Kinda interesting DW

[bad larry]

So we all are firmiluar with the "death wobble"... and all the temporary fixes, masks, perminent fixes, ect.... So.... I was starting to have this DW a while back and I rebuilt the upper kingpin with everything but the kingpin itself... It worked great, no DW and down the road like butter, I held the new spring up to the old and there was a noticeable difference. Time goes on..... Three months later the front end feels like S!%$ again, so I add some shims to both sides, cant remember how many but again it was like butter, no DW and down the road sweet. Time goes on...... I have a F!@#$* DW again....! Whats up with this? What am I over looking besides the obvious....

 

[scrappyk5]

One of my own opinion and thoughts would be the size of the tires and the backspacing of the rim. the larger the tire and the more the tire and rim stick out away from under the truck wears out the parts faster.

 

[bad larry]

I hear that but nothing radical here... 33x13.5x16 on 16x8 w 3.5 or 4" of BS.....Shouldnt wear out that fast!

 

[cybrfire]

In my experience, anything and everything in the front end can be attributed to some DW characteristics. Steering components, leaf springs, bushings, Geometry. All of it, especially when you put on bigger tires.

Our old shop rig has some death wobble. I think the leaf springs are the main factor but there are other issues as well.

 

[90'K5]

What are the other specs on your rig? How old are the TRE's, spring bushings, etc? Do you have cross-over or push pull?

I added one fender washer to my springs 2 years ago and have yet to have DW again. Although I did add assist last year.

I read an article a few weeks ago that said when the lower knuckle bearing is worn they can have enough play to prevent the king spring from holding the knuckle tight.

 

[bad larry]

How old are the TRE's, spring bushings, etc? Do you have cross-over or push pull?

Spring bushings are good... Haha, tires are like 8mos old but smoked because i mounted them before i worked on the front end so they wore like total $@#&! I realize a real bad tire can perpetuate a bad wobble but I've since worn them flat by rotating regularly....

I read an article a few weeks ago that said when the lower knuckle bearing is worn they can have enough play to prevent the king spring from holding the knuckle tight.

I would like to read that article, I suspect this may be happening but there would almost have to be other fall out from this condition? Like a hard pull under brakes, kinda like if it had bad ball joints? Plus, why then when I did the uppers the first time was it a thing of beauty then got worse so fast, and the same with the second time when I added washers?
Is there any other indicator for a bad berring? If I jack it up should I be able to create a good ammount of movement at the berring?

 

[90'K5]

How old are your TRE's, DLE's and what kind of steering do you have? What is your caster? Are your tires balanced? Lift size?

Also, after you worked on the front end did you set your toe in to a 1/4"?

Are the lower bearings original or did you replace them when you did the pins?

I've never had worn lower bearings, but would presume you could check them the same as a balljoint. Jack the wheel off the ground and use a crowbar to check for movement. Chances are if the are worn just enough to cause issues you prob wont be able to move them pushing/puling by hand, but using a pry bar you will.