What causes "death wobble"? - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

utahsamiman · 04-07-2005, 07:54 PM

I am having some bouts of that wonderful massage lately. I am really hoping that it is mainly out of balance tires. What else could it be? Zuk is just 5" SPOA, stock shackles, so z-link should be like uh, at the like right angle.

zukiester1 · 04-07-2005, 08:15 PM

You know that you are asking to get the big search lecture right? Seriously, there have been alot of threads which cover all the possibilities. Check your toe in, wipers and felt, kingpins, kingpin bearings, etc, everything in the front end. It seems like my death wobble has usually been atributed to loose wheel bearings, toe-in, or combination of both. Replacing the wipers and felt helps too.

BTW-SEARCH

HTH

Jerod

ChristianBenzon1 · 04-07-2005, 08:17 PM

hey utahsammiman i am also in salt lake and when i first did my spoa i dealt with the same thing. especially in four wheel drive. did you pull your drivelines apart at any point? do you have driveshaft spacers? those are the problems that i ran into.

ZUK · 04-07-2005, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utahsamiman

I am having some bouts of that wonderful massage lately. I am really hoping that it is mainly out of balance tires. What else could it be? Zuk is just 5" SPOA, stock shackles, so z-link should be like uh, at the like right angle.

Is the shimmy shock in good shape?

my_samurai · 04-07-2005, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZUK

Is the shimmy shock in good shape?

What in the hell is a shimmy shock?

ZukiCreations · 04-07-2005, 10:04 PM

I replaced my wipers and it didn't help my shimmy but at least I can see better now.

brandonsfabwork · 04-07-2005, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my_samurai

What in the hell is a shimmy shock?

I think he's refering to the steering rag joint. Its a rubber type bushing that joins the steering shaft from the steering wheel to the shaft to the steering box. I dont think thats were the wobble is from though. Check wheel bearings, king pin bearings and your drive line if you dont have spacers after doing a spring over. get it fixed before driving it again so you dont kill anybody on the road. good luck

crashnzuk · 04-07-2005, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my_samurai

What in the hell is a shimmy shock?

A steering stabilizer, maybe

Travis..

ZUK · 04-08-2005, 03:53 PM

ha ha....Travis got it.....guess you guys haven't been around long

Anyways, do you have a steering stabilizer? It looks like a black shock tilted sideways and might be bolted to the pitman

utahsamiman · 04-08-2005, 05:40 PM

I bet it is from my kings and birf and all. It is dry and kinda rusty. Its the only thing that I havent been able to get around to doing since I bought it. Anyone know where to get the kit?
Yeah I do have the steering stabilizer. Its probably stock. Is it better to fab new mounts?
BTW, I hate searching, but will get used to it. I dont have to wait until the next evening to get my answers.

Tusker · 04-08-2005, 08:12 PM

Here are two threads for starters:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...t=death+wobble

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...t=death+wobble

MuddMachine · 04-09-2005, 08:01 AM

Keep in mind the TRE's wear out very quickly on a z-link.

utahsamiman · 04-09-2005, 11:12 AM

sorry TRE?

MuddMachine · 04-09-2005, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by utahsamiman

sorry TRE?

Tie rod end.

04-07-2005, 07:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
utahsamiman Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Member # 39966 Location: Lehi, Utah Posts: 190	What causes "death wobble"? I am having some bouts of that wonderful massage lately. I am really hoping that it is mainly out of balance tires. What else could it be? Zuk is just 5" SPOA, stock shackles, so z-link should be like uh, at the like right angle. __________________ Recovery points, is that the jeep thing??

04-07-2005, 08:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
zukiester1 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Member # 14492 Location: CO Posts: 212	You know that you are asking to get the big search lecture right? Seriously, there have been alot of threads which cover all the possibilities. Check your toe in, wipers and felt, kingpins, kingpin bearings, etc, everything in the front end. It seems like my death wobble has usually been atributed to loose wheel bearings, toe-in, or combination of both. Replacing the wipers and felt helps too. BTW-SEARCH HTH Jerod __________________ Jerod Gersch Team Extreme Motorsports XRRA #33 Toyo Rocks Spider Nines Poison Spider Customs Precision Heavy Haul

04-07-2005, 08:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
ChristianBenzon1 Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Member # 30444 Location: Salt Lake City,UT Posts: 182	hey utahsammiman i am also in salt lake and when i first did my spoa i dealt with the same thing. especially in four wheel drive. did you pull your drivelines apart at any point? do you have driveshaft spacers? those are the problems that i ran into. __________________ 1994 EFI Samurai, spoa, yj conversion, 33's, spool,etc. 1993 nissan hardbody, 2" body and 32's; for business

04-07-2005, 10:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
ZukiCreations Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Member # 20384 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 10	I replaced my wipers and it didn't help my shimmy but at least I can see better now. __________________ Owner ZukiCreations zukicreations.com

04-08-2005, 03:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
ZUK Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Member # 3301 Location: Chandler,AZ Posts: 1,534	ha ha....Travis got it.....guess you guys haven't been around long Anyways, do you have a steering stabilizer? It looks like a black shock tilted sideways and might be bolted to the pitman __________________ http://gearinstalls.com 2001 Taco auto 3.4L stock Last edited by ZUK; 04-08-2005 at 03:54 PM.

04-08-2005, 05:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
utahsamiman Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Member # 39966 Location: Lehi, Utah Posts: 190	I bet it is from my kings and birf and all. It is dry and kinda rusty. Its the only thing that I havent been able to get around to doing since I bought it. Anyone know where to get the kit? Yeah I do have the steering stabilizer. Its probably stock. Is it better to fab new mounts? BTW, I hate searching, but will get used to it. I dont have to wait until the next evening to get my answers. __________________ Recovery points, is that the jeep thing??

04-08-2005, 08:12 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tusker Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Member # 2752 Location: Fairfield, CA Posts: 2,043	Here are two threads for starters: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...t=death+wobble http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...t=death+wobble __________________ 86 Samurai w/gun rack, 92" WB, VW 1.9 TD, Toyota 5-speed and dual cases with 4.7 gearset, Toyota axles with Longfields, 5.29's, ARB's f&r, YJ's, 35's, FJ-60 power steering, high steer, ............. <>< <>< <>< Hey, if this rig is for wheelin', what are all these animal parts doin' in here?

04-09-2005, 08:01 AM	#12 (permalink)
MuddMachine Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Member # 12247 Location: Sudbury, Canada Posts: 1,077	Keep in mind the TRE's wear out very quickly on a z-link. __________________ Keep the rubber side down !

04-09-2005, 11:12 AM	#13 (permalink)
utahsamiman Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Member # 39966 Location: Lehi, Utah Posts: 190	sorry TRE? __________________ Recovery points, is that the jeep thing??

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