I have a 71 k5 on a 94 Dodge Ram 3/4 ton frame. After putting 37" tires on 17" rims and crossing over the steering with with diy4x crossover steering kit, I developed a bad death wobble. I have had a local fabricator look at it and recommended changing the leaf spring bushings. I started to try and take them off and they were seized up. I have now cut out the bolts and dropped the springs. I also decided to replace the shocks and the steering stabilizer shocks while Im working. The old stabilizer shocks were skinner than the new pro comp ones I bought from 4wheel parts. So it was recommended to me to get two zero rate blocks to lift the springs up to give me the clearance for the second stabilizer shock. I am wanting opinions on if this is a good plan, any suggestions with shock set ups, is there anything else I should do while I have the whole front end tore down, is it worth it for new leaf springs, etc. any info or recommendations would be appreciated.
CK5
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Rebuilding the front end. Suggestions?
- Thread starter rjkharry
- Start date
Opinions vary, but I wouldn't get a zero rate just to clear a stabilizer shock setup, as in reality a stabilizer just isn't that important when it comes to dealing with death wobble, and at best it may just be a bandaid for an issue with a more critical component. Death wobble is typically caused by slop in the system, and exacerbated by lifts and large tires that stress those parts and change the caster angle. Focus on ball joints/king pins, tie rod ends, steering gear, drag link etc. If your springs are sagging or broken, replace them, or if you are considering a lift, now would be a good time to do it.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
You cant do more than one zero rate but they also dont have any effect over death wobble.
That dana 60 was meant for 31 inch radial tires and now that you have bigger tires it becomes easier to compress the king pin springs and induce death wobble. I just dealt with death wobble on my truck and I fixed it by putting new bushings and springs in the king pins. Offroad design and WFO sells both and id recommend doing it if you know yours arent new. Often times a bad/broken bushing or warn out springs will cause death wobble.
In all reality you should be able to achieve no death wobble without stabilizers. They just help when things get shaky but they wont stop the shuttering of a 5k lb vehicle.
It also helps to have someone steer the truck left to right to make sure no components are loose like a tie rod end.
Last but not least you can bump up the spring compression in the kingpin to deal with the larger tires. I know people use washers but I made some. Id recommend about an 1/8th inch and it goes on top of the spring in the cap. By bumping up the spring rate it makes it harder for the springs to compress during a bump.
That dana 60 was meant for 31 inch radial tires and now that you have bigger tires it becomes easier to compress the king pin springs and induce death wobble. I just dealt with death wobble on my truck and I fixed it by putting new bushings and springs in the king pins. Offroad design and WFO sells both and id recommend doing it if you know yours arent new. Often times a bad/broken bushing or warn out springs will cause death wobble.
In all reality you should be able to achieve no death wobble without stabilizers. They just help when things get shaky but they wont stop the shuttering of a 5k lb vehicle.
It also helps to have someone steer the truck left to right to make sure no components are loose like a tie rod end.
Last but not least you can bump up the spring compression in the kingpin to deal with the larger tires. I know people use washers but I made some. Id recommend about an 1/8th inch and it goes on top of the spring in the cap. By bumping up the spring rate it makes it harder for the springs to compress during a bump.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Oh yeah I forgot to add your caster should be 6 to 8 degrees. A few degrees makes a big difference.
So I have taken the Dana 60 completely out of the front. I am leaning towards having custom leaf springs built by ORD. The Kingpin spring has been replaced when we did the Crossover steering kit. I am going to up grade the shocks to a better shock with a gas reservoir, probably going with the Bilstein 5160's. I also want to replace the calipers, rotors, and pads. Does anyone have a brand they prefer. Also I am changing out the locking hubs. Leaning toward the Warn ones. Any thoughts? I'm upgrading to the hydraulic assist steering and hoping all that will solve the death wobble problem. I would love to hear what some of you guys think. I haven't purchased anything because I want to make sure I am going in the right direction first.
