How i fixed my death wobble (1 Viewer)

[chappysfj40]

Hello all

thought i would post up on how i fixed my death wobble.
I really noticed it once i installed my mojave lift kit. I think it was due to the worn out part having the last bit angle on put on them and it made my wobble really come alive.

first thing i did after reading many posts and phone calls on this issue was lift my front tires off the ground and pull on the top and bottom of the tire and see if i get play. on the drivers side there was no play, but on the passenger side there was a very noticeable click when moved from top to bottom. Right then i pulled the front hub and the outer wheel bearing and re packed the bearing and reinstalled the bearing trying for a temp fix.

I also tighten up my drag link screw on my drag links, this again helped take some of the wobble out but agin not all of it.

Because these two issues were found and i did see some improvement when i did the temp fix i ordered a complete front end rebuild from Kurt including steering stabilizer, tie rod ends, wheel bearing, and trunnion bearings.

We did the complete rebuild and found the upper trunnion bearing on the passenger side was shot, did not move smooth at all. the rest the bearing were in good order, or appeared that way, but since i ordered a complete kit i replaced everything. This took almost all the wobble out of the front end, all that i had left was a 38-40 MPH wobble. I was happy as heck with this, and in my mind a complete success.

i drove this for a few more months and the only thing have not replaced was my worn out BFG AT's, witch were worn out bad.

So 1000 Mlles ago i got a brand new set of 33 BFG AT's and my fight with the death wobble is over, i won this battle.


So things i learned from doing all this is that there is not one magical thing that can be wrong with your truck to give it the death wobble. I my case it was several little things that added up to one crazy ride. Be patient and understand it may take a bit to fix but it can be fixed.


hope this helps anyone who has had this drama.

cheers

chappy

 

[slcfj62]

I love stories with a happy ending. Good job. One doesn't necessarily need to wait until gear oil is running out to rebuild the front end.

 

[landcruiserjunky]

I'm pretty sure mine is just from a shot steering stabilizer, but if that fails to fix it I'll follow this thread to a T

 

[chappysfj40]

one thing i learned from reading posts on this subject is you need to be open minded about all possibilities, it could be simple or be just 100 percent mind boggling.

one thing i did notice is when i replaced one part i always saw improvements so that made me happy i was on the right track.




QUOTE=landcruiserjunky;5974585]I'm pretty sure mine is just from a shot steering stabilizer, but if that fails to fix it I'll follow this thread to a T[/QUOTE]

 

[chappysfj40]

Ty. even though it took me the better part of 8 months i am glad i stuck it out, and yes your correct in the fact of rebuld before the gear oil is leaking is a good deal. lolol

cheers

I love stories with a happy ending. Good job. One doesn't necessarily need to wait until gear oil is running out to rebuild the front end.

 

[Freewheel]

Ill second that one. My knuckles looked perfect... from the outside... and the trunion bearings were totally shot.

 

[mikeob1]

My FJ-60 front axle was just re-built. No trunion Bearings were replaced. In and outer wheel bearings and the spindle bushings. It drives like a new truck.

 

[cruisedeisel]

if all failsand you cant narrow the death wobble down and your pulling teeth. then tap the steering box and put hydro assist.

 

[444kyle]

hey cruisedeisel is this how you fixed yours. Im asking cuase I asked a awile back about doing just that to solve my woble but I just got chastised.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

... Because these two issues were found and i did see some improvement when i did the temp fix i ordered a complete front end rebuild from Kurt including steering stabilizer, tie rod ends, wheel bearing, and trunnion bearings...

Nothing like the satisfaction of success after a grueling job like a knuckle overhaul

Thanks again for the order!

 

[chappysfj40]

Not a problem, thanks for a well put together kit..

Nothing like the satisfaction of success after a grueling job like a knuckle overhaul

Thanks again for the order!

 

[Shad0wTr0n]

Hey everyone, I started getting the death wobble about a year ago around the time I bought another car. The left upper tie rod was garbage but I parked my beast and about 2 weeks ago took it out for fun and got the tie rod replaced and the wobble was gone. That was one day of driving, now it's back.

