Death wobble

RalphM

RalphM

Well-known member
I've got over a 1000 miles on my AV8 since built, been on some of the crappiest roads we have here( Google "frost heave".
Last nite I was on an overpass going about 40 and hit a deep rut that ran from side to side, and it started, I had to slow down to make it stop.
I'm wondering if somethings gone wrong, or was it just the right circumstances that set it off.
I took a quick look at the suspension when I got home and nothing. I will jack it up this weekend and dig a little deeper.
 
Check the normal stuff for any play, tie-rod ends, king pins, spindle bearings, steering box, etc. It doesn't take much play to allow it to get started.
 
I'm testing a VW steering damper on my AV8 and it is working great. J Seery is right. It doesn't take much.
 
I have the early style drag link with the spring loaded ends. Maybe it's worn in enough to need adjustment.
 
I lived in Fairbanks for 22 years. On some of those roads, a car out of the showroom can develop a death wobble!
 
I had the same problem on my 39cs. I installed a jeep steering damper,the car handles better and no death wobble.I just installed a damper on my 1912 Case,same results!
 
I've been installing steering dampners on the cars coming out of my shop for years. Not as a fix but because it seems to make the steering a little more comfortable. I get mine from Pete & Jakes but the VW one is the same.
 
RalphM said:
I have the early style drag link with the spring loaded ends. Maybe it's worn in enough to need adjustment.
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That would be my first guess, had a '33 many years ago that would do that on gravel roads sometimes. Well that was the best roads we had at that time. Used to call that "shimmy", death wobble was more of a crotch rocket thing...
 
Ahh the scourge of a solid axle, don't worry it doesn't just happen with old cars and trucks trust me. I have never had a problem with my 35 pickup BUT having experienced it in a truck I used to drive for work on a freeway I added a VW damper to my pickup just for insurance , cheap and easy..
 

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Could be a slightly loose wheel bearing ,wobble triggered by a loose steering component, check all the above and wish bone rubber ball ,perch bolts . in some cases to much negative caster ,Ted
 
I had a '96 Bronco that had a sticky right front brake caliper, so after applying
the brake, the right front brake didn't release very quickly at all, and if you ran
over the slightest bump in the road, before the right front brake quit dragging,
that Bronco went into a death wobble that about shook all your teeth out, and
was scary as hell, till you got it pulled over to the side of the road. :eek:
I replace that caliper and a couple loose tie rod ends, and that took care of it.











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Rustyspokes said:
Trainguy, I have a 34 Ford and have the wobble, what year of Jeep did you take the steering damper from , thanks ..R
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I believe it was for a 50s cj. I got it from adealer who specialized in early jeep parts.The one I put on my Case I bought from Amazon. It was a generic stabilizer it solver the wobble and wandering problem I was having. I just drove my 39 and is a sweet handling car compared to before the siabilizer.
 
No wishbone ball, their split, caster is about 6-1/2 to 7 degrees. The tie rod ends are new, and so are the wishbone ends.
As much as it might help, I'm hesitant to put on a stabilizer. My car is a traditional hot rod, built as if it would have been in the early to mid fifties. Something like that would be too much out of place.
Right now the newest part I have is a 56 steering box.
 
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