Wobble at 30-40 mph

[Minderbinder3]

So my ‘66 has had a front end wobble since I got it last year. It is one of the reasons I ended up with it because my brother-in-law didn’t feel safe when it happened. I have had Jeep Wranglers that had “death wobble” issues and it is not that bad.

It is pretty much stock and I have replaced the suspension and tires. I also replaced the drag link and that seemed seemed to cure about 50% of it but it still wobbles at 30-40 mph. Doesn’t matter if the road is bumpy or smooth and it goes away if you go slower than 30 or faster then 40.

After looking closely at the front wheels, I think both have some positive camber. Could this be the cause? If so how can I adjust them? I know how to adjust toe-in but not this.

 

[Oldtimer]

It is pretty much stock and I have replaced the suspension and tires.

What ALL did you replace in the suspension?

 

[Minderbinder3]

Springs and shocks all around.

 

[Brush Hog]

Take it in for an alignment. Could be camber or toe issues. Mine did same thing and toe was way off.

 

[m_m70]

to me it looks like your running toe "out". Of course it could be the angle or more than likely my old eyes.....
I agree that you need to get it aligned and start there.
How old are the bushings (C and trac bar)??

 

[Oldtimer]

Springs and shocks all around.

How are the wheel bearings, king pin bearings, tie rod ends, track bar bushings, C bushings, radius arm bushings?
What are the current castor, camber and toe angles?
Any play in your 58 year old steering box?

 

[DirtDonk]

You might just do the be all and end all of tests, with a helper turning the wheel back-and-forth while you watch all the components underneath. Front and back while you’re at it, but obviously this is an issue with the front.
Even though a common wobble like yours is usually tire related. since you replace the tires, that would seem to rule it out.
However, I would still rotate one side front to back just to see if it changes. Then do the other side.
If it doesn’t change, you’ve got a lot more work to do!

 

[sprdv1]

You got some good suggestions from the gurus.. Good luck

 

[m_m70]

You might just do the be all and end all of tests, with a helper turning the wheel back-and-forth while you watch all the components underneath. Front and back while you’re at it, but obviously this is an issue with the front.
Even though a common wobble like yours is usually tire related. since you replace the tires, that would seem to rule it out.
However, I would still rotate one side front to back just to see if it changes. Then do the other side.
If it doesn’t change, you’ve got a lot more work to do!

You must have this in a permanent state of copy so you can paste at will! This should be a sticky as it seems this is the number one issue asked about these days and the last to be searched.
Great advice as always Paul!!

 

[DirtDonk]

Thanks. Good thing I like typing!
I actually have some of these things typed up, where I used to repeat them often. But things are so messed up on my slow-running computer, and I am not on the forum as much as I used to be (or as much as I'd like to be!) that I just forget about them, and just type away mindlessly.
I guess I just like to keep my fingers tuned up!

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

Oh, and if you think it comes up often around here, you should hang out on the Jeep forums!
It's to the point that many seem to think it's a Jeep-only thing, and that it can't happen on other vehicles. Oh, and that it's almost never caused by tires. Even though more wobbles are fixed with new tires than are fixed almost any other way. Except for some trackbar bolt issues. But I still say that even those are tire-related.
One poster recently chimed in to tell a guy that had recently fixed his Death Wobble with new tires, that because the tires fixed it, then it could not possibly have been a Death Wobble! Oh vey...

Paul

 

[Madgyver]

Tracbar bushings or heim ends if you have it, Ball joints, Loose steering box bolts, correct Toe-in,