cure for death wobble on stock m1028

[Zero_cool]

Thanks sweetk30. Im going to order the kits now and i will post again with results...

 

[Zero_cool]

The 7/8 allen wrench i purchased from Northern Tool for $16.99 worked GREAT...(Because it made in USA )
I sprayed the upper king pins with PB Blaster let sit for10 mins
put a 6 foot cheater bar on it and gave it a good pull with 1 arm and POP threaded out the rest of the way by hand.
Both came out this good. Now just waiting for parts...

 

[Cucvnut]

nice! cheater bars help and make like fun! i use a old jack handle for mine.

 

[overkill375]

to the original post I just fixed my death wobble with a new drag link

 

[WARWAG]

Replace your king pin bushings and springs with a kit from ORD. I think the kit cost me about $25. Replace or install (since I see you have a lift) your steering stabilizer. Check all the bushings and ball joints. Replace any worn parts. Grease grease grease those zirks. Good luck!

 

[Zero_cool]

Well, I ended up ordering a king pin rebuild kit from ORD $66.00 per side.
( just came in yesterday $154.00 for 2 after shipping )
I just got the spindle back on and the passenger side has some slop.
I found out that the index on the bushing is smaller then the groove and you can here it hit each side while turning left and right.
What do you guys think i should do?


Ps. I did not get the brass bushings.

 

[Zero_cool]

After verifying with ORD that I had the correct kit,he told me to place a washer inbetween the spring and the retainer because the bushing isnt seating down all the way.
I will only be doing this on the passanger side since the driver side seats fine.
Will keep you guys posted

 

[jets1959]

Would you guys change these upper king pins? Agreeing with sweetk30s advice I'm replacing everything else while I have it taken apart.
But I have a bad shoulder and if these king pins can be salvaged then i will leave them in.

Pic 1 and 2 are driver side pic 3 and 4 are passanger side.







The lower king pins are being replaced but I was just curious if you guys would consider them to be shot.
( see pic 5 and 6 )

Thanks

How did you get your lower king pins out mine are stuck?

 

[Zero_cool]

How did you get your lower king pins out mine are stuck?



As stated in my reply to jets1959's PM.
Figured i would share with the rest.


I removed the grease zerk to relieve any pressure build up.
Then I hit the inside corner ( not the straight side but the curved side ) of the king pin with a brass hammer to release the stuck gasket.
Then i took a flat head screw driver and lightly pryed each corner untill it came out. Let me know how it goes, good luck.

 

[sarge62]

I replaced the king pin bushings be it wasen't till I put another shim or two in on top that it finally went away. I also run airsoft pellets in the tires. I thought that was causing the problem so I took them out then the problem really got bad at 15 mph. Put them back in and DW came back at 40-50 mph. Thats when I put more shims in. Just drove across the country in it with no problems.

 

[s09]

I had this problem with a Jeep Cherokee. There's a pretty good page with a diagnostic solution for Jeep Wranglers. The steering/suspension systems likely differ, it might help.

Diagnosing Death Wobble and Fixing Non-DW Shimmies and Wobbles - Jeep Wrangler Forum

There are also some threads at Diesel Place.

Death Wobble - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums

 

[Gottlos]

In regards to the death wobble experience, does it happen all the time or once in a while? I've had it happen twice, almost eight months apart. The first was while slowing for a traffic light (about 30 mph) and the most recent was on the freeway. I noticed some wobble in the front just before I braked for some slower traffic, then all H&LL broke loose. I've heard it's hard to diagnose "Death Wobble". But with only two events it's really hard.

 

[True Knight]

In regards to the death wobble experience, does it happen all the time or once in a while? I've had it happen twice, almost eight months apart. The first was while slowing for a traffic light (about 30 mph) and the most recent was on the freeway. I noticed some wobble in the front just before I braked for some slower traffic, then all H&LL broke loose. I've heard it's hard to diagnose "Death Wobble". But with only two events it's really hard.

I had this problem in my 1028. I replaced the kingpin bushings and springs, which helped, but it still wasn't gone. I researched and found that the kingpin springs probably didn't have enough pressure for compensate for the larger 37" (and less balanced) Interco tires. So I put one 2" x 1/8" thick flat washer on top of each kingpin spring, and problem solved! I haven't had the death wobble once since. And that was about 6 months ago.

 

[captw]

Dana 60 kingpin parts

Hi guys/gals...I see throughout most of this thread that people are using bushing/spring kits from ORD....I found a website, AllJeep.com, which lists the individual Dana parts, and total price is cheaper than ORD kit, shipping is cheaper also...I spoke to them on the phone, and saw reviews online...very happy with what I recieved and shipped quickly...just a heads up for those who want to save a little cash...Wilf

 

[Castle Bravo]

I'm planning on changing out my kingpin bushings on my M1028 pretty soon.

Do you guys think that putting a washer on top of the kingpin springs is a good preventative thing to do even for stock size tires? Or is it something that I should only resort to if changing the bushings alone does not solve the death wobble?

 

[11Echo]

Everything you need to know about the Dana 60 front with pics right here.

Pirate4x4.Com - Extreme Four Wheel Drive

 

[tstone]

I've had this issue on 2 of my vehicles; what a surprise when you are driving at highway speeds! Even if a vehicle has 30k miles on it from GL, over time the kingpin springs loose their original compression strength after 25+ years. What I have found is that you can temporally restore the spring compression by inserting 4 or 5 large flat washers at the top of the spring. This will hold you over until you can install a new bushing and spring kit. (Always do both wheels as they both age equally)

 

[SandBar]

FWIW

My 2003 RAM 2500 had the death wobble and I replaced a few parts to get it fixed. In the end it was a bad drivers side wheel bearing coupled with old tires and worn drag bar ends. I was so happy when that went away I must have caused more than one heart attack as old people saw my truck get all blurry on the freeway.

 

[86k10]

I haven't had any problem with it since i replaced the stabilizer, and before that it only happened twice in 5 years. I'll have to give it a good checking over as far as the king pins and such and if it needs to much i'll just get one of my new axles out of the crate, pop it in and fix this one as time permits.

 

[RobM36A2]

Found this tread, before starting a new one. Just got the death wobble too..
After driving over 2 very small, barely noticable bumps in the road, all h€ll broke loose, the whole truck went up and down, I was thinking my front axle was breaking off.
After stopping first i checked my pants, then the front end, nothing wrong or broken there.. turned around, same speed, nothing happened at the bumps.. turned around again, same speed over the bumps, again all h€ll broke loose.. Scary..
Is this all related to worn kingpin springs and bushes? And the inspection revealed a worn steering pin.
I drive a stock M1028 on stock tires.