SoapDude Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 Hello everyone! I have been reading through your posts for awhile and am excited to be making my first post. I previously had a 1988 4X4 Comanche with the 4.0 and a 5 speed. I found it online and flew out to Kansas to pick it up and drove it back to Ohio! This was a few years back and the truck was actually stolen out of a garage of mine. I loved that truck! It had terrible floor rot and the bed was almost gone but it ran like crazy! About a month ago, I was in the market for a 'new' truck, and came upon a craigslist ad for 2X4 '87 Comanche with the 2.5 and a 4 speed. The pictures looked good and the price was right, so I drove about an hour away and picked it up. The truck is in great shape and I'll post some pictures at some point. The rust has all been cut out and new metal is in place. It's not finished, but looks fine. There is very minimal floor rot. It is a short bed and has 115,000 miles. The guy was selling this because he's had a bad wobble for some time. I don't think it's actually death wobble. It comes on when you make a slight right turn. It could be at any speed, and it doesn't happen when turning sharply. It is quite violent, but it stops when the steering wheel is straightened, or when you slow down to maybe around 25-30mph. Most of the front end parts have been replaced. Ball Joints, Tie rod ends, shocks, etc. Everything looks good up there. I have been through the front end with a wrench and hammer. I also had the front end aligned and asked them to go over everything real good and they couldn't find anything either. So there is my first question. I am baffled as was the previous owner. What should I do next? This truck is complete base model has very few options. I'm looking to do some upgrades (after I fix this wobble issue!) I have really enjoyed reading your posts on adding power options from Cherokees, etc.. I will have pictures online soon and plan on adding A/C, power windows/locks, etc Thanks in advance! -Soap Dude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 That is death wobble. Other things to check: UCA and LCA bushings Wheels Balanced? Track bar bushing tight? Track bar itself tight on the chassis? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 1989 MJ Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 Welcome :cheers: You could make a search for DEATH WOBBLE, and read all the other have tried. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoapDude Posted July 23, 2010 Author Share Posted July 23, 2010 Thanks guys.. I have read a bunch, but what seemed to make mine different was that it only happens on slight right turns. Am I wrong about this? I'm going to crawl under there this afternoon if we don't get too much rain and go over everything again. The guy at the alignment shop said that it could be because I have larger tires on the back of the truck than on the front. This is only because the larger tires on the front were very bald, so I thought that could be causing the problem. Had some spare smaller ones and threw them on there. They are balanced properly. Could the tire size difference cause the problem? The wobble occurred with both sets of tires, but the truck was way out of alignment with the old tires. Thanks! -Soap Dude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue XJ Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 That is death wobble. Other things to check: UCA and LCA bushings Wheels Balanced? Track bar bushing tight? Track bar itself tight on the chassis? That is not death wobble. If you've ever had death wobble, you'll know it. The wheel will rip from your hands and your life will flash before your eyes. I do agree with the other things to check though. Whenever I have a wobble its usually a bad ball joint or loose/worn track bar at the axle end. I almost wonder if its possible for a ujoint to bind when the wheel is turned, causing a vibration? :dunno: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 Definitely not Death Wobble. I've had DW, it's not fun to have to slam on the brakes at 75 mph and slow down to 25 in the middle of the interstate just so your truck doesn't fall apart and kill you. I doubt it's a U-joint. If that was it, it'd get worse the more you turned, not better. If it has anything to do with a U-joint binding, then chances are you have worse problems. First thing I would do is swap the two front tires and see if there's any change. If it goes away or switches sides, you've found your problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted July 24, 2010 Share Posted July 24, 2010 It's a 2WD, so it ain't a u-joint. Could be a warped brake rotor. Could be funky alignment, and the slight right turn puts one tire at just the right angle to start "scrubbing" and skipping around. I agree - not death wobble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted July 24, 2010 Share Posted July 24, 2010 Wheel bearings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoapDude Posted July 24, 2010 Author Share Posted July 24, 2010 Thanks for all the replies.. We got a decent amount of rain this afternoon so I didn't get to the truck, but I like the idea of changing the front wheels/tires around. I'll try that first thing in the morning. With the wheel bearing, would I be able to tell it was off by pulling on the wheel with it lifted? There is no movement there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
87Warrior Posted July 24, 2010 Share Posted July 24, 2010 I agree with Don. My TJ had a wobble I could not figure out and got worse with 35's and spacers. Wheel bearings were darn loose. I do not know anything about the 2wd font ends, but if they are like the 4wd, the hub and wheel bearings are a sealed unit commonly referred to as a unit bearing. Believe it or not, AutoZone sells Timken bearings in addition to their house brand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geonovast Posted July 24, 2010 Share Posted July 24, 2010 87 2wd will have spindles for the front, not the hub bearings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoapDude Posted July 24, 2010 Author Share Posted July 24, 2010 Thanks for the help guys. Can I put those bearings in or do they need to be pressed? Also, any recommendations for a hitch receiver? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyleag89 Posted July 24, 2010 Share Posted July 24, 2010 Could be your steering box if it has power steering. My steering box had a bad spot where it would do the same thing your describing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted July 24, 2010 Share Posted July 24, 2010 Thanks for the help guys. Can I put those bearings in or do they need to be pressed? Also, any recommendations for a hitch receiver? No, the wheel bearings do not need to be pressed in. They (inner and outer) come with the races, and you'll need to tap them out with a brass punch and drive them in with an appropriate socket. Not a real tight fit though. Get new seals too. Hitches appear on Ebay but rarely now. They are no longer made, some guys have been fabbing their own though. Might try a search here........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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