67 bronco front "death" wobble

[Diablo54]

Hello everyone I am new to the bronco game and I have recently purchased a 67 bronco and it usually rides fine, but I noticed when I hit a rough patch on the asphalt the bronco begins to shake bad and I have to pull over and stop completely then everything is fine. I am not sure if this has anything to do with the Wrested Axle Housing. It has only happened a few times but want to fix the problem before I put the family in the rig

 

[70_Steve]

Hi and welcome to the site. And Congrats on the Bronco!

Although there can be some other not-so-common causes, the Death Wobble is usually caused by some play, or something loose in the front end. Most common culpret is the upper track bar bushing.

Have someone sit inside while you lay underneath. Have them turn the steering wheel back and forth, just enough to slightly move the tires. Starting at the steering shaft and steering box, look and feel for any looseness or play in any steering or front suspension component. Check the frame at the steering box and track bar bracket. Check the track bar bushings at both ends. Of course check tie rod ends, ball joints, wheel bearings, etc.

I can't imagine the Death Wobble being caused by the wristed axle housing.

 

[Diablo54]

70_Steve thanks for the help I will look into it tonight.

 

[Pokey71]

Before I did my TRO swap I would get death wobble all the time. I just always thought that with my lift and wheeling, caused my trac bar bushings to go out. (yes they were toast)
I found out that the bolt on the axle for the trac bar had a broken weld on it and would cause movement with the vehicles weight causing my trac bar bushings to go out and making the death wobble worse.

Just something to throw out there and to double check.

 

[pcf_mark]

Like the first reply said - your best bet is to get someone in the cab moving the wheel slowly while you look for play moving outward from the column. I developed a death wobble. While following the play I discovered my lug nuts where loose from when it was inspected!

Plenty of causes but some detective work will get you fixed.

 

[bobzilla]

I had the same issue and I looked for the problem many times before I found it. The hole in the mount on the frame had been ovaled out and the bolt was worn down. even though the bushings looked fine and the bolt was tight it still had a little play. I welded some fender washers to the outside of the mount and bought a new bolt and it tightened everything right up. no more shakey shakey.

 

[Diablo54]

I wanted to thank everyone for the comments on what to check. I am a dirt bike guy and never really had a vehicle I could work on. I love my Bronco and wish I go one sooner. I checked everything and just tightened up some stuff in the front, So far i have not had the wobble since. It did feel like the driver side wheel bearing was going out. I lifted the front up and could move the tire just a bit. Hopefully next weekend i can check out the bearing

 

[Bronchole]

Wheel bearings, ball joints and toe in are other potential causes as well as several of these having slight issues but adding up. It can be easy sometimes, and a pain in the A$$ other times........ I am at the pain in the A$$ stage right now

 

[Bulletman]

I fought mine for awhile, new c-bushing and trac bar bushings and THEN rotated tires, and it went away. One of those tires that went on the back is the culprit.