Sudden death wobble?

[thirdstreettito]

So last night I was in a hurry home after spilling dad's 64oz soda on my front floor, so I turn onto our street and boom, deaht wobble really bad, I hit the brakes to stop because it felt like a loose wheel. I pulled in and torqued all the lugs to 107, I couldn't remember if it was 105 or 110. It's been fine since, I drove it 4 miles and tried to make it happen again. Nothing. Any explanation? I tried to shake all the steering linkage and it was all tight. Thanks, Bradley

[special-K]

Did all the lugs (or most) on one wheel feel loose? Ball joints or tie rod ends can do that. You need to lift the front wheels,check horizontal play (3 & 9 o'clock) for tie rods and vertical play (6 & noon) for ball joints. Ball joints actually feel more like hopping and tie rods feel more like a shimmy.

[Burt4x4]

Do you have a Dana60 frontend?
What size tires?

[vectorit]

Steering stabilizer installed and good?

[thirdstreettito]

Originally Posted by special-K

Did all the lugs (or most) on one wheel feel loose? Ball joints or tie rod ends can do that. You need to lift the front wheels,check horizontal play (3 & 9 o'clock) for tie rods and vertical play (6 & noon) for ball joints. Ball joints actually feel more like hopping and tie rods feel more like a shimmy.

None of the lugs on any of the wheels were finger loose. Also, I had my tires rotated last week(X pattern). I checked for 6-noon play with my foot/leg and they were all fine. I hope it isn't balljoints. $1000 around here. My 84 K10 needed em and I got down to half-way through the hub and couldn't find the next snap-ring...I traded a 350/T350 for a friend to do the labor.

Originally Posted by Burt4x4

Do you have a Dana60 frontend?
What size tires?

The 88 burb in my sig. 30x9.5R15

Originally Posted by vectorit

Steering stabilizer installed and good?

It has one, I think it's the stock 1988 one, don't know if it's good or not. How do I check?

[7T2]

If it happens again, make sure you check your brake rotors for warpage as one of the things you check. I had a wobble problem for a long time with my 96 Dually, and finally traced it to that (after replacing everything else). Didn't do it all the time, more under braking (obviously), but it would set up a wobble reminiscent of a tank-slapper on a motorcycle.

[vectorit]

I would go to the local off road truck parts supply store and get a new one, since they are cheep enough and will help with shimmy and tire wear.

[TheWhiteElephant]

As has been mentioned, check for play in the ball joints. They're not so bad to replace, check my build thread for a documented step by step. If all your bearings are good, you can get all 4 Moog ball joints from rockauto.com for around $100 and do the labor yourself!

As far as the steering stabilizer, it will not cause a shimmy. It is only there to keep the vehicle from wandering down the road. It won't cause a wobble.

[thirdstreettito]

Elephant, you dont have a 10 bolt lol, thanks though.

Thanks guys

[special-K]

If you didn't have vertical play your ball joints are ok. I'd suspect the tie rod ends more anyway. That's where you get the side to side play. Is your steering loose at all? Play in steering wheel? Check at 3 and 9 jacked up and also have someone work the steering wheel while you inspect underneath with tires on the ground. If a bad stabilizer is letting it wobble it's due to worn steering. Stabilizers are an add-on enhancement to the design,not a critical part.

[thirdstreettito]

I have less play than the 83 burb. It's fairly tight. I dont have to keep moving the wheels side to side to stay straight.

[Olden Days]

Originally Posted by 7T2

If it happens again, make sure you check your brake rotors for warpage as one of the things you check. I had a wobble problem for a long time with my 96 Dually, and finally traced it to that (after replacing everything else). Didn't do it all the time, more under braking (obviously), but it would set up a wobble reminiscent of a tank-slapper on a motorcycle.

I would put odds on this one. And you dont have to be on the brakes for it to happen BTDT

[LONGHAIR]

Also check into the steering box itself. Is it tight to the frame? Have someone move the steering wheel while you watch the box (and it's connectionto the frame). These trucks were notorious for cracking the frame at the mounting point.

Does this thing have any lift? tire size? etc....

As far as the original stabilizer....just replace it. There is no need for testing, it's over 20 years old.

[special-K]

I'm thinking a warped rotor or something in the wheel/tires now.

[LONGHAIR]

A warped rotor shouldn't give you a wobble, but a pulsing in the brake pedal. It can also be hard on caliper mounting brackets/bolts.

[Olden Days]

As Mentioned before. Warped rotors WILL give it the death wobble.and do it randomly. I have first hand experiance with it in my 76 for years before I finally decided to fix it.

[thirdstreettito]

It wouldn't be my rotors, my brakes are smooth and only 3500 miles old. I'll check my steering more in depth when I get back from FL. Thanks, guys

LONGHAIR, it's the 88 in my sig.

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by thirdstreettito

LONGHAIR, it's the 88 in my sig.

That doesn't tell me a thing about how/if it has been modified....

[thirdstreettito]

The truck is entirely stock except for 1" larger than stock tires. 30x9.5R15.