shagtn Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 When I get to about 55mph the entire truck starts shaking violently and I have to slow down again to get it to stop. Other than that it drives smoothly. But I can't get on the highway with this slow of a speed. I know this is vague but do you guys have any clues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 Get the wheels rebalanced Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shagtn Posted March 17, 2006 Author Share Posted March 17, 2006 I was afraid that was TOO obvious and admit I was fearing the worst. Thansk for the input. -Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounty Hunter Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 Death Wobble is often not that easy to fix. The common problem I've found is a bad front track bar, usually the TRE at the upper mount. Have somebody bounce the steering wheel back and forth off of full-lock while you watch the upper mount. Another contributor can be worn out control arm bushings. Take a look at them with a flashlight while prodding with a screwdriver and look for rips in the bushings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 Wheel shimmy that occurs between 55-65 mph is a dead indicator of imbalance. Not to say that other things might not be wrong, but if it only happens at that speed, it points to balance. The tires could create the initial shimmy, and other failing components would increase the effect, causing the full-on deathwobble. Start with the balance, but definately go over everything else, including the TB (both ends) and the CA bushings. Whatever you do, don't just stick a new stabilizer on it and call it good. Fix the problem, don't band-aid the symptoms :) Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounty Hunter Posted March 17, 2006 Share Posted March 17, 2006 I agree, I would start with the tires as something is beginning the shake, and it sounds like other worn parts are allowing that initial wobble to become violent. Also agree with the bandaid stabilyzer fix, I see that all too often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shagtn Posted March 17, 2006 Author Share Posted March 17, 2006 Thanks for the info guys. No worries about a band-aid fix, I don't have it in me to do that. Ends up costing more in the long run when you half @$$ it. Besides that, I drive my kids around in the truck and I don't want them in something 'unsafe'. Call me crazy. :D I am sure it will all be replaced within the year anyway. -Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 Death Wobble is often not that easy to fix. The common problem I've found is a bad front track bar, usually the TRE at the upper mount. Have somebody bounce the steering wheel back and forth off of full-lock while you watch the upper mount. Another contributor can be worn out control arm bushings. Take a look at them with a flashlight while prodding with a screwdriver and look for rips in the bushings. A worn track bar cannot cause death wobble. Been there, done that. I drove around most of one winter with a horribly loose track bar because it was too cold and snowy to change it. The only symptom was excessively vague directional control. Tier balance CAN cause death wobble. And a shake that starts at 55 MPH is typically due to tire balance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWLONGSHOT Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 Death Wobble is often not that easy to fix. The common problem I've found is a bad front track bar, usually the TRE at the upper mount. Have somebody bounce the steering wheel back and forth off of full-lock while you watch the upper mount. Another contributor can be worn out control arm bushings. Take a look at them with a flashlight while prodding with a screwdriver and look for rips in the bushings. A worn track bar cannot cause death wobble. Been there, done that. I drove around most of one winter with a horribly loose track bar because it was too cold and snowy to change it. The only symptom was excessively vague directional control. Tier balance CAN cause death wobble. And a shake that starts at 55 MPH is typically due to tire balance. While technically correct......I have to question the comment. Using your same senerio, driving with bad track bar. While running down the road, you hit a pot hole in a corner. This will be enough to begin the back and forth shaking that is death wobble. SO, the track bar did not "cause" the wobbles, the pot hole did. BUT the track bar stood buy and ALLOWED it to happen, so the track bar is still at fault. :shock: I Think I saw this on an episode of LAW & ORDER!!! :D This is exactly what I had happen to me. I bought the jeep knowing it had front end issues. Found a bad track bar and replaced it. I had, had my tars ballanced three times at TWO different places. Driving down the road, I hit a pot hole on a corner and WAMO, Full blown death wobbles!!! After inspection, I found that new track bar I had put in, had a bad bushing in the axle end. On ebay, I found a Skyjacker adj track bar, used, and put that in. (I needed it for a pending lift) AFTER first replacing the bushing with a new one and inspecting the hiem on the frame end. I put it on and tightened everything up. Then, I drove right back and over that same pot hole, on that same strech of road....NO WOBBLES!!! I learned that just because something is new, dosen't mean its not the problem!! I am in agreement with bounty hunter. In my experience, more times than not, when someone gets death wobbles. It turns out to be the track bar. Now its time to get dirty. ;) Check tightness of all related bolts. Have someone forcefully move your steering wheel back and forth. While you lay on the ground and watch the track bar...BOTH ENDS. Do you see any deflection in the bushing on the axle end? I mean is the bushing in there "squishing" at all under the force of the steering? If so, the bushing is a changable item. Now grab the bar near the frame, pull push and twist. Up and down and side to side, there should be zero movement. ANY movement is a problem. The bushing is a changable item. the TRE on the other end means you need a new bar if its factory. Some aft mkt adj track bars have changable frame ends. Good luck, CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted March 18, 2006 Share Posted March 18, 2006 I can't believe it, No one mentioned the possibility of u-joints causign the vibe either. They can also cause the shakes as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holeski Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 No not death wobble they don’t. It’s usually ball joint, TRE’s, track bar, and alignment issues. It is also more then likely a combo of more then just one of these things. I got it once doing 90 MPH though 270 downtown Columbus Ohio in the XJ. Not fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bounty Hunter Posted March 19, 2006 Share Posted March 19, 2006 Death Wobble is often not that easy to fix. The common problem I've found is a bad front track bar, usually the TRE at the upper mount. Have somebody bounce the steering wheel back and forth off of full-lock while you watch the upper mount. Another contributor can be worn out control arm bushings. Take a look at them with a flashlight while prodding with a screwdriver and look for rips in the bushings. I never said a worn front track bar caused death wobble. Did you read into the post too much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now