happens from there.

 

Check the track bar for play.You would be amazed what a difference new bushings make .

 

Alignment likely wont help. I agree with the track bar, that seems to be over looked and is more likely to go out than some of the other bushings...BUT...any bad bushing under there can cause it.

Have you checked the radius arm bushings, at the axle end and the bracket end?

If you have a single stock or rubber bracket under there, start by replacing them and go from there.

If it's the track bar, hopefully you get it before it causes big problems by wobbling round holes into ovals...

 

Also check your drag link, right where it connects to the pitman arm, that bushing may be gone.

 

All that was mentioned before and check the shocks and steering dampener.
New shocks and dampener might stop death wobble but if other parts are worn out also then you are only masking the main problem.

 

i had all the tie rods check and only one had to be replaced but it still wobbles, the bushings i havent changed in a while so maybe that could be the problem , its be a great truck we are the second owners of the bronco and we've had it for about 20 years now . so it surpprised me when it started wobbling , from what i feel its the right front wheel .

 

Set the truck up on jack stands and have a helper move the steering wheel back and forth slowly and watch and see what moves, also have your helper move the wheels left and right and see if they will move front to rear and watch all the parts move.

 

thanks bertha66 i try that today and see what happens hope to get her back on the road soon i miss driving it

 

This is your Trac-Bar. Some also call it a pan hard bar.


The bushing on the axle side like this,

That bushing could be the cause. See, that bolt is supposed to have some 150-200 ft/lbs of torque so not only is it a huge pain to remove but it's a huge pain to put back on. Whoever did the other work may not have done it such was the case with my 78. They replaced the other bushing but not this one. Mine was riding on the metal sleeve that goes over the bolts.

I had to use a socket and a small floor jack to break it loose because I couldn't get a breaker bar on there and couldn't get enough force with that small handle.


You get a bolt with a sleeve over it, then the sleeve gets crammed in the bushing as to keep the bolt from tearing up the bushing.


Once the bushings and sleeves are in, you can bolt it all back together.




If you have trouble with these bushings give them a little soapy water then you can use the bolt and nut to press them in enough to stay.

If this IS the cause, go to a place called RockAuto Parts Catalog and order their MOOG bushings. They are cheapish and great quality.

On top of these bushings do yourself a favor and replace the steering dampener shock as well.


The slightest bit of play in this shock can start causing a wobble in some cases. These guys mentioned lifting the front and having someone turn the wheels, this will also work on the ground. The tires won't move but the missing/messed up bushings will show you what's wrong.

Good luck!

 

My only experience with the wobble was caused by the shock mount being loose.
Have someone turn the steering wheel while you are under the front end, watch the frame to see if it moves back and forth when the wheel is turned.
There are really very few things that will case an axle to do this and all of them involve bushings...