79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

So I bought this 1979 K30 trailering special last night for 2500$. Drove perfect when I test drove it so I thought I was getting a smokin deal. Of course on the way home going down a steep bumpy downhill the death wobble starts. It only happens when i'm on the brakes with the combination of bumps, otherwise I can't get it to do it. All the steering seems tight, except the tilt column is sloppy. No up and down play on the wheels, and it doesn't look like there is any side to side play. Please give me any tips on things to check and I will look at them. Any help appreciated.

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

Sounds like a good deal for a 1 ton! The death wobble could be as simple as it needing a new steering stabilizer but with it having a D60 front axle the most likely cause is the fact it probably needs king pins. Worn king pins is the main culprit of death wobble on a D60. The good news is they are not hard to replace. Also check the obvious stuff like loose wheel bearings, loose front u-bolts, etc. Even with the wobble, $2500 is still a good deal on a 1 ton!

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

Check the spring bushings, upper king pin bushings, you can replace the springs and add a little shim washer for a little more tension there, a new steering stabilizer can help, but remember it is only a band-aid, masking the real problem that will come back eventually, and possibly even worse.

Makes my $1500 1 ton sound like an even better deal :devil:

King pins are a usual culprit, but they are definitely not easy to replace. I don't want to insult your intelligence, because I have seen your awesome builds, but maybe that knowledge and ability has gone to your head, because for use measly human beings it is an arduous task for sure. ;) That is unless you have a torch, a 7/8" allen wrench, a 10 foot cheater pipe, and a 300lb gorilla to help out. Those king pins are in there good!

Now the upper king pin bushings are easy to replace for sure, and are the most common culprit, they are a 5-10 minute per side task to change out.

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

Check the king pins.... and post some pics please!

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

You guys just made me feel a lot better with those comments. I thought I just made a horrible decision. The only thing I don't like (other than it tries to kill me) is it has full time four wheel drive. But no rust and zero dings and dents. I'll get some outside pictures later on today.

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

Also forgot to mention that it has a brand new steering stabilizer.

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

I'd pay $2500 bux for that truck all day long.

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

Makes my *FREE* M1008 sound better yet:metal:


I drove a BRAND NEW "off the lot", 2005 dodge 1 ton that my work provided me and it had death wobble from the start! In my case, the dealer could never fix it and it wasn't because anything was worn out, bent or broken.

Still a mystery to this day.

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

I think you did good for $2500...but not as good as me hehe (sorry I'm quite proud of the deal I got on mine)

You can swap out the 203 full time transfer case for a 205, I think it will need a different adapter though, and just put selectable hubs in. For the time being you can just put selectable hubs in, the drivetrain will still spin, but the hubs will not.

When my 78 was in service, the hubs were always left locked up front, (it was used as an offroad brush and rescue truck) but the transfer case in 2hi, seems like it was more susceptible to death wobble then, than after I got it and disengaged the hubs. Between disengaging the hubs, new king pin bushings, new tires, new springs with new bushings, new stabilizer, and new sway bar bushings, my wobble went away...I can't say which one alone fixed it, because it was all done at one time, but I will say my drivers side upper king pin bushing was crushed when I bought the truck, I replaced both sides and shimmed the springs, after that it was still there, but it was much harder to "cause" it.

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

Wow looks like a pretty nice score! Doesn't sound like a bad buy at all. I would also say check the kings pins and wheel bearings out as well. Looks super clean from here n no rust is always awesome to start with :D

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

Bahhhh you got me :lol:

94+ Dodges always had issues with their steering up front from the start, there are several steering "fixes" in the aftermarket for them.

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

Best fix is not to buy a Dodge. This was my first experience with death wobble and a D60. Needless to say, I was very hesitant to take a "free" D60 and stick it under my 69. Hopefully, if it crops up, I'm smart enough now to figure out how to fix it. Learned it all right here on this site:metal:

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

to put a 205 back there it requires the output shaft on the trans to be changed. you have a very desireable trans and tcase combo for rock crawlers to use as a doubler.

theres alot involved with swapping to a 205 like getting small linkage parts to driveshafts. its easier to put in a part time kit into your current case and manual hubs.

thats my opinion. because that truck looks excellent and should be driven. the more crap you do to it the less you drive it. enjoy your hell of a deal.

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

Your 2005 Dodge did not have a Dana 60, it was an AAM 9.25 straight axle...actually the same differential that is under the front of 88-2013 GM heavy duty 3/4 and 1 ton IFS trucks, just in IFS form. Dodge used the Dana 60 up till 2002, and their 94-2002 Dana 60 was a ball joint axle, not a king pin axle like these trucks have. Also congrats on a free D60! that is a $1000+ axle in decent shape.

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

OK I removed the spring and bushing from both sides. Now the bottom of the knuckle has a lot of play, don't know if thats normal or not. They both look ok but i'm going to try stacking washers and see if thats a temporary fix. If so I guess I know what needs to be done.

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

It has a bearing and race down there. Loose is not normal. Go to 4wdfactory.com and look at all the rebuild parts. See what's worn and replace them. I strongly suggest this vendor, I have shaken hands with him and done several deals business and non business related. All were excellent.
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Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

It is not loose when I have the bushing and spring in the top of the knuckle but it is only loose when they are out. Thats normal isn't it? I got new springs and bushings and I'll see what happens. If that doesn't work I'll have the alignment looked at.

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

When the upper kingpin bushing and spring are out there is nothing to preload the lower kingpin bearing, so yea it is normal to be loose, it should tighten back up once the spring and bushing are in. If it is still loose then, it is an issue.

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

Get rid of the full time 4wd. I had the same truck other than a dually and did the same thing. I put new bushings in it and didn't fix it. I put a set of lock outs on it, unlocked them, put it in 4 lock and took it for a spin. Not only did it have more power, but didn't get death wobble.

I replaced a couple set of kingpins on axles before. Everyone was torn apart, not in the truck, and I used the 7/8" allen wrench with a piece of pipe and came right out. Hardest part was keeping the axle still....

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

I don't have any lockouts to put on a 60 but I do have a 205 i'd like to use. Unfortunately its for a TH350.
I replaced the bushings and springs and I'm going to have the alignment checked today and see what happens.

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

One more question, what do you guys torque the 9/16 18 lug nuts to. All the torque charts I have found said something different. Anywhere from 129 to 179. I was going to go 150. Sound about right?

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

I torque mine to 130ftlbs dry, 100 if you dab any anti seize on the threads.

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

Wwhhaaaatt? Would you like to rephrase that?

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

Lol, It was a joke, I have admired your build threads, I am just stating that replacing the king pins is not something I would call easy as they can be seized in there pretty good on some axles. Maybe as much work as you have done to your K10 it seems to not be that big of a deal, but it was a long, dirty, tiring ordeal the last time I did a set.

Re: 79 1 ton with the death wobble
 

Done a few king pin sets on late 80’s and early 90’s Dodge Cummins trucks with front Dana 60’s with no drama. I’d rather do those over ball joints in a Dana 44 any day. :lol: