Death Wobble Question
 

This post will be more in the line of a story, but there is a question at
the end. So today I spend some time with the beloved Jeep. It all started
with just wanting to finish the spare tire mount (it's trailer spindle with
some 2X2 steel tubing, another day). As I had the welder out I was just
looking around at things and noticed that the front axle spring perches were
broken away from the axle. A buddy of mine "welded" them about a year ago
or so. The welds were broken so I decided to re-weld them. After about two
hours of measuring the angles, checking the service manual, and measuring
again I welded the axle in place. It was almost exactly the same angle as
before (tipped 1/4 degree farther back is all) Nice solid welds, no
problems. And then I took it for a test drive. At about 35 I felt the
strange resonance and the Jeep began to sway back and forth. I haven't seen
this problem in the year since I did the SOA. I would have thought it would
have shown up right away. There were no other changes to the suspension.
I've read of few posts about Death Wobble, but I for the most part ignored
them as they didn't apply. If anyone has any words of wisdom, I am all
ears.
Thanks for listening to my rambling.
Troy

Re: Death Wobble Question
 

I'd say you got the angle wrong. Time for some caster shims.

Earle

"Jeep Guy" <jeep_guyNOSPAM@charter.net> wrote in message
news:virpj5nieqt099@corp.supernews.com...
> This post will be more in the line of a story, but there is a question at
> the end. So today I spend some time with the beloved Jeep. It all
started
> with just wanting to finish the spare tire mount (it's trailer spindle
with
> some 2X2 steel tubing, another day). As I had the welder out I was just
> looking around at things and noticed that the front axle spring perches
were
> broken away from the axle. A buddy of mine "welded" them about a year ago
> or so. The welds were broken so I decided to re-weld them. After about
two
> hours of measuring the angles, checking the service manual, and measuring
> again I welded the axle in place. It was almost exactly the same angle as
> before (tipped 1/4 degree farther back is all) Nice solid welds, no
> problems. And then I took it for a test drive. At about 35 I felt the
> strange resonance and the Jeep began to sway back and forth. I haven't
seen
> this problem in the year since I did the SOA. I would have thought it
would
> have shown up right away. There were no other changes to the suspension.
> I've read of few posts about Death Wobble, but I for the most part ignored
> them as they didn't apply. If anyone has any words of wisdom, I am all
> ears.
> Thanks for listening to my rambling.
> Troy
>
>

Re: Death Wobble Question
 

I kind of was thinking that, but the previous welds are only about .010"
different from the current welds. This is about 1/4 of a degree. Any
suggestions as to which direction to try with the shims?
"Earle Horton" <enfermero_diabolico@registerednurses.com> wrote in message
news:bgkp79$93ofc$1@ID-147790.news.uni-berlin.de...
> I'd say you got the angle wrong. Time for some caster shims.
>
> Earle
>
> "Jeep Guy" <jeep_guyNOSPAM@charter.net> wrote in message
> news:virpj5nieqt099@corp.supernews.com...
> > This post will be more in the line of a story, but there is a question
at
> > the end. So today I spend some time with the beloved Jeep. It all
> started
> > with just wanting to finish the spare tire mount (it's trailer spindle
> with
> > some 2X2 steel tubing, another day). As I had the welder out I was just
> > looking around at things and noticed that the front axle spring perches
> were
> > broken away from the axle. A buddy of mine "welded" them about a year
ago
> > or so. The welds were broken so I decided to re-weld them. After about
> two
> > hours of measuring the angles, checking the service manual, and
measuring
> > again I welded the axle in place. It was almost exactly the same angle
as
> > before (tipped 1/4 degree farther back is all) Nice solid welds, no
> > problems. And then I took it for a test drive. At about 35 I felt the
> > strange resonance and the Jeep began to sway back and forth. I haven't
> seen
> > this problem in the year since I did the SOA. I would have thought it
> would
> > have shown up right away. There were no other changes to the
suspension.
> > I've read of few posts about Death Wobble, but I for the most part
ignored
> > them as they didn't apply. If anyone has any words of wisdom, I am all
> > ears.
> > Thanks for listening to my rambling.
> > Troy
> >
> >
>
>

Re: Death Wobble Question
 

Your welds may have pulled the Camber out. I do it all the time, I
think if one weld is good why not run three beads, and shrink it every
time. Anyway, a new stabilizer shock will cover up all alignment
problems.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Jeep Guy wrote:
>
> I kind of was thinking that, but the previous welds are only about .010"
> different from the current welds. This is about 1/4 of a degree. Any
> suggestions as to which direction to try with the shims?

