Front end wobble is it my wheels? Tires?

[gityup68]

Hello Boys and girls,
I have a 68 re built EB, done about every damn thing you can do to it and love it. Recently have experinced some distirburbing front in wobble when I get oh around 55mph. this is a pleasure driving machine and about once a week I drive it to work. When I get on the highway (10 miles) of my ride as soon as I hit 55 my front end starts to wobble. Not 54, but 55 and gets worse as you progress. My front end is tight, new ball joints, allignments, billsteins shocks bla bla bla. I am thinking that it may be tires. Right now I am running Dunlop A/T Radial Rover 33 X 12.50. American Racing wheels (Used and may be the issue).

I am asking for input as I am perplexed. Not that I am looking to do 75 but this is a matter of safety also. And front end should be good. Couple of questions from the gear heads. Is there a better tire for road use, I would like to stay with 33, just like the look. Seems to have gotten worse over the last two years. Still good tread, but am thinking that it may be time to get new wheels and tires. And looking for you thoughts as this is a big expense.

Much Tks.
Gityup68

 

[Oakland Bronco]

Can't say for sure what is going on with your rig. But, when I rotated my tires, I started experiencing a similar issue: wobbles between 55-60 MPH, good otherwise. I'm going to have my tires switched back to the way they were.

 

[BitchinPaint]

I would try rotating the tires, pull ones of the back and put on the front to see if that helps. I chased a death wobble in a Jeep TJ and it ended up being a tire issue.

 

[CopperRanger]

Have you checked the track bar bushings? I have Dunlop radial mud rovers, they look nice but are terrible on the highway, my next set of tires will be BFG all terrains.

 

[SteveL]

X2 on trak bar. Lost balancing weight on a tire?

 

[Pa PITT]

... I love my old Mud Kings not sure they are still available.
... Now when you say you front end Wobbles at 55 are you going through Death Wobble.
Man I say when you get Death Wobble you'll not just be saying my front end has a vibration.. Death Wobble is all but life threatening . It'll scare hell out of you in traffic. I saw a telephone truck go through death wobble in about 1985 . I was meeting it the truck & the look on that drivers face. WE fixed those trucks with the Monroe 500's H/D shocks.
... But if your Bronco is going through Death Wobble .. I'll say tighten the rod across the front and add about another couple twist to turn the fronts of your tires inside more.

 

[Pa PITT]

OK It's been a long time since I've printed my ''PaPitt's'' Front End Alignment..
Poor Mans Red Neck Alignment..
.... Find a good flat piece of concrete...
..Pull your Bronco onto it very slowly.
.. Don't hit the brakes ..let it roll to it;s own stop.
.. Get 2 pieces of Metal Conduit... One that will fit inside the other. Cut the big one about 2 foot short of stretching between the 2 front tires. Cut the 2nd so you can slide it inside the 1st . And then spread it out to touch the opposite front tire.
... Now Go Beg & plead with the wife too come out side & lay on her back for about 10 minutes until your Happy.. She just needs to hold one end of the big Conduit .. She once holds it against the from bead edge of the tire about 5 inches off the ground & then she holds it about 5 inches off the ground on the back edge of the bead.
... You hold the other end sliding the inside pipe to the same location on the opposite tire
what you want to see is the back of the tire wider than the front. My Conduit Sticks have Black MarksAlot on them in the short amount so I can read how much wider the back is than the front..
The Alignment books call for about a 1/4 but I TWIST the tie rod adjusting tubes to make mine about a half inch. YES the tires will wear more but if you have experienced Death Wobble for real. A little wear is of no issue if you stop death Wobble .

 

[Pa PITT]

... 2ND Part of Pa Pitt's Red Neck Alignment Is go find your Grand Fathers Carpenters Square .. One that's about 30'' by 18'' L shaped.
... Place the long side of the Square against the top edge of the tire .. Look to see about how much the top of the tire is outside of the bottom edge.
... Again I like about 3/8 wider on top than on the bottom..
.............
.... I know this sound Red Neck but don't knock it until you try it.. I haven't sent a Ford to the alignment shop in 30 years. Just add the needed parts.

 

[broncnaz]

Id get the balance checked on your tires. They should be able to tell you if the wheels are a issue.

 

[Bukin 67]

Mine developed it once out of nowhere. It was the track bar bushings. If you can move or wiggle the track bar by hand AT ALL replace them. Other most probable possibilities are alignment and balance.

 

[gityup68]

Thanks for the input

It seems most of you agree it is a balance issue. I have done almost everything I can think of to the front end including new bushings, and swaybar, ujoints all after experiencing the death wobble, terrible thing for anyone to be a part of. I agree that it is probably the tire(s) I've had them for a while and heck you lift a Bronco your bound to be hard on the tires. Might just look into replacing them, probably about time anyways. Have to admit I like the PaPitts formula for ft end alignment. Any suggestion on tires, remembering I do almost all of my Bronco driving on the road. Thanks everyone. Be safe
Gityup68

 

[Bukin 67]

Also check the caster if you lifted it.

 

[tmbonnett]

New track bar bushings solved my Death wobble.

 

[DuctTape]

I would try rotating the tires, pull ones of the back and put on the front to see if that helps. I chased a death wobble in a Jeep TJ and it ended up being a tire issue.

Great advice.

 

[bobzilla]

i had a similar problem on mine when i bought it. The P.O. said he put new bushings on the front end just before he sold it. What it ended up being with mine was the bolt hole in the track bar mount was enlarged a little bit from it having been loose for some time. so while it had new bushings on it with a tight bolt it still had some play. I welded some 1/8 inch plate to the outsides of the mount, redrilled it and installed new bushings. Works great.

 

[clarkaw1]

Have someone rock the steering back and forth while you watch all the steering components ie.. Track bar, track bar bracket, pitmen bar, steering gear box, tie rods and anything else and look for unusual movement. Had the same problem, it was the Track bar bracket coming lose from the frame. Had to cut the old one out, patch the frame and weld in a new bracket.

 

[Bukin 67]

Have you checked the track bar bushings? I have Dunlop radial mud rovers, they look nice but are terrible on the highway, my next set of tires will be BFG all terrains.

Mine developed it once out of nowhere. It was the track bar bushings. If you can move or wiggle the track bar by hand AT ALL replace them. Other most probable possibilities are alignment and balance.

New track bar bushings solved my Death wobble.

i had a similar problem on mine when i bought it. The P.O. said he put new bushings on the front end just before he sold it. What it ended up being with mine was the bolt hole in the track bar mount was enlarged a little bit from it having been loose for some time. so while it had new bushings on it with a tight bolt it still had some play. I welded some 1/8 inch plate to the outsides of the mount, redrilled it and installed new bushings. Works great.

Have someone rock the steering back and forth while you watch all the steering components ie.. Track bar, track bar bracket, pitmen bar, steering gear box, tie rods and anything else and look for unusual movement. Had the same problem, it was the Track bar bracket coming lose from the frame. Had to cut the old one out, patch the frame and weld in a new bracket.

Notice anything in common with these recommendations?

 

[Hozr]

He already stated he replaced the bushings, so.....

I have done almost everything I can think of to the front end including new bushings

 

[Bukin 67]

Just point out that in most cases it's something to do with the track bar. Not necessarily the bushings. Bolts, bracketry, etc. could also be an issue..