Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap - Page 2 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

blown240 · 10-21-2015, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evoracer

Eberhardt's Fullerton, $95. It's where I got mine done...

Good to know! Thanks!

Captmatt · 10-21-2015, 06:47 PM

Les Schwab tires did my 64 alignment for $65 a few months ago......

blown240 · 10-21-2015, 07:53 PM

Nice! $65 is great!

**slepysal** · 10-21-2015, 10:48 PM

Just had my 60 done today from a local independent shop . Charged me $60.00.
Man I cant believe no one in your area cant do it for less then 160.00
As mentioned try Les Schwab, Pep boys or Wheel Works. If you can wait till Monday I can make some calls for you. Let me know
As a side note my alignment was way off, what a difference!

blown240 · 10-21-2015, 11:25 PM

I'll call Les Schwab tomorrow. I appreciate the help!!

**slepysal** · 10-25-2015, 01:26 AM

Any updates?

blown240 · 10-25-2015, 10:35 AM

I must live in the black hole of alignments. The closest Les Schwab is in Bakersfield, and all the PepBoys in th area say their computers don't go back far enough to align this truck. They all refer me to the place that quoted $160.

BUT, I had a friend turn the steering wheel back and forth while I looked for play in the steering, and I'm pretty sure the steering box needs replaced. I have a power box for it, but that will have to wait till after the first of the year. In the meantime, tomorrow after work, I hope to set the toe, and hopefully it will get a bit better. At this point, under about 50 mph is ok, but over and it gets shakey.

After I do the power steering, I'll take it to the place in Fullerton and spend the $95.

**Chevy Fleetside** · 10-25-2015, 07:44 PM

Larkin Bros. Tire here in the City dose them for $59.99.

**slepysal** · 10-25-2015, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chevy Fleetside

Larkin Bros. Tire here in the City dose them for $59.99.

Yea that's about the going rate here in the Bay Area

BigDan3131 · 10-25-2015, 09:00 PM

On the gear box, there should be a nut on top with a allen head sticking up thru it. Hold the allen head and break loose the nut. Then turn the allen head about a 1/4 turn then retighten the nut. It should remove enough play to make it more driveable, don't go over 1/2 a turn or it screws up the internals.

blown240 · 10-25-2015, 10:31 PM

I've heard that can mess up the box, but since it's getting swapped in a few months, no reason not to adjust it...

THANKS

blown240 · 11-02-2015, 11:14 PM

Here's an update.

I went out today and adjusted the toe. I haven't had a chance to measure it, but I'm sure its a lot closer now.

Also, I adjusted the steering box preload 1/2 turn. Before there was 5 1/2 inches of play in the wheel, not its a bit over 4 1/2, so its better, but still not great. The death wobble is better, but still there. I noticed that there is no tension at all on the preload screw, hard to say how much I could turn it before there is tension.

Here is a video from before I adjusted the box. It looks like there is side play in the steering box output. Im tempted to adjust the box more. Its still easy to turn at both ends of the steering range.

https://youtu.be/tuxuZ0l0f1E

I am still planning on a PS swap in Jan/Feb, so I just need to get this to work for a while.

61K10 · 11-03-2015, 01:36 PM

my manual box was the same. output bearing or bushing (what ever is in there) was worn out. It would move to the side when turning the s/wheel.

blown240 · 11-03-2015, 01:37 PM

is there a temporary repair for it?

Or just adding more preload?

chevy_mike · 11-03-2015, 05:53 PM

Not really. If the output shaft bushing is worn enough to cause back and forth slop, rebuild is the only way to fix it.

blown240 · 11-03-2015, 07:06 PM

OK. Looks like the PS swap is my best bet. Ill adjust as much out as I can until after the Mooneyes show, then Ill do the swap....

Here is a better video of the play:

https://youtu.be/FWzKhL4jyL0

blown240 · 11-19-2015, 03:41 PM

UPDATE:

I have adjusted the steering box as much as I am comfortable with. I was able to remove about half the play in the steering wheel. I also dialed in the alignment as good as can be done at home. At this point the truck is very stable up to about 53mph. At 53 it gets a slight hop in the rear, which I say is a tire out of balance. I haven't been able to get it past 65, but even at that speed the steering feels 80% better.

The plans are to leave it alone until the first of the year, when I will do a PS conversion, and get some new wheels and tires.

