Death wobble or unbalanced tires?

[AJMBLAZER]

Okay, so I pulled all of the wheel weights off of the front tires after we put the 10oz of tire beads in the other week.

Went for my first test drive...


After the tires warmed up they seem pretty good going down the road with minimal shake...but every time I slowed down through 35mph the front seemed to really shake for a bit and then returned to normal around 25mph. Seems to only do it while slowing down.
I stuck my head out of the window and watched a few times and the driver's side is definately shaking left to right. I don't think both tires are doing it because while I can feel the truck shaking the steering wheel isn't shaking and it's not like the whole truck is shaking back and forth violently or anything.
The forward end of the drag link is very shredded and on it's last legs. I know the steering isn't perfect but am I dealing with death wobble or not enough tire balancing weight?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Death wobble. Replace anything loose in the steering.

 

[1-ton]

Probably Death Wobble. Add some washers to the King Pin springs. If the King Pin Springs are old then they could need replacing, and some washers too.

 

[twoslo4five0]

also could be a caster problem...have you installed a set of shackles recently...thats were my death wobble is coming from...

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Bone stock 52,xxx mile, 21 year old K30 suspension. I took the sway bar off and otherwise it's stock.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

If anything in your steering is loose, it will likely cause death wobble.

 

[MattK]

Do a search for death wobble. There are lots of possible sources of the problem.

 

[454k30]

Mine was caused by a shotty stabilizer.

 

[Greg72]

From my own experiences with death wobble, when you feel it the first time.....you won't need to ask anyone "was that death wobble?"

Death wobble tends to be a violent, lateral shaking of the whole truck. It's terrifying for the driver, and pretty much any other car nearby.


Your description leads me to believe you either have a tire that is out-of-round, or maybe just some worn steering components that should be replaced.

The easy way to check for out-of-round, is to place the truck on jackstands and spin the suspect tire slowly. Look across the top of the tire as it spins and "sight" on something in the distance for reference. If you see the tread rising and falling as it spins, it's not round.

I dealt with this on my Swampers....no amount of wheel weights will fix an egg-shaped tire. I finally got the tires "trued" on a special tire lathe....THEN balanced. After that, they were smooth as butter! Swampers = Smooth? YES! That's what I said!

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Geez, what is it with me not getting my replies on here lately?


Thanks guys.

Greg, I think I'm going to pick up a replacement drag link end and see what happens then. You're right about how severe it isn't but I asked because I was wasn't sure. Haven't had a SFA in 4 years and didn't even own that one for a year.

 

[kontradictions]

im having the same issues right now as well, gonna look into more of the steering to help resolve some issues. Already replaced the box, draglink and tie rod ends...

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Just to bring this back up I finally got time to dink with it.

I tried spinning it but the flat spot probably didn't help.

Put the spare on and it does the same thing. Maybe a little better. Still think it's only the driver's side doing it.

 

[boggerless]

Geez, what is it with me not getting my replies on here lately?


Thanks guys.

Greg, I think I'm going to pick up a replacement drag link end and see what happens then. You're right about how severe it isn't but I asked because I was wasn't sure. Haven't had a SFA in 4 years and didn't even own that one for a year.

let us know what fixed it bro.i had a 75 impala that did it when i hit a bump.it would tear the steering wheel outta my hands.and i have had anywhere from 36 to 40 inch tires with no weights and no wobble....i will add that my boggers are smoother after being parked on cement than they are on grass????WTF

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Yeah, I need to spend some more time with it. $$$ issues ya know?

Gotta fix the forward drag link and go from there. Everything else seems solid but hey, what do I know?

I find it hard to beleive that kingpins with 52k on them can be bad...dunno.

 

[thedrip]

With some homebrew dynamic balancing systems (BBs, golf balls, airsoft pellets, etc) Theres a point where the beads shift from balancing the tire, to adding weight to the already overweight side. Some Harmonic frequency thing. Almost always happens when decelerating. I don't know the physics behind it, it's never happened to me, but I've heard of it happening to too many people for there NOT to be something to it.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Mine isn't homebrew and honestly I've never heard of what you speak of.

I know guys balancing much larger and heavier tires on beadlocks with these things and they don't have issues.
Sorry but I'm dubious.