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death wobble

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  #1  
Old 03-16-2014 | 08:46 PM
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Default death wobble

I got the death goin about 45 mph when I make a turn and I just replaced the track bar. Could it be my steering gear box I blew the seal where the sector shaft comes out of the steering box and I'm leaking power steering fluid could those seals have made some play in the pitman arm
 
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Old 03-16-2014 | 09:00 PM
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For me, I found that death wobble was caused by a number of worn out front suspension parts. Closely check your upper and lower ball joints, wheel bearings, inner and outer tie rod ends, steering stabilizer, steering gearbox and outer U-joints and last but not least, tires and tire pressure/wheel balance. I had a very bad case of death wobble that scared me to death and I repaired it by rebuilding the entire front suspension of the truck, since I planned to keep it for quite a while. My wheel bearings, ball joints, outer U-joints and track bar were all worn out. The truck had 125,000 miles on it and it had previously been used as a snow plow truck.


BTW, its very common for the factory gearbox to develop plenty of side-to-side play in the steering box output shaft that the pitman arm connects to. When you replace the output shaft seal, be sure to adjust the steering box by lightly tightening the allen screw on top of the box just enough to remove the side-to-side play of the output shaft. This will ensure that the output shaft seal replacement will seal well and last.
 
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Old 03-17-2014 | 03:28 PM
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Yea my ball joints and wheel bearings are good I checked for movement and I just replaced the tie rods not to long ago in thinking it might be the steering stabilizer
 
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Old 03-17-2014 | 04:35 PM
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Steering stabilizer only masks symptoms, it won't cause anything. Even if it isn't there. If you are getting death wobble, you have bad steering parts/shocks. Inspect ALL the steering parts, especially the track bar. (even if its new, check it anyway.)
 
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Old 03-17-2014 | 06:31 PM
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I had a HORRID death Wobble. Turned out to be All the ball joints, U joints, Track Bar, and busted up steering gear box. Lost a tire on the highway, totaled an equinox.. Had to replace both wheel hub assemblies too. LOL. I'm not sure why I still own this truck. I recommend an after market track bar.. the other regular replacements only fixes it for a while, from what I hear.
 
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Old 03-17-2014 | 06:50 PM
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I use this aftermarket track bar, along with an adapter bracket. It is the last track bar I'll ever purchase. FYI, its available through several outlets, so best to shop around:

http://www.solidsteel.biz/datb.htm
 
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Old 03-17-2014 | 07:04 PM
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^^ I second that.
 
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Old 03-17-2014 | 08:21 PM
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Wait so it could be the shocks cuz I'm currently replacing the front ones cuz they were shot they were shooting hydraulic fluid and when I took them out would collapse on there own
 
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Old 03-17-2014 | 08:22 PM
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They are a contributor, there is something sloppy on the front that is the cause.
 
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Old 03-17-2014 | 08:36 PM
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Could sway bar linkage cause it
 


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