I'm pretty mechanically confident but I don't know where to start! Also, I'm not great with Land Cruiser terminology so forgive me. I have a 1984 bj60 with the leafs on top of the axle housing and a 2" shackle with 37" tires. The passenger side tire is what seems to be wobbling and out of the huge ball by the disc break (I'm guessing that's the ball joint... I'm only good with newer car parts) it leaks really bad. I went to get an alignment but every shop's machine only goes to vehicles 85' and later apparently. I love my truck but hate sinking so much money into when something goes wrong and I don't want to just guess and find out I spent money on nothing.

Thanks ahead of time, if I need to post pictures just let me know which ones.

 

[sheepdog]

I just developed a death wobble after a recent front end accident. I rebuilt most of the front end and took it to a shop for an alignment. They say the wobble is due to zero degrees of caster. I ordered shims to fix the problem - we'll see. I never needed them before the accident with this lift, but I may have bent the frame

 

[chappysfj40]

Hey everyone, I started getting the death wobble about a year ago around the time I bought another car. The left upper tie rod was garbage but I parked my beast and about 2 weeks ago took it out for fun and got the tie rod replaced and the wobble was gone. That was one day of driving, now it's back.

I'm pretty mechanically confident but I don't know where to start! Also, I'm not great with Land Cruiser terminology so forgive me. I have a 1984 bj60 with the leafs on top of the axle housing and a 2" shackle with 37" tires. The passenger side tire is what seems to be wobbling and out of the huge ball by the disc break (I'm guessing that's the ball joint... I'm only good with newer car parts) it leaks really bad. I went to get an alignment but every shop's machine only goes to vehicles 85' and later apparently. I love my truck but hate sinking so much money into when something goes wrong and I don't want to just guess and find out I spent money on nothing.

Thanks ahead of time, if I need to post pictures just let me know which ones.

wow not sure on your truck, but if it were me i would start with jacking up each tire and grab the top and bottom of the tire and move it back and forth and feel for slop and odd clicking noises. If any are found you in need of a front end rebuild. thats just where i would start

chappy

 

[chappysfj40]

I just developed a death wobble after a recent front end accident. I rebuilt most of the front end and took it to a shop for an alignment. They say the wobble is due to zero degrees of caster. I ordered shims to fix the problem - we'll see. I never needed them before the accident with this lift, but I may have bent the frame

i know from my experience with my lift when i added shims or took shims away it made a difference. so try it.

 

[ntsqd]

Leaking at the "huge ball" tells me that you probably need to do a knuckle rebuild. Search on this, it's a greasy, messy job, but if you are careful about how you take it apart it's about a job, maybe less.

Hey everyone, I started getting the death wobble about a year ago around the time I bought another car. The left upper tie rod was garbage but I parked my beast and about 2 weeks ago took it out for fun and got the tie rod replaced and the wobble was gone. That was one day of driving, now it's back.

I'm pretty mechanically confident but I don't know where to start! Also, I'm not great with Land Cruiser terminology so forgive me. I have a 1984 bj60 with the leafs on top of the axle housing and a 2" shackle with 37" tires. The passenger side tire is what seems to be wobbling and out of the huge ball by the disc break (I'm guessing that's the ball joint... I'm only good with newer car parts) it leaks really bad. I went to get an alignment but every shop's machine only goes to vehicles 85' and later apparently. I love my truck but hate sinking so much money into when something goes wrong and I don't want to just guess and find out I spent money on nothing.

Thanks ahead of time, if I need to post pictures just let me know which ones.

 

[Dave-T]

I moved my front tires to the back and back to the front, fixed it for me.

 

[Shad0wTr0n]

Leaking at the "huge ball" tells me that you probably need to do a knuckle rebuild. Search on this, it's a greasy, messy job, but if you are careful about how you take it apart it's about a job, maybe less.

ONLY TWO BANANAS WITH SUNGLASSES!!! Haha best rating system every. But back to the huge ball thing, I honestly think that's one of the main causes for me. Does that make sense or is it just need fixing unrelated to my death wobble? Thanks for everyone's input so far!

 

[Shad0wTr0n]

So my wheel fell off my truck as I was driving home today. I guess I'll have some time finding the cause of my problem now... and hopefully fixing it better..... well this is awkward.

 

[chappysfj40]

so my wheel fell off my truck as i was driving home today. I guess i'll have some time finding the cause of my problem now... And hopefully fixing it better..... Well this is awkward.

holly crap!!!!