PDA

View Full Version : No More Death Wobble



4.3LXJ
10-28-2010, 06:31 PM
For the past several weeks I have had an annoying problem with death wobble. I didn't post it because I knew what was wrong. My top link rubber bushings were completely shot and I lost my castor. The little irregularities in the pavement around here was what would trigger it at about 45 mph. Then because the top link bushings were so bad, the axle would rock back and forth which would change the drag link position at the knuckle due to the angle and it would set up harmonics and the shaking would begin. And believe me there was a whole lot of shaking going on. It was bad enough to break the shaft on the steering stabilizer. May it rest in peace.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/IMG_0707.jpg

About the time all this started Ironman Andy needed some stock springs. So I offered to trade him the springs for some bushings, which I would have been happy with instead of paying out $80 - 100. Well, Andy did one better, he sent me a new top link instead of bushings. :love0007:

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/IMG_0703.jpg

So now I still needed a new bushing in the axle housing. But being cheap, I still didn't want to put out for a full set just to get one bushing. So I dug through my junk and got out an old Samurai motor mount I made and went to work.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/IMG_0701.jpg

This bushing is really for the shackle end of a Chevy K10 front spring. So it is a little wide for this application. I cut it off the mount, cut down the bushing housing, slipped into a piece of 1.5" pipe.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/IMG_0700.jpg

Cut the bushings themselves to fit.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/IMG_0702.jpg

Burned out the old bushing

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/IMG_0704.jpg

Slipped it into the old outer shell and tacked it to keep it from slipping

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/IMG_0705.jpg

Mounted the new top link

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/warriorsuspension/IMG_0706.jpg

And quickly discovered my lower link has a case of ARMIS PUNIS.
I am going to have to do something about that this winter.

I took it for a test drive and I now have no death wobble without a stabilizer :cheerleader::cool0010::gay::gay:

bluedragon436
10-29-2010, 10:56 AM
Glad to hear you took care of the dreaded DW... I am hoping once I finally am able to lift mine, I won't have to fight with it, but I am sure I will until I take care of replacing the 200K+ mileage bushing and such... at least I have an upgraded steering stabilizer... so hopefully that might give a little bit of help... if I don't manage to break mine like you did..

4.3LXJ
10-29-2010, 11:02 AM
Glad to hear you took care of the dreaded DW... I am hoping once I finally am able to lift mine, I won't have to fight with it, but I am sure I will until I take care of replacing the 200K+ mileage bushing and such... at least I have an upgraded steering stabilizer... so hopefully that might give a little bit of help... if I don't manage to break mine like you did..

One of the secrets is getting a good quality kit with new upper and lower links made for that lift height. Where many people run into problems is trying to do it on the cheap with the addition of front spacers.

nismo5
10-30-2010, 12:39 AM
awesome glad you got the wobble taken care of steve pretty slick new upper bushing and arm:thumbsup:

lowrider
11-01-2010, 03:52 PM
im glad you did this post because you just helped me figure mine out. mine would shake from 43 up to 48 or so. rebalanced front today and checked my bushing and it is twisted back and one sided. guess ill be callin andy and getting the bushings from him. i got his motor mounts and i love them

XJ4IV
11-02-2010, 10:33 PM
hook me up with one of those tierods, where does one find one of those?

lowrider
11-03-2010, 08:59 AM
ok replaced the bushing its better but still there. noticed that all my control arm bushings are tearing. guess i need to call rustys and see what they will do to help me out. just got the lift from them in march and didnt take it offroad until a couple of months ago

Mudderoy
11-03-2010, 09:28 AM
ok replaced the bushing its better but still there. noticed that all my control arm bushings are tearing. guess i need to call rustys and see what they will do to help me out. just got the lift from them in march and didnt take it offroad until a couple of months ago

Rustys? Please let us know how that goes. :popcorn:

4.3LXJ
11-03-2010, 10:56 AM
hook me up with one of those tierods, where does one find one of those?

That is a Tereflex High Steer. That tie rod came as part of the kit. However, you can make your own. Here is a web site to get the aluminum.

http://www.speedymetals.com/pc-2404-8355-1-12-x-0-hex-6061-t6511-aluminum-extruded.aspx

Then you just cut it to length, have it bored and threaded for your favorite heavy duty tie rod ends.

XJ4IV
11-03-2010, 11:35 AM
aluminum... ummmm weakness? but I did see a steel option for about 182

4.3LXJ
11-03-2010, 12:06 PM
aluminum... ummmm weakness? but I did see a steel option for about 182

That is solid 1.5" aluminum, pretty strong. Also, it will bend farther than steel and bounce back. Going to solid aluminum lower links is getting popular in high end suspensions now.

PolarXJ
12-17-2010, 02:42 PM
Glad to hear that you got rid of your DW. Keep us updated on your ali links.

Firemanray
12-17-2010, 02:56 PM
I had some aluminum trackbar bushings made for my Dodge 2500. A friend of mine machined them out of some high tech alum. material and we pressed them in place of the stock ones. They work great and they won't wear out. It was the easiest and quickest fix at the time and it turned out to be a great idea.

HokieAirman
01-09-2011, 10:17 AM
I took care of my DW with some quality Poly Daystar bushings. Worked like a charm!

ironmanandy
01-11-2011, 07:38 PM
Glad the upper link worked out for ya.
A

4.3LXJ
01-11-2011, 08:26 PM
Thanks Andy.