Im thinking 17" or 18" steelies.....

cg285 · 11-20-2015, 09:00 AM

. rear wheel drive vehicles are set toe'd in as driving at speed tends to push the tires out
. front wheel drive vehicles are typically toe'd out as drivetrain torque pulls the tires in
. you cannot correctly set the toe by measuring a tread front and rear as there is most likely runout in the tread. you need to setup a scribe, rotate the tire over the scribe and use that line to measure. if you do not have turntables to set on then you will need to drive forward and back before checking (after each time it is jacked up). and i am assuming you know that it has to be on the ground
. a toe issue wears tires, doesn't make wobblies

cg285 · 11-20-2015, 09:05 AM

gear boxes should never be adjusted by hand/feel. there is a specific procedure. adjusting by feel usually results in a too tight box which results in a wandering issue because the gear box will not easily return to center.

padresag · 11-20-2015, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cg285

gear boxes should never be adjusted by hand/feel. there is a specific procedure. adjusting by feel usually results in a too tight box which results in a wandering issue because the gear box will not easily return to center.

and that is how this thread started out!
ron

balesjb · 11-20-2015, 01:49 PM

Check the Idler arm. If that doesn't help replace the other 2 ball joints. I'm betting on the Idler Arm.

cg285 · 11-20-2015, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by padresag

and that is how this thread started out!
ron

sorry, didn't notice that. still don't :-)

10-21-2015, 06:47 PM	#27
Captmatt Registered User Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Rohnert Park, ca. Posts: 164	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap Les Schwab tires did my 64 alignment for $65 a few months ago......

10-21-2015, 07:53 PM	#28
blown240 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CA Posts: 772	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap Nice! $65 is great! __________________ '61 Panel - Helms Bakery Truck - Daily Driver - FOR SALE

10-21-2015, 10:48 PM	#29
slepysal Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Jose NOR*CAL Posts: 3,080	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap Just had my 60 done today from a local independent shop . Charged me $60.00. Man I cant believe no one in your area cant do it for less then 160.00 As mentioned try Les Schwab, Pep boys or Wheel Works. If you can wait till Monday I can make some calls for you. Let me know As a side note my alignment was way off, what a difference! __________________ 1960 Apache long bed fleet L6 250 Clifford intake 2 bbl carb. Langdon cast headers with dual exhaust and bellflower tips. T-5 5 speed, power steering and power disc brakes. "Over, Around or through it... " Last edited by slepysal; 10-21-2015 at 10:57 PM.

10-21-2015, 11:25 PM	#30
blown240 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CA Posts: 772	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap I'll call Les Schwab tomorrow. I appreciate the help!! __________________ '61 Panel - Helms Bakery Truck - Daily Driver - FOR SALE

10-25-2015, 01:26 AM	#31
slepysal Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Jose NOR*CAL Posts: 3,080	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap Any updates? __________________ 1960 Apache long bed fleet L6 250 Clifford intake 2 bbl carb. Langdon cast headers with dual exhaust and bellflower tips. T-5 5 speed, power steering and power disc brakes. "Over, Around or through it... "

10-25-2015, 10:35 AM	#32
blown240 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CA Posts: 772	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap I must live in the black hole of alignments. The closest Les Schwab is in Bakersfield, and all the PepBoys in th area say their computers don't go back far enough to align this truck. They all refer me to the place that quoted $160. BUT, I had a friend turn the steering wheel back and forth while I looked for play in the steering, and I'm pretty sure the steering box needs replaced. I have a power box for it, but that will have to wait till after the first of the year. In the meantime, tomorrow after work, I hope to set the toe, and hopefully it will get a bit better. At this point, under about 50 mph is ok, but over and it gets shakey. After I do the power steering, I'll take it to the place in Fullerton and spend the $95. __________________ '61 Panel - Helms Bakery Truck - Daily Driver - FOR SALE

10-25-2015, 07:44 PM	#33
Chevy Fleetside Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,779	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap Larkin Bros. Tire here in the City dose them for $59.99. __________________ "A man and his truck, what a beautiful thing" 65 Short Fleetside BBC 65 Long Fleetside 283 3 on the tree for now. my build thread http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=259536

10-25-2015, 09:00 PM	#35
BigDan3131 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Maple Valley, WA Posts: 1,913	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap On the gear box, there should be a nut on top with a allen head sticking up thru it. Hold the allen head and break loose the nut. Then turn the allen head about a 1/4 turn then retighten the nut. It should remove enough play to make it more driveable, don't go over 1/2 a turn or it screws up the internals. __________________ Custom Painter/Restoration Specialist 1965 GMC 3/4 Ton LB SOLD? 1964 Chevy El Camino in full restoration 1991 Chevy S10 288K+ miles 2nd Owner SOLD 2020 RAM 1500 Warlock

