new wobble to front end

[blazinchuck]

I just did the front chevy disc conversion. All seems well and right(i.e. bearings,hubs,calipers,rotors)

1st-I know I have a bad ball joint on the top drivers side-the others seems fine.They are getting replaced Thrusday.
2nd-I will be replacing the steering system(tie rod/drag link) very soon, has some play on the tie rod-pass side.
3rd-I do not run a steering dampner
4th-drag link and track bar are parralle(sp)

Ever since the conversion, sometimes when I hit a bump or dip in the road around 30-40mph, the steering wheel will shake back and forth for a few long seconds. I know what bump steer is and had those issues with the old blazer that I owned.I dont feel this is bump steer.Also, I have been driving this daily for the last year-no problems

Any other thoughts on this? Thanks,Chuck?:?

 

[scsm76]

check your track bar bushings.

 

[blazinchuck]

everything is new poly, but will still check.

 

[trailpsycho]

Sounds like bumpsteer... I had this happen a long time ago when I was still learning alot about these trucks...If you are running without a steering dampener and still using the stock tie-rod without a beefier setup--that could be a factor. At the time, I installed a new steering dampener and that made a big difference.

I would say that you still have bumpsteer, if you are going to install a new ball joint, tie rod and drag link due to problems there, then I would withhold judgement until you deal with that. The wander and vibration you have could be sourced some from the BJ or tie rod problem--depending on how bad they really are....alot of force on these joints. Tight is right. Fix what you have planned and go from there. Good luck.

 

[surfer-b]

I had a 78 f-150 4x4 that did the exact same thing it was a combo of bad steering dampner and bad c-bushings after i replaced those no more front-end shimmy's, although if you have play in the tie rods and drag link it could also be those

 

[broncnaz]

You've already said your balljoints and steering linkage are bad wait till they are replaced before trying to fix something its not. Worn balljoints do that exact thing your describing.

 

[Skuzzlebutt]

You've already said your balljoints and steering linkage are bad wait till they are replaced before trying to fix something its not. Worn balljoints do that exact thing your describing.

DITTO!!!

 

[JoseyWales]

Reviving this thread - Front wobble

Reviving this thread. I am having the same problem... Sometimes when I hit a rough spot in the road at about 35 mph, the steering will start to wobble. When that happens, I can slow down, and it always goes back to normal. It doesn't usually happen... only sometimes. It only happens when I'm going around 35 mph - not if I'm going slower or faster.

Everything in my front end is new. I have a track bar riser to make it parallel with the drag link. The front end and steering is totally tight with no play, and the Bronco drives like a dream otherwise. It has a new WH steering stabilizer. If there is any bump-steer at all, it is very little because it stays straight going over bumps. I set the toe-in 1/8" using a tape measure, but I haven't changed or checked the camber. I guess the castor/camber/toe-in adjustments and maybe the tire size is the only thing left that could cause that. ?:?

 

[bronko69er]

On a related note. I had sloppy steering on my D30 and went through several sets of track bar bushing before I realized that the lower stud had worn. Even new bushings were sloppy. I had to turn a sleeve to press on to return it to an acceptable diameter.

 

[El Jefe]

I set the toe-in 1/8" using a tape measure, but I haven't changed or checked the camber. I guess the castor/camber/toe-in adjustments and maybe the tire size is the only thing left that could cause that. ?:?

i didn't know you could adjust camber on the D44!!? (caster can be adjusted via C-bushings and toe by the TREs but i thought camber was pretty much set - unless shims are used on the Ball Joints?)

 

[bronko69er]

Shims are used between the spindle and the knuckle.

 

[JoseyWales]

i didn't know you could adjust camber on the D44!!? (caster can be adjusted via C-bushings and toe by the TREs but i thought camber was pretty much set - unless shims are used on the Ball Joints?)

Yes, offset bushings are used to correct the camber. I had it done on my F-250 with the Dana 50 front end, and they put an adjustable offset bushing in there of some sort. The fixed offset ones are the most common though I think.

 

[buckedupbronc]

Damn Chuck!... Thats a lot to deal with. Just think if you had stayed and picked up a grinder and welder tonight and helped me out you would'nt be dealing with .... bump steer, tie rods ect. ect.

Hank

 

[JoseyWales]

I feel stupid. Figured out what the problem was. The stud I welded to my track bar riser bracket broke the weld loose. Glad it didn't fly apart. Thanks for the replies.