wobble problem

[GQ Bear]

Looks like i've got the dreaded GQ death wobble problem again. Help needed.

Mostly get a severe vibration through steering wheel, sometimes steering wheel shakes uncontrollably, sometimes whole front end shakes violently and you must bring vehicle to a halt or speed up and ride it out like a bull to stop it. Scarey sh1t sometimes.

Happens occasionally on road with 31" a/t's (mainly at around 70kmh, sweeping corner, or upon hitting small bump in road) and big time on road with beadlocked 35" simexes (slower speeds all the time).

This first happened a few years ago when some arcewipe tried to steal my wheels one night and left wheel nuts loose. Front left wheel fell off at about 60kmh and ground the disc brake rotor down to a half circle. Rotor was replaced by front end 'specialist' under insurance but never driven right since. I took it back a couple of times but they never properley fixed it.

Since then i've replaced radius arm bushes (chassis end), panhard bushes, wheel bearings and swivel hub bearings, had wheel alignments done and had wheels balanced. These have only minimised effects, not cured problem.

I'm suspecting that my tie rod ends may be shagged, could this cause this?
Also i suspect that it may be time for replacing offset caster bushes, could this cause problem?
Springs have sagged over time and shockers have been heavily abused, could this be a potential cause?
Another thought is that maybe the stub axle is slightly bent from shock of wheel falling off, or CV is slightly bent or out of round somehow and causing an oscillation, are these likely?
Any other thoughts?
Thanks

[Bishop]

my GQ and my GU have had the shakes tie rod ends both times always with the 35s on you may need to replace the drag link as the tie rod ends are not replacable

[nayto]

GQ Bear said:mainly at around 70kmh, sweeping corner, or upon hitting small bump in road)

I had the exact same problem, as hav a lot of others on here. Mine turned out to be the front panhard bushes, i replaced the steering stabiliser aswell cos it had a big dead spot in it at the straight ahead position. Just get someone to wobble the body and look at the panhard bushes, they can flog out quite fast. Apart from the rest which youve already checked, As bishop said could be the tie rod ends, but as far as i know u can replace them....i know i did on my 93 GQ. Maybe castor bushes also, u realy just have to go through and check them all out

[rovman]

mine is more of a prob under brakes at 70-80 k's, got a feeling that its the radius arm bushes are flogged out and that lets the diff rotate causing the castor to change under brakes?

[GQ Bear]

sounds like i might just have to keep trying things till i finally eliminate problem.

Will try caster bushes next i think with drop boxes, then h/d tie rod with new ends, then cv, at least i'll have a spare if no fixxy.

[offroader-rama]

mine did same twice first time was panard bushes second time was tie rod ends
tie rod ends useally go for around $90- $120 each depends where. but when i got a wheel aliangnment at pedders last time they told me they sold them for $45 thats very cheap as any one who has brought them would know.

[Vulcanised]

i had the problem with mine when i put the 38's on it..... everything on mine was ok! i changed the rims from 15x10 to 15x8 and problem solved.

[Wish I had coils]

I don't know if this will help but i got or had the same problem with my mk and yes i do now they front ends are different. But get to the point my front end shaked real bad then my front diff went to the diff hevens so i put a new diff in, complete from disc to disc no more shakes. So at a guess i would be looking at wheel bearings and king pin bearings becuase i have changed all steering componets and tyres 4 times springs twice and shockers trying to get rid of the shake but none of that fixed it completly Hope this helps it helped me

[LOCKEE]

Never forget the swivel bearings.

They wear in a dead ahead position, change alignment and they fall back into original postion causing a death wobble.

I have had customers with this several times.

[GQ Bear]

Never forget the swivel bearings.

They wear in a dead ahead position, change alignment and they fall back into original postion causing a death wobble.

I have had customers with this several times.

YEAH, DONE THESE recently lockee. Will try tie rod ends cos i'm pretty sure they're shagged. Left one has striped thread on nipple and hasn't been greased properly for some time anyway.

Problem first occured after front left wheel fell off at speed.

is it plausable that cv or stub axle is bent/out of round?

[offroader-rama]

whatch your wheel as you drive down the road while its not shaking and see if it is unbalanced it'll stand out with 35's but i would put money on it that it is your tie rod ends if you have down your panard bushs.