10-25-2015, 10:31 PM	#36
blown240 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CA Posts: 772	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap I've heard that can mess up the box, but since it's getting swapped in a few months, no reason not to adjust it... THANKS __________________ '61 Panel - Helms Bakery Truck - Daily Driver - FOR SALE

11-02-2015, 11:14 PM	#37
blown240 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CA Posts: 772	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap Here's an update. I went out today and adjusted the toe. I haven't had a chance to measure it, but I'm sure its a lot closer now. Also, I adjusted the steering box preload 1/2 turn. Before there was 5 1/2 inches of play in the wheel, not its a bit over 4 1/2, so its better, but still not great. The death wobble is better, but still there. I noticed that there is no tension at all on the preload screw, hard to say how much I could turn it before there is tension. Here is a video from before I adjusted the box. It looks like there is side play in the steering box output. Im tempted to adjust the box more. Its still easy to turn at both ends of the steering range. https://youtu.be/tuxuZ0l0f1E I am still planning on a PS swap in Jan/Feb, so I just need to get this to work for a while. __________________ '61 Panel - Helms Bakery Truck - Daily Driver - FOR SALE

11-03-2015, 01:36 PM	#38
61K10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: pleasant valley--placerville ca Posts: 3,039	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap my manual box was the same. output bearing or bushing (what ever is in there) was worn out. It would move to the side when turning the s/wheel. __________________ 1961 chevy K10 my build is------------61K10 build

11-03-2015, 01:37 PM	#39
blown240 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CA Posts: 772	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap is there a temporary repair for it? Or just adding more preload? __________________ '61 Panel - Helms Bakery Truck - Daily Driver - FOR SALE

11-03-2015, 05:53 PM	#40
chevy_mike Never Ending Projects Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,836	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap Not really. If the output shaft bushing is worn enough to cause back and forth slop, rebuild is the only way to fix it. __________________ . 1965 C10 Panel, Tiki Express http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=506580 SOLD 1968 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod Hauler http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313233 SOLD 1965 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415702 SOLD We were given two ears and one mouth for a reason... listen twice as much and speak half as often...

11-03-2015, 07:06 PM	#41
blown240 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CA Posts: 772	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap OK. Looks like the PS swap is my best bet. Ill adjust as much out as I can until after the Mooneyes show, then Ill do the swap.... Here is a better video of the play: https://youtu.be/FWzKhL4jyL0 __________________ '61 Panel - Helms Bakery Truck - Daily Driver - FOR SALE

11-19-2015, 03:41 PM	#42
blown240 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: CA Posts: 772	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap UPDATE: I have adjusted the steering box as much as I am comfortable with. I was able to remove about half the play in the steering wheel. I also dialed in the alignment as good as can be done at home. At this point the truck is very stable up to about 53mph. At 53 it gets a slight hop in the rear, which I say is a tire out of balance. I haven't been able to get it past 65, but even at that speed the steering feels 80% better. The plans are to leave it alone until the first of the year, when I will do a PS conversion, and get some new wheels and tires. Im thinking 17" or 18" steelies..... __________________ '61 Panel - Helms Bakery Truck - Daily Driver - FOR SALE



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11-20-2015, 09:00 AM	#43
cg285 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: sumterville, florida Posts: 914	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap . rear wheel drive vehicles are set toe'd in as driving at speed tends to push the tires out . front wheel drive vehicles are typically toe'd out as drivetrain torque pulls the tires in . you cannot correctly set the toe by measuring a tread front and rear as there is most likely runout in the tread. you need to setup a scribe, rotate the tire over the scribe and use that line to measure. if you do not have turntables to set on then you will need to drive forward and back before checking (after each time it is jacked up). and i am assuming you know that it has to be on the ground . a toe issue wears tires, doesn't make wobblies

11-20-2015, 09:05 AM	#44
cg285 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: sumterville, florida Posts: 914	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap gear boxes should never be adjusted by hand/feel. there is a specific procedure. adjusting by feel usually results in a too tight box which results in a wandering issue because the gear box will not easily return to center.

11-20-2015, 01:49 PM	#46
balesjb Registered User Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 32	Re: Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap Check the Idler arm. If that doesn't help replace the other 2 ball joints. I'm betting on the Idler Arm.

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