Death Wobble!!!
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Cottage Grove, WI
Death Wobble!!!
Hey, bought a new truck about a week ago, its a 95 w/ 6" BDS suspension lift, 33" BFG ATs and 15x10" wheels. Noticed while driving over bumpy roads it would get the dreaded "death wobble." OK, i can fix that, just gotta find out whats loose. Crawled under it, and checked EVERYTHING. Only looseness i could find was in the gearbox. Researched it, and adjusted out most of the freeplay. (Kinda scared to go too far) Went for my test drive, and now its worse!! I get the death wobble going over certain roads between 33-43mph. Any ideas what could be causing it that is not loose componants? Would worn out shocks cause this? Thanks for any help!
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Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Mattawa Washington.
check the ball joints. Jack up one side till tire is a good inch or more off the ground and use a 2' pry bar and lift up and down on wheel you will be able to tell real quick if they are bad. turning the wheel a little makes it easier to see around the tire to see which ball joint is out. then repeat on other side.
I assume you had some one move the steering wheel back and forth while you looked at pitman arm and idler arm along with tie rods.
I assume you had some one move the steering wheel back and forth while you looked at pitman arm and idler arm along with tie rods.
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Cottage Grove, WI
Yup, already checked the ball joints, and yes, had someone rock the wheel for me. Gonna take it in tomorrow and have the tires rebalanced, rotated, and have the alignment checked.
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From: Cottage Grove, WI
Update: Got the truck in to have the tires balanced/rotated, they took off the fronts, and on the drivers side there were 2 washers spacing the rim away from the hub on each stud!!! Took them off, got the tires balanced, and its much better. Still get the death wobble, but it takes more to set it off. Gonna have the alignment done next.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Nixa
A 6" lift is enough to mess up your steer geomotry. Unless the kit came with all the drop brackets, longer Tie rods, etc. Nothing is sitting where the factory designed them to be.
TruckU on Speedtv. Has done A show on this. It could be any combination of things from bad front bearings, ball joints loose rod ends steering damper. etc. the list could go on and on.
TruckU on Speedtv. Has done A show on this. It could be any combination of things from bad front bearings, ball joints loose rod ends steering damper. etc. the list could go on and on.
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Cottage Grove, WI
Sorry i forgot to update this. when i first had someone rock the wheel for me, it was my 11 year old sister. Turns out she wasnt rocking it hard enough. Had a buddy do it again, and one of the ttb drop brackets was loose. Replaced all the mounting hardware, and no more death wobble.
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