Thanks
Thanks
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Hydro assist for death wobble is like putting a band-aid over a bullet wound. Theres an underlying problem that may be in the steering system or the knuckles themselves due to worn or broken parts. Did you replace the bushing with the kingpin spring? Did you increase the spring rate like i talked about? Did you measure your castor angle when the axle was on? Sometimes its something as simple as a cracked bushing that will cause death wobble. For me it was slightly worn springs and a bad castor angle.
Hydro will certainly help the death wobble but you'll always have something worn out inside the axle. It could turn into something worse and you'll end up on the hook.
How do I check the caster? Obviously I can't check it now with the axle out but I will once I put it back in. The spring and bushing were replaced I believe but I am verifying that with ORD to make sure new springs came with the crossover steering kit but when I pulled them out they looked new. If they aren't new I will be replacing them. The other stuff is just because it needed to be done. Other than the Hydro assist. I want to make sure once all this is done I am good. So do you think the custom leaf springs are a good idea? I know the bushings on my leaf springs were bad but you don't think that would have caused the wobble.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
You get an angle gauge from harbor freight or some other store and put it on the top of the knuckle while the truck is on the ground with the wheel streight. Google images has some good pics of how to do it.
My springs looked great too but .1" of a difference was enough to make me have death wobble.
I know custom leaf springs are a pretty nice ride but if its not a daily driver i would just use 4" lift springs or if you want a lot of flex then stock rear k5 springs (52's) are a good choice. The 52 inch springs are a whole other venture of parts and work though.
Currently my bushings are pretty warn in my leaf springs but it wont cause death wobble.
Yes and no. It's measured as part of an alignment, but isn't adjustable for the shop to do it. Basically the only thing they can adjust is toe-in.
You'd need to shim the axle to change the castor angle.
-- A
Your caster angle is basically the angle of this rod, compared to vertical, with the weight of the truck on the suspension:
You can measure it on the knuckle or maybe even tie rod surface if it's flat, compared to horizontal, but you can't really do it with the axle out of the truck because it depends on the spring curve, shackle length, etc.
To adjust it you need shims under the spring packs, a different shackle length or re-weld the axle C's. You could go to an alignment shop for the measurement and then buy shims to adjust from there.
You can measure it on the knuckle or maybe even tie rod surface if it's flat, compared to horizontal, but you can't really do it with the axle out of the truck because it depends on the spring curve, shackle length, etc.
To adjust it you need shims under the spring packs, a different shackle length or re-weld the axle C's. You could go to an alignment shop for the measurement and then buy shims to adjust from there.
Your "Death Wobble" is caused by a lack of spring pressure on the upper king-pin PERIOD! Nothing else you have mentioed causes Death Wobble. If your king-pin springs are old, you need to get new ones, and probobly shim them as well. I had to shim my brand new king-pin springs with a 1/4" thick washer to get out all the Death Wobble on my Dana-60 with 37" tall tires. When you lift your truck with leaf springs, the caster will increase to the (positive). You should also replace the lower king-pin bearings and races as well when you rebuild your front end.
I have ordered the new kingpin spring and bushing. I'm doing that for sure! However I want to get the truck to ride better, steer better, stop better, that is why I'm asking about ask these other items. I'm good with the kingpin springs. What do you guys think about the other add ons.
rampage
3/4 ton status
Instead of shimming the spring, I thought the best solution was the spring eliminator kit offered by ORD or Crane.
Instead of shimming the spring, I thought the best solution was the spring eliminator kit offered by ORD or Crane.
I have heard of those, but never did any research on it. It sounded like a good idea to me when I first heard about it.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Instead of shimming the spring, I thought the best solution was the spring eliminator kit offered by ORD or Crane.
Yeah thats another solution. My truck is really 90% a trail truck so if the springs last a few years that is fine by me. I would definitely get the eliminator kit if i was playing in the desert.
New springs, bushings and a 3/16" spacer got rid of the wobble for me.
