My Dirty Little Secret

Ive got Deathwobble BAD!
There I've come out in the open and admitted it.
It isn't going to simply go away-it will get worse.

Alignment on a real alignment rack, check
new kingpin bearings, check
Tierod ends good, check

Longer shackles seem to wobble some
Passenger side wheel seems out of caster? top out -bottom in
Mechanic from local shop got out and walked back to the shop!R)

I suspect the repair I made on the Kingpin race on my balljoint and am going to open it back up to investigate.
Donnie

 

Check also spring bushings, axle u-bolts for tightness, If you have Ross steering check the bell crank and all linkages for looseness, also wheel bearings, Tire balance, toe, check caster, frame for cracks around spring mounts, check steering box, etc. Any or minor looseness in several items can add up quick. Nickmil

 

Even something as simple as a loose wheel bearing as mentioned by nickmil. In the old days they called it "kicking the tire" to see the obvious.

 

On the '42 in my avatar if the tire pressures gets too low it will shake.

 

I am out of town all weekend but will start the teardown next week.
No wheelweights at all so the shop is going to balance them while I am gone.
Going to eliminate things one by one and see what difference it makes.
We will see.
Donnie

 

The ROSS steering box was mentioned above. Double check to be sure that the cover is installed correctly. If it accidentally got put on upside down, your adjustment screw won't work right and you'll get a lot of play there.

When I first got my 3A I found that very same problem. I rebuilt the steering box, put the cover back on correctly, AND computer spin balanced the wheels. No more "Death Wobble" after that!

 

i replaced my king pin bearings, tie rod ends, rebushed my ross gear and rebushed the bell crank. that fixed it.

 

not enough tension on the kingpin bearings will do that as well.

 

I have new Kingpin bearings and wheel bearings. I suspect the tension is the culpret. Did not take my Ross box apart but it would be my luck for the cover to ALREADY be on upside down!
Donnie

 

Stupid design on those ROSS covers!
The bolt holes line up the same if the cover is upside down. If it is greasy and grimey, it would be pretty easy to get it on wrong and end up getting too much play between the 2 points on the sector shaft where they engage the worm gear.

 

I'm checking the cover on my Ross box when I get home.

 

Top out, bottom in would be a camber problem. If you jack it up can you feel any play when you try to move the tire top to bottom? Did this start shortly after you replaced the wheel bearings or king pins?

 

Well I am back in town and heres an up date.
The Alignment was off a little.
The wheels took a substantial amount of lead to balance them.
I tighened the front shackles about 3-4 good cranks with the ratchet on both sides.
I have jacked up the front end with the tierods loose and their seems to be no play in the ball joints at all.
Ross box has a little slop in it but who's dosen't,its not excessive.
I did not have a chance to drive her around much but could not get it to shake at all.I have by no means deemed this fixed though.I need more time to play with it.
Donnie

 

Getting a bad tire or two on the front will also cause this.

 

Sort of like this Dan?
yes I am guilty, was in a hurry to get to Tellico yada yada.
I have a new pak of shims, just add more?
Finally got the garage time I needed to tear back into this, have not gotten all the way to my knuckle repair, I am curious hoe it is holding up.
6 lbs at breakover on one side.
Donnie