I have a 76' CJ7 on one ton chevy axles sittin on 40" Goodyears, the problem is around 30mph if I hit a bump the front end shakes violently back and forth.

I have checked all heim joints are tight and the hydraulic assit ram has little end play, my steering box mount is tight and there is very little play in the steering wheel.

I remember reading an article a few years back on death wobble but can't remember the outcome.

Flame it !

RW.

My last case came from the four bolts at the top of each steering arm, they were loose. KIng pin rebuild kit? I just threw those in for you because you've probably heard the usual list on death wobble.

something has to be loose. how much caster are you running?

replace all the tie rod ends and all ball joints, or kingpins what ever you have i didnt even bother to read it. Grease and replace everything.

Try shimming your kingpins. The springs wearing after time is a pretty common cause of DW with front KP 60's. IIRC, a few shims / washers will fix the problem.....

Check your alignment. I just lifted a tj 4.5 inches and had way too much toe in, that caused insane death wobble. It was just like you described i was going about 30 mph hit a bump, my jeep went crazy the steering wheel was violently jacking left and right. Once I got the front tires aligned the wobble went away.

Try shimming your kingpins. The springs wearing after time is a pretty common cause of DW with front KP 60's. IIRC, a few shims / washers will fix the problem.....

x2. I have a Chevy 60 front in my rig and when I first started wheeling it, it wobbled so bad I couldn't even get out of 1st gear in the woods. I wasn't even driving it on the street. I made some washers from 1/8" sheet and put them under the kingpin caps and it went down the highway at 65-70 just great.

Bad leaf spring bushings will cause death wobble also. If you are still on leafs it would be something to check.

x2. I Have A Chevy 60 Front In My Rig And When I First Started Wheeling It, It Wobbled So Bad I Couldn't Even Get Out Of 1st Gear In The Woods. I Wasn't Even Driving It On The Street. I Made Some Washers From 1/8" Sheet And Put Them Under The Kingpin Caps And It Went Down The Highway At 65-70 Just Great.

X3 ^^^

What steering arm are you running? I have horrible death wobble at about 30 mph as well on my kingpin 60 with a PartsMike arm. Somewhere on Pirate I read that this is a common problem with that arm because it requires you to remove the spring to install it.

Death wobble

1. make sure the kingpin parts are in VERY good shape. I would recommend new parts and shimming the spring to put more tension on it to help hold it on the kingpin.

2. Check the caster on the front. if out it can make the problem worse

3. Check toe... if out it can create a problem or make problem worse.

4. Check the tires. Balance them as good as you can

5. check front end parts (sounds like you have already done this.)

Most of the time death wobble on a kingpin axle is because the steering knuckle is moving on the inner c. The kingpin spring is not holding it tight enough to control the movement. As it bounces around the slack comes out of the spring and allows the knuckle to move. When you experience death wobble it is getting out of control. I remember the first time it happened to me on a 60. I can tell you exactly where I was. It was not fun.


The above nails the problem most of the time. Shot me a PM if you have any questions.

Thanks for the respose and great advice........ Sounds like I'll be fabbing some shims for my front end instead of wheelin this weekend !

Thanks again.

RW.

Don't Forget that to check king pins you don't lift up on them like you would Ball Joints, If you jack it up and force the tire down you shouldn't get any play if you do I would say king pins are suspect.
Jeremy

What steering arm are you running? I have horrible death wobble at about 30 mph as well on my kingpin 60 with a PartsMike arm. Somewhere on Pirate I read that this is a common problem with that arm because it requires you to remove the spring to install it.
Huh? You have to remove the spring, then adds shims to get the proper preload. The arms eliminate all the slack if set up correctly