Oh wtf, my death wobbles back argghhhh

[Dabba]

What angers me so much is i had this problem fixed. Sunday i took out the kingpin bushings and springs and replaced them with new ones. After i was done i take her for a test drive. I go around all the rough roads, hitting every bump at all speeds, including 4 hits to speedhumps at 40-50mph, 1 hit at 45 produced a death wobble and when i hit it again nothing, couldnt reproduce, truck drove fine all week too, all the "normal deathwobble bumps" didnt produce a death wobble.

Now... im driving to my girls house about 4 miles away and on the way i hit a bump and get one death wobble, i slow down, it goes away and the rest of the way there (including a nasty bumpy road @ 45mph) nothing. On the way back to my house, about 2 miles away she start deathwobbling the same as she used to. Then within a mile of home, she starts deathwobbling worse than before, seemingly on almost even roads, every few feet. What could this be? Why oh Why would it go away and be absolutly fine and then come back to the point where the truck is absolutly undriveable within minutes?? I spend my 3 days off replacing the kingpins and bushings and a stubborn tcase seal and now i feel i just wasted that time. I dont wanna bring the truck to a mechanic and spend an assload of money and have the truck gone for days. Any indication of what could make it come back so quick?

You should know the front tires are worn unevenly and i dont know the status of the alignment, im trying to avoid getting it aligned and balanced because im looking to get new tires. I already delayed getting them because of the money spent on repairs already, i dont wanna delay more. What should i do?

 

[4X4HIGH]

I had the DW issues about 1 1/2 years after installing my fully rebuilt D60 and i tried EVERYTHING to find and cure the problem with no luck. I'm not one to do a bandaid fix but i finally said screw it and installed Hydro assist and have NEVER had DW again, this was about 4-5 years ago now.

 

[resurrected_jimmy]

washers under the caps?

 

[Dabba]

washers under the caps?

do i need them? the tires i have on the truck now are 30-31s and im not going any bigger than 33s, and i just replaced the kingpin springs and bushings..

4x4high, i appreiciate the input but like you, i dont want a bandaid fix and i dont want to spend money on mods i dont need.

2 people on steelsoldiers suggested steering stabilizer, easy to fix? how to?

Does the quick onset of the problem indicate anything in particular? Thank, im at that point of pulling my hair out

 

[Dabba]

Think im gonna check my stabilizer and check for tire wobble, otherwise ill wait for the new tires and alignment and balancing. I also might try rotating the tires too. Just gonna drive me nuts for 2 weeks. Does it matter if i have 16.5 rims in the front adn 16s in the back?

 

[Chaddy]

With new springs and bushings and only 31 inch tire, I would put 1 fender washer under each cap.

 

[Dabba]

hmm, should i check everything out first and wait for the new tires with the balancing and alignment or should i just throw in the washer now?

 

[Chaddy]

I'd throw'em in. 1 under each cap.

 

[nchinca]

Try the washers, but probably tires are the prob.

 

[bp71k5]

x2, you're wasting your time if you know the tires are bad. Another question might be "why" they are bad. Alignment, bearings, etc.

 

[Dabba]

You guys think its worth 90 buck to do the rotation, alignment and the balancing now in an effort to find the problem or should i wait for new tires?

 

[tourdog]

streering shock awhile back had same thing came and went then got to bad to drive put on heavy duty big truck streering staleizer never had it again the class 8 streering stableizer was cheaper then factry one just my few cents worth

 

[bp71k5]

You guys think its worth 90 buck to do the rotation, alignment and the balancing now

I wouldn't pay money to balance bad tires even if it were possible.

Edit: But I would find a way to check the alignment.

 

[rob h]

My 60 had bad death wobble, the first time was the frame cracks, that was fixed, then the wobble came back ..i was bumbed....I did the washer idea and a new stabilizer shock and even with bad king pins it went away.......then redid the whole axle(kingpins, wheel bearings, seals, rotors ,calipers, axle joints, wheel studs, tie rods...etc) After that and it went away....my .02......i guess id prob due the washer on each side and change the stabilizer shock and see what happens...that worked for me with 37s...

 

[nchinca]

Most alignment shops - well the good ones - will tell you that if the tires are that bad, do not do the alignment until you get the new tires. You are just throwing your money away otherwise. You might just wnt to try getting a used pair of tires for the front for now. I had an older Ford with death wobble from hell. I did all the tricks, and finally replaced my worn 35's with a pair of used ones. It stopped the shaking immediately. I even could run it without the stabilizer.

 

[Dabba]

Well, i may be able to get tires this week. You think if the rears are even, would rotating them front help? Otherwise im gonna check for tire wobble and the stabilizer. The tires should be tight. What makes me so mad and wonder is why did it come back within minutes after being fixed for days

 

[Chaddy]

Im telling you dude, put one 30cent washer under each cap and see what happends.....It will take you 20 minutes to install them.

 

[73redblaze]

do you have dual stabilizers? that fixed it for flatblackburb on here.

 

[Dabba]

yeah i may end up doing that, i just blew a radiator hose so i brought it to my mechanic, ill let him figure it out, im getting sick of this and its cold out.

 

[Fordum]

yeah i may end up doing that, i just blew a radiator hose so i brought it to my mechanic, ill let him figure it out, im getting sick of this and its cold out.

Hey, there's a thought. Could it be temp related? I'm thinking either the grease somewhere is thicker when cold and dampening the wobble, or the stabilizer is stiffer when cold.
If you have not replaced the stabilizer cylinder, I'd do that regardless. They do wear out and the bigger the tires, the faster they do.
If all else fails, try getting a couple of friends with a camcorder to drive in front of you and tape the wobble.
Make sure to use two friends. One to drive and one to tape. One guy cannot do both without wrecking.
If you can see what is wobbling, maybe you can see what is loose.

J.