Kalal92 Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 While driving my 86 Jeep Comanche last night hit the highway going about 60 the front end of my truck started rattling or rocking back-and-forth like it could be a suspension problem or axles had to stop real quick because the longer I drove the worse it got drove the rest the way home under 60 and was fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalal92 Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 http://comancheclub.com/topic/47982-my-death-wobble-trouble-shooting-plan/?hl=death+wobble http://comancheclub.com/topic/46961-violently-shaking-at-high-speeds/?hl=death+wobble&do=findComment&comment=485819 Known problem- check these threads! Gene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Were you standing on the roof when it happened? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalal92 Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 Not funny man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yxmj Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Would have been...if you were... . :MJ 1: . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiggilez Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Were you standing on the roof when it happened? I don't get it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Not funny man Okay, maybe it wasn't. What you experienced was death wobble, or a variation thereof. Out-of-balance tires and worn front end suspension and steering parts (tie rod ends, track bar bushings, ball joints, etc,) can all trigger it. Very common in our old trucks. The threads posted by Gene are a good starting point. That's a great setting your truck is parked in. Beautiful old barn. New England? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParadiseMJ Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Were you standing on the roof when it happened? I don't get it? Look at the profile pic. He's standing on the roof... ... which by the way, even though it would not cause the symptoms described, is a good way to collapse your roof. the XJ/MJ roof is fairly thin and does not have a lot of bracing. Standing on roof not recommended. Back to topic. There's a huge difference between "death wobble" and out of balance tires. Even though the out of balance tires issue WILL cause the Jeep to vibrate and wiggle a bit, it pales in comparison to the "I thought I was gonna effin' die" full on DW. I had poorly balanced front tires, I had to take it to 3 shops before someone got it right. It was annoying and frustrating, but I could tell they were wrong after driving 100 yds or so. First things first, start with the least expensive and most obvious...go from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Hi paradise, I actually experienced the death wobble (felt like the front end was disintegrating, very very violent shaking) due to tire balance. 88 Comanche totally stock, no lift. Typically at about 60, hit a pothole or bump, the wobble would start and get stronger and stronger until vehicle speed dropped to about 35. Front end was tight. I changed the steering stabilizer, which helped a little. I had the factory alloy wheels, and had trouble getting them balanced well, local shops did not like adhesive weights. So I switched to junkyard steel rims, remounted the old tires, and had them balanced. Death wobble gone and has not come back in 20 years! Gene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalal92 Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gogmorgo Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Hard to tell from the pic, but do you have a small lift? If so what? Death wobble is when a shock loading (from a pothole for example) goes into harmonic resonance, getting bounced back and forth from one end of the axle to the other. Any vibration from any source, tire balance, component wear, etc. could be what pushes it into resonance, which is why there is no one clear solution, and so much controversy. Best thing to do is go over everything to make sure everything's as it should be, no bent or cracked links, no play in bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, wheel bearings, etc. Also make sure that the straight lines between the drag link connection points and the track bar connection points are parallel. The steering damper should be in good working order (and dampers are legitimate engineering solutions for reducing oscillations, so anyone telling you that it's just a bandaid fix is misinformed... Although yes, there's only so much even a damper in good condition can do). Tire balance is also a factor that could contribute, and can often be checked by rotating the rear tires forward. Proper caster, camber, and toe (i.e. your alignment) are all also very important. Of course this is just my opinion based on watching the arguments every time the subject comes up. Also from coming across the odd comment about it from engineers. I could always be way off base, but I don't think I'm any more so than anyone else here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megadan Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 That truck is REALLY familiar looking. You don't happen to live in Omaha do you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalal92 Posted February 20, 2016 Author Share Posted February 20, 2016 Yes Omaha NE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megadan Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 I thought so. I'm the guy with the Tan 4x4 you talked to a couple of months ago. If you need some help with your truck I can lend a hand. You know where to find me after all :thumbsup: I plan on doing some moving and organizing of my garage so I can get my project car in there this Sunday and I am off Monday as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc. Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Were you standing on the roof when it happened? I don't get it? Looks like he recently changed his avatar, there was a photo of his truck with a person standing on the roof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalal92 Posted February 20, 2016 Author Share Posted February 20, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalal92 Posted February 20, 2016 Author Share Posted February 20, 2016 Thanks Impulse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiggilez Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Were you standing on the roof when it happened?I don't get it? Looks like he recently changed his avatar, there was a photo of his truck with a person standing on the roof. Ahh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelbyluvv Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Tire balance can cause it and a steering stabilizer is a bandaid. I ran 35" MTRs without a SS. If your front end is in good shape, tires are balanced and alignment is good you don't need a SS and you will not have DW. I would check tire balance first. DW at 55 mph+ is normally tire balance. After getting the tires balanced I would check the track bar, ball joints and end joints for looseness. If any of them an any amount of movement, replace them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser54 Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 Fix A Flat in a front tire? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalal92 Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 If that's your new steering stabilizer- hope it fixes everything! Most likely it will help but not solve the problem. Good luck! Gene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Yep. Steering stabilizer will fix the symptom for a little while, but there's still something wrong in your front suspension that's causing it in the first place. Get the truck on jackstands with no weight on the front and check everything for looseness (and also your tires for balance). There should be none. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc. Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 If there is no reason for the stabilizer other than to band aid a problem, why did the factory put it on there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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