I had an intermittent shaking problem, did some forum research, concluded it was a bad steering stabilizer, bought a new one, and now... I still have the problem, and I don't think it's the steering.

Every once in a while, quite unpredictably but only between 40 and 50mph, the whole truck shakes a little. If I accelerate, it seems to shake less. If I slow down, shakes worse and worse until I stop. I get out, inspect all the wheels and other bits, scratch my head, then resume my drive and it's as if nothing had happened. It feels like perhaps it's shaking from the the front axle, but it's the whole truck shaking, not the steering wheel. Going straight or turning the wheel makes no difference.

Most of the time, including 40-50mph, it's smooth. What on earth could be causing this? Worn shocks is all I can think of, but it's not like other worn shocks I've ever felt.

 

Well; need to know if its solid axle or ifs? Death wobble is an issue on Jeeps, seldom on a Toy. So you must have big tires with worn axle bearings, and insufficient torque on the wheel bearings. Every so often you simply have to completely overhaul the front end, larger than stock tires increase the wear rates.

 

It's an 81 with the stock solid axle, 31" tires, and low-backspacing alloy wheels. I've overhauled the front end twice. Reused bearings but everything turns nice and smooth even at highway speeds so I saw no need to change them.

 

Could be the bushings in the leaf springs, mostly by the shackle end. Are they still tight? Davez sells "no death wobble" shackles that are said to greatly reduce death wobble.

 

Ok; that explains it. Outer bearings are shot and have probably come loose. Go back in and re torque the inner & outer nuts. The low back space and 2.5" taller tire are putting extra stress on the outer bearing. I bet the race is discolored pretty bad.

 

Spring bushings are probably the ones that have been there since the Carter administration. I'll replace them regardless.

But... I just did that Could it be anything else?

 

I just did a jeep with "DW". The final fix was smaller tires, everything else was new. It did blow through 4, yes 4 steering stabilizers, the last being a Pro-Comp unit. If that one blows its a tandem Bilstein unit.

I know the point is to have big tires, and the wobble is due to a lack sheer force holding the tires in place. have you checked the steering box for slop? Are the tires wearing properly? maybe have a really good alignment shop (on that does 4x4's alot) check it for you.

I run double units on mine without issue, costs double but I haven't had one fail yet either.

 

i run a steering stabilizer on my sas, but it's not to fix a dw problem... trying to fix dw with a stabilizer is like putting a bandaid on an arm that's been cut off.

for dw, always get the tires balanced first, which should also tell you if one of 'em has a bubble in it, or tread separation.

i run davez dw bushings, they rock, but can be a real pia to install... do all of the spring bushings as well.

 

Yeah, I know... I do want to fix whatever's actually out of balance, but it rides pretty smooth 98-99% of the time. Hasn't done it in the last 50 miles anyway.

Spring bushings, check.

I thought it was my wheels, so I just bought the OEM steelies that came on my truck from the factory. Turns out they DO clear early V6 calipers on a solid axle.