Re: Death Wobble Question
 

If you are wobbling then you need more caster. Try Bill's suggestion
regarding the stabilizer first.

Earle

"Jeep Guy" <jeep_guyNOSPAM@charter.net> wrote in message
news:virqt9k99knu3a@corp.supernews.com...
> I kind of was thinking that, but the previous welds are only about .010"
> different from the current welds. This is about 1/4 of a degree. Any
> suggestions as to which direction to try with the shims?
> "Earle Horton" <enfermero_diabolico@registerednurses.com> wrote in message
> news:bgkp79$93ofc$1@ID-147790.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > I'd say you got the angle wrong. Time for some caster shims.
> >
> > Earle
> >
> > "Jeep Guy" <jeep_guyNOSPAM@charter.net> wrote in message
> > news:virpj5nieqt099@corp.supernews.com...
> > > This post will be more in the line of a story, but there is a question
> at
> > > the end. So today I spend some time with the beloved Jeep. It all
> > started
> > > with just wanting to finish the spare tire mount (it's trailer spindle
> > with
> > > some 2X2 steel tubing, another day). As I had the welder out I was
just
> > > looking around at things and noticed that the front axle spring
perches
> > were
> > > broken away from the axle. A buddy of mine "welded" them about a year
> ago
> > > or so. The welds were broken so I decided to re-weld them. After
about
> > two
> > > hours of measuring the angles, checking the service manual, and
> measuring
> > > again I welded the axle in place. It was almost exactly the same
angle
> as
> > > before (tipped 1/4 degree farther back is all) Nice solid welds, no
> > > problems. And then I took it for a test drive. At about 35 I felt
the
> > > strange resonance and the Jeep began to sway back and forth. I
haven't
> > seen
> > > this problem in the year since I did the SOA. I would have thought it
> > would
> > > have shown up right away. There were no other changes to the
> suspension.
> > > I've read of few posts about Death Wobble, but I for the most part
> ignored
> > > them as they didn't apply. If anyone has any words of wisdom, I am
all
> > > ears.
> > > Thanks for listening to my rambling.
> > > Troy
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Re: Death Wobble Question
 

I have a 97 Jeep and within the last several months my Jeep has developed a
wobble. It's most noticeable when I go around a curve and the road is bumpy.
It feels like the body of the Jeep is coming off. Any ideas? We've pulled the
tires off and can't see anything but we know we have a problem. Help!

Re: Death Wobble Question
 

I'm having the same problem on a 95 model at speeds 60 and above when I hit a
bump like where pavement and a bridge meets, where do I start to look?

Re: Death Wobble Question
 

Changing the stabilizer just masks the REAL problem. Usually it
is a combination of big tires that are somewhat out of balance,
something loose in the front end (look at tie rod ends, ball
joints, wheel bearings, and track bar fittings), bad front end
alignment and a stabilizer that has worn out trying to keep
things under control. Yuo hit a bump, the out of balance takes
over, the wheel precesses (wobbles), and the suspension pieces
are too loose to control it. UGLY.

Take it to an alignment shop that knows how to deal with 4wd
Jeeps and their solid axles. Have them get the alignment readings
and check for the various loose parts. Take it home and replace
whatever, bring it back and finish the alignment. My local shop
put mine on the rack, told me what parts to replace and sent me
on my way. Came back a few days later to finish the job, only got
charged for one trip. Nice of them!

You need to fix it ASAP. A bad case of death wobble can start at
60mph and won't stop until you get it under 10mph. The time in
between the two events can feel like an eternity. If you are in
traffic, it might be the last thing you will ever worry about.

Cheers.

Earle Horton wrote:
>
> "Brewc53" <brewc53@aol.comnospam> wrote in message
> news:20030804170958.18249.00000810@mb-m17.aol.com...
> > I'm having the same problem on a 95 model at speeds 60 and above when
> > I hit a bump like where pavement and a bridge meets, where do I start to
> > look?
>
> Stabilizer.
>
> Earle

Re: Death Wobble Question
 

Thanks, Earle
Death wobble certainly takes your mind off of traffic. Appreciate the
Information.