Death Wobble After Ball Joint Swap

[blown240]

Originally Posted by Evoracer

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

Good to know! Thanks!

[Captmatt]

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

[cg285]

. 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]

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]

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

[cg285]

Originally Posted by padresag

and that is how this thread started out!
ron

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

[blown240]

Nice! $65 is great!

[slepysal]

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]

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

[slepysal]

Any updates?

[blown240]

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]

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

[slepysal]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

is there a temporary repair for it?

Or just adding more preload?

[chevy_mike]

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]

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]

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.....

[balesjb]

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