Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Tie rod ends, bad scary death wobble?

I have tryed everything to figure out why I am getting death wobbles at about 60+km, I have checked my shocks, tyres, bushes, shock bushes too. The only thing I cannot understand is the tie rod ends. I can move he shafts with one hand, someone said to me that the tie rods have play in them but should not be very free. I can move them with one hand, is this correct? Should they be firm?

thanks guys

hi bud, very normal.

what is your vehicle type and what mods have been done to the suspension?

it can be many things causing this most common are..


caster - the angle your kingpins are facing is the easiest way to describe this.
king pins - usually very worn out can cause your knuckles to move .
tyres worn - yup as simple as your tyres not wearing correctly or very worn
out, particularly muddies.
toe in or out - can give death wobbles if out enough, this is the relationship your 2 front tyres are compaired to each other.


please note if you get told to change your steering dampner, this is NOT the problem, it does not cause steering shimmy, they only hide it.

cheers mark

There shouldn't be any play in tie rod ends!! If there is play in any of the ball joints they need to be adjusted (if they can be) or replaced! What tyres are you running? If the tyres are too wide for the rim size they become very hard to balance properly.

ScrawnC wrote:There shouldn't be any play in tie rod ends!! If there is play in any of the ball joints they need to be adjusted (if they can be) or replaced! What tyres are you running? If the tyres are too wide for the rim size they become very hard to balance properly.

i think you will find he means if he grabs the tie rod bar itself he can rotate it with ease.. this is fine.

if however he means he grabs the actual rodends and they move as in wear then that is a fair call

Youre steering box could be worn out, mine doesnt wobble but drives all over the road with no steering input, still have to put new bearings in it.

2 bearings either side in the assembly the cv sits and the hub bolts to, when you remove this there are 2 locator pins which sit in the bearings and keep your wheel central if they are worn badly could be the cause (sorry i dont know the tech names for stuff). i moved my diff forwards to fit 33"s on and i have the same death wobble at 60ks only noticeable since fitting the standard rims back on i thought it may be as a result of me stuffing up the measurements of the holes.

Thanks guys for the info

I have 91 Sierra with 225s up front on lifted springs. I get a shimmy in the steering when hitting a bump which sets off the death wobble.
How do i know if the steering box is gone. No leaks usual play in the steering wheel.

Any sugestion would be great.

thanks again

mrRocky wrote:I moved my diff forwards to fit 33"s on and i have the same death wobble at 60ks only noticeable since fitting the standard rims back on i thought it may be as a result of me stuffing up the measurements of the holes.

Mr Rocky, Did you do what they call the Hagen Widening mod to move the diff forward?

What do u mean by usual play in steering box? No power steering so nothing to leak. There is an adjustment on top of the box to take up any play. If it still steers fine then the box is still fine.

Check your u-bolts are tight.

Layto....

if u mean drilling 2 holes to bring that sucker forward then yes, i also thought it may have to to with me running 2" wheel spacers and offset rims
please elaborate

JacZook wrote:Thanks guys for the info

I have 91 Sierra with 225s up front on lifted springs. I get a shimmy in the steering when hitting a bump which sets off the death wobble.
How do i know if the steering box is gone. No leaks usual play in the steering wheel.

Any sugestion would be great.

thanks again

Now that sounds familiar, you can accelerate out of it about 70 but if you decel it get's worse until you drop below 20?

though i had mine tapped... till i put the BFG's back on.. so i'm thinking tyres (they're a little chewed up) particularly as the guys i've rung to quote on a balance and align have all commented negatively on balancing BFG's.

Spock

I've never had problems with my BFG's but I have heard tyre guys say that old BFG's can go out of shape and can't be balanced properly. They have a habit of going hard too

i have the same problem but it is better with a full tank. i'm told it is the shocks find out on monday. i have put new wheels on it and 3 sets of tyres, so i hope this works

Swapped a set of stock tyres onto it on the weekend... has helped but not cured....

gently gently and we'll find it eventually......

anyone got a straight steering link available?

Spock