Introduction- DFW, Texas (1 Viewer)

[Cougarzluv]

Hello Texas Crowd,

Long time Toyota owner, first time FJ 40 LC owner. I already love this thing! He did come from a fellow Mud member so you may know him in the Houston area.

I've changed his name to Old Sarge, Sarge for short. On his bad days, I'll call him Grumps. Lol.
I look forward to getting to know you folks as well as Old Sarge.

Thanks, Rebecca aka: Crougar

 

[gbobo]

Congrats! Ever sell the Mustang?

 

[Cougarzluv]

Congrats! Ever sell the Mustang?

Traded for this bad boy. I love it! You sell that LC? If so, any extra parts lying around?

 

[Cougarzluv]

Does anyone have experience with eliminating the death wobble?

 

[jebber]

Welcome. We have our meetings on the second Thursday each month. The March meeting is tonight, hope you can make it.

 

[Cougarzluv]

Welcome. We have our meetings on the second Thursday each month. The March meeting is tonight, hope you can make it.

What time and where? Is it the TTR meeting in Dallas? I've been to those with my Fj and 4runner. I'm trying to get back down to Texas in time to attend (I work in OKC). Unfortunately, if I do, I won't be able to bring the LC.

 

[jebber]

What time and where? Is it the TTR meeting in Dallas? I've been to those with my Fj and 4runner. I'm trying to get back down to Texas in time to attend (I work in OKC). Unfortunately, if I do, I won't be able to bring the LC.

We meet at the same time, same place. Pappas BBQ on NW Highway in Dallas, around 7. We are at one end, TTR is at the other.

 

[gbobo]

Traded for this bad boy. I love it! You sell that LC? If so, any extra parts lying around?

Still have her. All the parts I have are for a 24 volt diesel system....
We eliminated death wobble in our old FJ60 by replacing all the worn out stock suspension components and steering stabilizer.
-Greg

 

[rrv333]

Good looking 40

 

[Cougarzluv]

Still have her. All the parts I have are for a 24 volt diesel system....
We eliminated death wobble in our old FJ60 by replacing all the worn out stock suspension components and steering stabilizer.
-Greg

Oh ok. I'm about to order parts to replace the tie rods and bushings. That's about the only thing that wasn't replaced yet. All ends, etc. we're replaced. So now, chasing the issue. I may have to add a new stabilizer but currently collecting parts for a power steering upgrade. Not sure if the stabilizer is compatible with ps. I'm still learning so it may take a while. Lol.

 

[Cougarzluv]

Good looking 40

Thank you. She's a work in progress, but aren't they all! Lol. Here's some more pictures I took yesterday. The kids love it!

 

[40's rock]

Chatted with you on facebook about your wobble and power steering. If you need to look at one, my 75 has a 350 with power steering.

 

[Cougarzluv]

Chatted with you on facebook about your wobble and power steering. If you need to look at one, my 75 has a 350 with power steering.

Awe sweet! I'd love to. Where are you located? Feel free to share photos.
Also, could you send photos of your front seat and how the seat frame is set up? I'm trying to figure out what's going on with mine.i know the front seats are not original and looks like a frame and compartments with doors underneath, is that original? I'm considering finding original style seats. A '72 has a bench seat, correct? I haven't researched much yet, I will tonight.
So much to learn! Btw, are you going to Jambo? Anyone? If I can get rid of the Wobble, I'll consider taking old Sarge. If not, looks like the 4runner. Maybe both?

 

[G-Cat]

Most common (and least expensive) cause of Death Wobble is unbalanced tires. I fixed all of the less-common causes (to no avail) before replacing my bent/beaten wheels with straight ones...death wobble disappeared immediately.

 

[Cougarzluv]

Most common (and least expensive) cause of Death Wobble is unbalanced tires. I fixed all of the less-common causes (to no avail) before replacing my bent/beaten wheels with straight ones...death wobble disappeared immediately.

How bad were your tires? Visually, these don't look too bad. The odd thing about it is, I met the PO halfway- so a two hour drive for both of us. He drove it will zero issues. When I went for a test drive, the DW started. So, I have a few scenarios that could of caused it. Oh, prior to him driving it- the truck sat for a bit off and on for maybe a couple of years. So, I have a couple scenarios. First, the ride could've caused something to come loose or the front tires went bad. The rear tires look newer so maybe I can swap the fronts to the rear? I'm hoping it'll be a simple solution. I really want to drive this thing!

 

[G-Cat]

It was my wheels. The tires were put on new wheels and all was good. My wheels were pretty beat-up from trail use...the tires wouldn't stay balanced on them.

My death wobble would start if I was traveling at about 30-35 mph and hit a bump, railroad track etc.

 

[Cougarzluv]

Hmmm, okay. Thank you. I'll have to do some investigating. I'm getting a new used set of wheels from the PO. I'll probably get all Terrains for them and hopefully solve my issue.

 

[JasonH]

Sit under the front of the truck and have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth. Just enough where the tires just start to turn. Look at all of the steering linkages and see if anything doesn't directly translate movement, i.e. anything twists or shifts instead of directly moving the next link. Including the steering box. Spring bushings.
Check your toe-in. You can use a tape measure. I usually set mine dead straight or a slight toe-in. I'm going to assume your caster is correct - I see you have one of those old LCAH shackle reversals. If something is off there, have it checked at an alignment shop. They can't change anything but toe-in, but it'll tell you if something else is wrong.
Jack up each front and see how much wiggle is in the wheel bearings (grab top and bottom of the tire and wiggle).
Like you said, swap the tires front to back.
If wheels and tires are round and balanced, you shouldn't need to change them for the wobble issue unless you just want to.

 

[G-Cat]

To be clear, I'm not saying to replace wheels or tires...just make sure your's are balanced.

I accidentally fixed my problem when I put new wheels on.

Jason is spot-on on all of the above.

 

[JasonH]

I just didn't want her to buy all-terrain tires like she mentioned in the hopes of fixing a problem. As a data point, I run 37" Super Swampers and no steering damper and can go 75mph with one finger on the wheel.