Well i just swapped out the track bar in my 99, and I STILL have a death wobble. Maybe someone here can helpme out a bit. Here is the situation:
I had a death wobble, and I knew the track bar was bar, so I swapped that out today. I went to the dump, and coming home, I hit a pothole doing about 30mph. The front end was shaking so bad, I thought thefront end would fall right off.

I know the alignment is off a bit, and the tires need to be rebalanced (really bad at about 40). but that would not cause a bad death wobble. What else can be the problem? I am getting tired of constantly working on this truck now. It seems like every day there is something going on with the truck. Please help me out.

Thanks
Dima

 

Ball Joints and alignment are two major items. Ball joints have to be good to align it properly.

Want to see what it looks like from the out side look at this. 75 MPH with the cruise set the first time it did it.

http://www.firepunk.com/videos/deathwobble.wmv

Randy

 

I sure hope that camera man found another job.

 

Make sure the axle end of the TB is good and tight. Then start looking at TRE's.
Take it down to a GOOD alignment shop and have them check everything (TRE's, ball joints) and rebalance the tires. Chances are, more caster will get rid of it. I set mine to 3.2*L, 3.5* right, .3 cross caster. If you don't have a lot of right hand crown roads where you drive, set it to 3.5* both sides. The proper way to get cross caster is to use an alignment cam in the upper ball joint, not put a bind on the axle with the lower CA cams.

Do you have a DSS? Play in the sector shaft can aggravate it too. DSS is a must have...

 

THATS MY WIFE! I agree pretty crappy. Not bad for driving my 99 and freaking out while running the camera at 75 MPH. Had to cut the sound out! I told her "You knew it was going to do it; and that it would stop when it slowed down. Why did you freak out?" It was a typical women answer.

I still don't care for that bridge.

Randy

 

i have never seen this before. but how can a truck do this and NOT break tierod ends and steerings arms and such??? that is freakin nuts man!!!

 

That was my thought. It was kind of funny the first time because we bought the truck the day before and where on our way home; My wife was almost asleep in the passenger side when it did it. Our dog in the camper was pretty excited too.

Randy

 

Wow, that is a scary video. My '84 has the "Death Woble". I wonder if it looks like the video. Anyone out there want to make a movie?

 

I am goign to tear into the front end as soon as I get home. I can't drive like this for much longer.

DIma

 

flatty,
The tires will also contribute to the death wobble. The front end on my 96 was and still is tight but after I experience the DW 11/01 I changed the track bar and added Ranch RS9000 shocks. It was better but I hit the same bump that caused the DW the first time and it did it again (@60mph). It turned out the front tires were worn in such a way that it caused the problem. They were Yokohama P285-70-16s that I bought used but were in decent condition. I put my well worn LT 265s back on and never had another problem. I now have had Toyo Open Country ATs for 3 years with no problems.
You know when the truck wants to go into the DW because it has a "feeling" over almost every bump in the road. Never felt that since the Yok's.
If your front end is otherwise tight, you really should do something about those tires. I have even found that higher pressures will help. For some reason low pressure, mushy tires are worse for DW (IMHO).

 

So that's what it looks like, pretty amazing. I have always wondered cause it aint much fun inside thats for sure. I would like to see a view from the front, get someone in the back of a truck taping, now that would be something to see.

I "NEVER" have any wobble until the front tires are down to 2 or 3/32" then it can happen anytime. Joints and TRE all good. Original front shocks and only been aligned 3 times since my purchase in '99.