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death wobble@55mph

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Old Dec 8, 2006 | 05:09 AM
  #1  
89grystck'r's Avatar
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death wobble@55mph

That's the best way to describe it. At 55 - 60 mph I feel a wobble through the steering wheel. Stock tires and no lift. Tires were balanced and lug nuts are tight.
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Old Dec 8, 2006 | 05:12 AM
  #2  
keithguts's Avatar
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From: Bay Shore, NY
Maby you have a bad U-Joint. The same thig happend to me a few months back. Good luck.
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Old Dec 8, 2006 | 08:43 AM
  #3  
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From: Olympia, WA
check your U-joints .. is the truck aligned properly?

Also check the backlash in the rear dif.. (park it, ebrake on and just move the driveline with your hand, if there is A LOT of free movement could be causing your problem). Saw this happen on a '92 yota.


the driveline should only move a bit, wish i could describe it better. of course the only accurate way to measure the backlash is to take the 3rd member off and measure with a dial but this is a good rough way... if its a lot, its obvious.

I had a ujoint pop a cap on the freeway and it felt like hell was reining down on me. Pretty scary goin 65mph!
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Old Dec 8, 2006 | 08:47 AM
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From: Fort Collins, CO
Death wobble is on solid axle trucks.

You have a vibration problem.

Check for slop in:
-Driveshaft
-Diffs
-Steering

When was the last time you had your tires balanced?
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Old Dec 8, 2006 | 09:38 AM
  #5  
ButtPirate's Avatar
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From: Sunny San Diego, Ca
it wobbling through the steering wheel sounds like alignment issues.
you should get that checked.
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Old Dec 9, 2006 | 01:18 PM
  #6  
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Tires were balanced last week,driveshaft and u joints are tight. I'm going in for an alingment monday. Could it be ball joints? Thanks
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Old Dec 9, 2006 | 01:23 PM
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/\ yea it could be a ball joint but you should also hear popping noises, at low and higher speeds. make sure when you go to get it aligned they check all the ball joints and steering linkages. Also make sure they check all the bearings
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Old Dec 9, 2006 | 01:31 PM
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From: MArysville, WA
Could be bearings, ujoint, broken steering part, loose suspension parts. i had a 93 grand cherokee, i know death wobble. The first time for me it was the steering box, i had hit a pot hole and sheared off 60 percent of one of the teeth in the steering box, and i keep getting a vibration at speed and then it would go away at slower speeds, well then a nother tooth got over stressed and sheared off. New steering box fixed it.
Does the wobble have a constant pulse that repeats? Only happen under acceleration? or during decceleration?
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Old Dec 9, 2006 | 01:39 PM
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89grystck'r's Avatar
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It's constant during aceleration or deceleration but only between 55-60 mph.
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Old Dec 12, 2006 | 12:07 AM
  #10  
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From: Sonora, CA
My dad's '94 did the exact thing you are describing and an alignment fixed it. Also check your idler arm for play. If it is loose, then fix it, and any other steering problems, before you get an alignment.
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Old Dec 14, 2006 | 05:59 PM
  #11  
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My wobble was due to worn lower ball joints. Replaced them yesterday now the steering is tight and no more wobble. Thanks for the input!
:bigclap:
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Old Dec 15, 2006 | 01:37 AM
  #12  
LS1Steve's Avatar
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From: Encinitas, CA
could be improperly balanced tires. i have 33's and they wobbled at 80, then i went to get em balanced and they now wobble at 65. i'm convinced that the idiots don't know how to balance or maybe its just some resonant frequency that you can't get away from with these tires
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