So my death wobble is driving me nuts. I've used the search function - I've read many threads. I've tried many things. Here's the deal:
1996 LX450 - ran on the highway perfectly fine pre-lift and pre "new tires." The truck had cheapo worn out 285s on it when purchased, but it was a joy on the highway.
Enter the upgrades. I installed OME 4" comp coils, OME shocks, Man-a-fre caster correction - the whole nine yards. With that, I installed Method NV 17x8.5 wheels, and BF Goodrich Mud Terrain KM2 35x12.5R17s. These were mounted and balanced at my local 4 Wheel Parts with stick on-weights on the inside of the rim.
Instantly after the lift and new tires, I began to experience an intense wobble around 70 mph. The wobble is not very noticeable at slower speeds, but at 68+ it is borderline unbearable.
So I get on 'mud and begin to search for solutions. It seems that the consensus of a wobble after a lift over 2" is the need for a double-cardan front DC. Instantly, I order a new custom shaft from Tatton. I installed the new shaft and sadly experienced no change - still terrible shaking/wobbling at around 70 mph.
Next up was a rebalance of the tires. This time I took them to a different shop and had them "road force" balanced. The shop claimed that 4-wheel parts did not do a good job with them.. well don't they all say that. I was very excited to get it out on the road but, yet again - no change in the wobble.
At this point, after reading more threads, I decided to take a look at the bearings. I checked the front wheels and noticed a fair amount of play in the bearings. Believe it or not, I got super excited when I noticed the play! I figured that had to be the source of the death wobble.
So three days, a few cuts and bruises, and lots of grease stains later, I completed the full rebuild of the front knuckles with new everything, including new Koyo bearings and races all around. The wheels were super solid - no play at all now. The result?
You guessed it - no change at all. Wobble is still as bad as ever.
Frustrated, I turned to the rear driveshaft next. It did not seem to have much play, but at this point I would try anything. I took the rear shaft up to my local driveline shop and had them install new u-joints and re-balance the shaft. Of course, no improvement to the wobble.
My last ditch effort was to switch the tires over to balancing beads instead of lead weights. So a couple hours later I had 8 oz of dyna-beads in each tire. And still - no change. The death wobble still as bad as ever.
So as you can see - I am quite exhausted with the issue. I am beginning to feel quite out of options. For reference the wheels, tires, and lift have about 1000 miles on them now. I have been planning a big trip out to the midwest in a week and am starting to panic. I have to take advil before driving the truck across town, it just wouldn't be humane to go cross-country. I know that a rough ride is characteristic of mud tires, I've owned enough to know. But as I've stated this death wobble is just about unbearable.
Thanks for reading my long post, and of course, any suggestions at all are welcome.
1996 LX450 - ran on the highway perfectly fine pre-lift and pre "new tires." The truck had cheapo worn out 285s on it when purchased, but it was a joy on the highway.
Enter the upgrades. I installed OME 4" comp coils, OME shocks, Man-a-fre caster correction - the whole nine yards. With that, I installed Method NV 17x8.5 wheels, and BF Goodrich Mud Terrain KM2 35x12.5R17s. These were mounted and balanced at my local 4 Wheel Parts with stick on-weights on the inside of the rim.
Instantly after the lift and new tires, I began to experience an intense wobble around 70 mph. The wobble is not very noticeable at slower speeds, but at 68+ it is borderline unbearable.
So I get on 'mud and begin to search for solutions. It seems that the consensus of a wobble after a lift over 2" is the need for a double-cardan front DC. Instantly, I order a new custom shaft from Tatton. I installed the new shaft and sadly experienced no change - still terrible shaking/wobbling at around 70 mph.
Next up was a rebalance of the tires. This time I took them to a different shop and had them "road force" balanced. The shop claimed that 4-wheel parts did not do a good job with them.. well don't they all say that. I was very excited to get it out on the road but, yet again - no change in the wobble.
At this point, after reading more threads, I decided to take a look at the bearings. I checked the front wheels and noticed a fair amount of play in the bearings. Believe it or not, I got super excited when I noticed the play! I figured that had to be the source of the death wobble.
So three days, a few cuts and bruises, and lots of grease stains later, I completed the full rebuild of the front knuckles with new everything, including new Koyo bearings and races all around. The wheels were super solid - no play at all now. The result?
You guessed it - no change at all. Wobble is still as bad as ever.
Frustrated, I turned to the rear driveshaft next. It did not seem to have much play, but at this point I would try anything. I took the rear shaft up to my local driveline shop and had them install new u-joints and re-balance the shaft. Of course, no improvement to the wobble.
My last ditch effort was to switch the tires over to balancing beads instead of lead weights. So a couple hours later I had 8 oz of dyna-beads in each tire. And still - no change. The death wobble still as bad as ever.
So as you can see - I am quite exhausted with the issue. I am beginning to feel quite out of options. For reference the wheels, tires, and lift have about 1000 miles on them now. I have been planning a big trip out to the midwest in a week and am starting to panic. I have to take advil before driving the truck across town, it just wouldn't be humane to go cross-country. I know that a rough ride is characteristic of mud tires, I've owned enough to know. But as I've stated this death wobble is just about unbearable.
Thanks for reading my long post, and of course, any suggestions at all are welcome.
