08-19-2016, 03:34 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: North Pole, Alaska
Posts: 2,651
|
Death wobble
I've got over a 1000 miles on my AV8 since built, been on some of the crappiest roads we have here( Google "frost heave".
Last nite I was on an overpass going about 40 and hit a deep rut that ran from side to side, and it started, I had to slow down to make it stop. I'm wondering if somethings gone wrong, or was it just the right circumstances that set it off. I took a quick look at the suspension when I got home and nothing. I will jack it up this weekend and dig a little deeper. |
08-19-2016, 03:46 PM | #2 |
Member Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
|
Re: Death wobble
Check the normal stuff for any play, tie-rod ends, king pins, spindle bearings, steering box, etc. It doesn't take much play to allow it to get started.
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
08-19-2016, 03:56 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon City, Oregon
Posts: 208
|
Re: Death wobble
I'm testing a VW steering damper on my AV8 and it is working great. J Seery is right. It doesn't take much.
|
08-19-2016, 05:08 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: North Pole, Alaska
Posts: 2,651
|
Re: Death wobble
I have the early style drag link with the spring loaded ends. Maybe it's worn in enough to need adjustment.
|
08-19-2016, 05:36 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Clarkston MI
Posts: 830
|
Re: Death wobble
I lived in Fairbanks for 22 years. On some of those roads, a car out of the showroom can develop a death wobble!
__________________
35 Ford Cabriolet 56 Chevy Pickup 63 VW Bug Empty wallet |
08-19-2016, 06:12 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lehighton Pa
Posts: 1,085
|
Re: Death wobble
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
|
08-19-2016, 06:52 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: summerfield florida
Posts: 383
|
Re: Death wobble
Even something as simple as loose bumper bolts can cause death wobble. Check everything.
__________________
Proud FNG We fixem cars. Heap Good! |
08-19-2016, 07:01 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Clarkston MI
Posts: 830
|
Re: Death wobble
It's all about harmonics.
__________________
35 Ford Cabriolet 56 Chevy Pickup 63 VW Bug Empty wallet |
08-19-2016, 08:30 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 4,489
|
Re: Death wobble
I've been installing steering dampners on the cars coming out of my shop for years. Not as a fix but because it seems to make the steering a little more comfortable. I get mine from Pete & Jakes but the VW one is the same.
|
08-19-2016, 09:53 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: West Central Alberta
Posts: 441
|
Re: Death wobble
That would be my first guess, had a '33 many years ago that would do that on gravel roads sometimes. Well that was the best roads we had at that time. Used to call that "shimmy", death wobble was more of a crotch rocket thing...
|
08-19-2016, 10:34 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 2,687
|
Re: Death wobble
Ahh the scourge of a solid axle, don't worry it doesn't just happen with old cars and trucks trust me. I have never had a problem with my 35 pickup BUT having experienced it in a truck I used to drive for work on a freeway I added a VW damper to my pickup just for insurance , cheap and easy..
__________________
"Came too close to dying to stop living now!" |
08-20-2016, 01:54 AM | #12 |
Senior Member
|
Re: Death wobble
Could be a slightly loose wheel bearing ,wobble triggered by a loose steering component, check all the above and wish bone rubber ball ,perch bolts . in some cases to much negative caster ,Ted
|
08-20-2016, 09:52 AM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mn
Posts: 2,411
|
Re: Death wobble
I had a '96 Bronco that had a sticky right front brake caliper, so after applying
the brake, the right front brake didn't release very quickly at all, and if you ran over the slightest bump in the road, before the right front brake quit dragging, that Bronco went into a death wobble that about shook all your teeth out, and was scary as hell, till you got it pulled over to the side of the road. I replace that caliper and a couple loose tie rod ends, and that took care of it. .
__________________
If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. But if daddy ain't happy...RUN |
08-20-2016, 10:01 AM | #14 |
Member Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
|
Re: Death wobble
A lot for Ford trucks in the solid and split beam years came with steering dampers.
|
08-20-2016, 11:33 AM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lehighton Pa
Posts: 1,085
|
Re: Death wobble
|
08-20-2016, 06:52 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: West Coast Canada B.C. Interior
Posts: 332
|
Re: Death wobble
Trainguy, I have a 34 Ford and have the wobble, what year of Jeep did you take the steering damper from , thanks ..R
|
08-20-2016, 07:11 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: summerfield florida
Posts: 383
|
Re: Death wobble
Mainly on newer 4WD pickups. Bumper is part of stiffness of frame. Might not apply to this era of vehicles.
The point is: don't rule out anything that is not correct.
__________________
Proud FNG We fixem cars. Heap Good! |
08-20-2016, 08:01 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Hat City (Danbury CT)
Posts: 647
|
Re: Death wobble
I found a bolt lose on the steering box to frame that solved the issue ....
__________________
"I can't cry as long as I know the Lord has risen " |
08-20-2016, 08:27 PM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Lehighton Pa
Posts: 1,085
|
Re: Death wobble
I believe it was for a 50s cj. I got it from adealer who specialized in early jeep parts.The one I put on my Case I bought from Amazon. It was a generic stabilizer it solver the wobble and wandering problem I was having. I just drove my 39 and is a sweet handling car compared to before the siabilizer.
|
08-20-2016, 09:26 PM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: North Pole, Alaska
Posts: 2,651
|
Re: Death wobble
No wishbone ball, their split, caster is about 6-1/2 to 7 degrees. The tie rod ends are new, and so are the wishbone ends.
As much as it might help, I'm hesitant to put on a stabilizer. My car is a traditional hot rod, built as if it would have been in the early to mid fifties. Something like that would be too much out of place. Right now the newest part I have is a 56 steering box. |
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|