On my coil over setup. I on occasion get the "death wobble" where one tire hits a bump, transmits the energy to the other side tire and a harmonic albeit somewhat violent wobbling happens.

This isn't consistant and it seems to take the right bump on one side only that triggers the wobble.

I had an alignment and balancing done last night and it didn't stop the problem.

I'm fairly certain in my limited knowledge that this is just a side effect of riding on springs with a flexy suspension. Again it's not really a major problem as it is fairly irregular.

My brain tells me that if I release some pressure on the upper coil lock out there will be less potential energy stored in the spring and would reduce even further the frequency of the wobble. Unfortunatley having the upper spring held in compression somewhat really helps the sidehill stability, or so it seems.

A friend of mine suggested that this is the same condition of a lifted TJ and it's death wobble. What are your thoughts?

anti-rock sway bar

theoretically any vehicle with a solid steering axle will have this problem. It actually has to do with some very complicated gyroscopic forces from the tires, and bigger heavier tires make it worse. In practice it usually only happens if the links that control the side to side movement of the axle have some play in them or if the tie rods have some slop in them. just have someone move the wheel back and forth and watch all the steering linkages/ axle mounting for slop. You will probably find your problem.

What have you done for a steering stabilizer?

No steering stabilizer. I have the Howe 1" ram from the axle housing to the tie rod however the fittings on each end of the ram aren't tight, by design.

I have fairly flexy coils(not coil overs) had death wobble come and go as well. Found out the the track bar(pan hard) rod ends need to be tight ALL the time! Slightest wear and it wobbles. Also solved most of my wobble when I went from swampers to MTR's

I also put a new steering stabilzer on and it helped alot as well. Wit the Howe you shouldn't need a stabilizer though.

Originally posted by Belly Dragger
A friend of mine suggested that this is the same condition of a lifted TJ and it's death wobble. What are your thoughts?

There is your problem, listening to one of us!! hahaha

The sway bar idea is a good one, however I found on my lifted bronco that the sway bar actually made the "Death Wobble" worse! :eek:

Check your links, and your steering linkages, and you will likely find your problem.

oh yeah, check your PM's once in a while fawker!! :flipoff2:

Originally posted by GloNDark
There is your problem, listening to one of us!! hahahaThat's a fact. Everytime I get ideas it costs me. I'm going to talk with Mike here in a few see if he would like to take a look and see if he can pinpoint the problem.
oh yeah, check your PM's once in a while fawker!! :flipoff2: Gotcha. Check yours, fawker. :flipoff2:

There's so many factors that contribute to the shake-n-bake-shuffle:

unbalanced tires
bad tie rod ends
bad ball joints
bent rims
bad drag link ends
loose leaf spring shackles
worn trackbar ends
alignment
etc.....

how much caster do tou have?
does yor links maintain caster threw the up and down suspension cycle?
what axle do you have?

Oh and mike your front panhard bar (at the frame) is a little loose. Just enough to make noise but it is loose.

Originally posted by frankie fountain
how much caster do tou have?
does yor links maintain caster threw the up and down suspension cycle?
what axle do you have? At the alignment shop yesterday the caster read +5.9 (whatever that means). I would have to check but how would I check it throughout the travel. Military Dana 60 out of a 1997 Chevy.

Originally posted by rokryder
Oh and mike your front panhard bar (at the frame) is a little loose. Just enough to make noise but it is loose. Thanks, I'll check it out tonight.

Originally posted by Belly Dragger
At the alignment shop yesterday the caster read +5.9 (whatever that means). I would have to check but how would I check it throughout the travel. Military Dana 60 out of a 1997 Chevy. try about 2 degrees caster if you have large tires and offset .
To check the caster during the suspension cycl.take a degree wheel and set at the same plaine as the king pin.
Just set it on top of the two bolts that hold the cap on.
And then level the truck on stands and compress the suspesion on both sides and then droop the suspension on both sides.
Of course take the coils loose. when you hit a big bump if the caster changes during this it may upset the wobble gods this is bad if so kill 1 chicken and cook it then have dinner.o shit i crack me up.any way see if it maintains the caster during full stuff and full droop. but if everything it tight and in good shape and the caster maintaines the degree it is at or if it maintaines at around 3'' moovement at ride height. then try changing caster to 2 degrees
big tires a wheels need less caster.they tend to have more drag on the axle and need less caster.
and with to much caster the wider wheels and tires you hit a bump say neer the outside of the tire it bounces back to the other side and then back and forth axl wobble. fk the english its all french to me.:D

ok, caster effects the "quickness" of steering. More equals "quicker" steering. A sports car might run up to 8deg of caster.

A sway bar is only going to effect body roll. It counters pre-load and unloading of the sprung weight.

A steering stabilizer counters the oscillation of the disturbance of the gyroscopic effect of the wheel when disturbed from its normal plain of operation.

"death wobble" is in your suspension, or control points if you will. As Lance listed. Loose parts cause "death wobbles" period.

j

ok, caster effects the "quickness" of steering. More equals "quicker" steering. A sports car might run up to 8deg of caster.

A sway bar is only going to effect body roll. It counters pre-load and unloading of the sprung weight.

A steering stabilizer counters the oscillation of the disturbance of the gyroscopic effect of the wheel when disturbed from its normal plain of operation.

"death wobble" is in your suspension, or control points if you will. As Lance listed. Loose parts cause "death wobbles" period.

j

all new parts still death wobble, so although checking them is a good idea it is usually unrelated,
try removing the PS belt to see if it is a hydraulic oscillation from the spool valve.
kingpin 60s seem to be much worse then balljoinr axles for DW

Originally posted by mj
all new parts still death wobble, so although checking them is a good idea it is usually unrelated,
try removing the PS belt to see if it is a hydraulic oscillation from the spool valve.
kingpin 60s seem to be much worse then balljoinr axles for DW

Remember that king pins can get loose go bad as well. I have done many on the fronts of chevys......

j