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RockRangerII Refresh

My track bar has a early Bronco bushing in the axle side and a heim in the frame side. Its supposed to keep it more stable, but allow flex. I really don't know if it works better or worse than others, but I do know that my front suspension seems super stable on the highway.
 



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Mine used to be super stable and then I lost a shock mount, re welded and it's never been the same. Now if I'm in a curve on the highway and hit a slight bump it starts rocking like a ship. I have to back way off to get it back under control.

Has yours always had a death wobble?

I have been thinking of adding a front sway bar back on because of mine.
 






I'm really diggin the bed! Rig is coming along real nice!
 






Death wobble is relatively new. It has always swayed a lot because of the TJ springs which seem too soft. I only had 3* of caster in the front end. I am changing it to 6-7* and hopefully that solves it. Also going to get the tires rebalanced if the added caster doesn't help.
 






Death wobble is relatively new. It has always swayed a lot because of the TJ springs which seem too soft. I only had 3* of caster in the front end. I am changing it to 6-7* and hopefully that solves it. Also going to get the tires rebalanced if the added caster doesn't help.

Bad TRE? Brian suggested this last time I mentioned it. I'm think it could be my issue. They have been on there for 7-8 years:eek:
 






Still have death wobble after adding the caster. Going to get the tires balanced next and see if that helps. It could be a TRE. I would hope not as they are the larger Chevy TREs and only have a few thousand miles on them. If the balanced tires dont fix it then I will keep trying other items.
 






I like how you did the front part of the bed with the cubby holes for storage. Looks like you could tuck a cooler or what not in there.

Those shears aren't too bad for being harbor freight, better than cutting them with snips that's for sure. I thought it would be a throw away item after finishing my bed but they still seem to cut good.

Is the back end going to be open or you gonna make a tailgate of sorts?
After my sidewall blowout on the way to Truckhaven I wish a had a tailgate or lower tube on the end because hoisting a tire back up to the bed was kind of a pain.

Check the steering shaft from the firewall to the steering box for play. I don't have death wobble but it does wander a bit at highway speeds. There seems to be a fair amount of play on mine just from twisting it back and fourth parked.
 






Designed it so a cooler would fit in there. Got the tires balanced it is better but still will start death wobble at random times. Some times I can go 60 and no problems. Other times t starts at 45. Doesn't matter if I hit pot holes or not.
 






Get your kid to sit in the driver's seat and turn the wheel back and forth while you look for play in the steering.

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While I was working in my rear shock set up I checked the play in the leaf spring bushings and had a thought. Could the leaf bushings or the rear spring set up have too much wiggle and cause death wobble?

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While I was working in my rear shock set up I checked the play in the leaf spring bushings and had a thought. Could the leaf bushings or the rear spring set up have too much wiggle and cause death wobble?

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If that was true, it would definitely be my case as my rear leafs are shot:eek:
 






Maybe one of the better suspension gurus can say if the rear springs could cause it. I haven't spent a whole bunch of time trying to figure it out. Probably will be Christmas before I get a chance to mess with it again.

This growing up and being a productive member of society sucks. I want to go back to college when I was broke but could go wheeling 20 weekends a year.
 






Maybe one of the better suspension gurus can say if the rear springs could cause it. I haven't spent a whole bunch of time trying to figure it out. Probably will be Christmas before I get a chance to mess with it again.

This growing up and being a productive member of society sucks. I want to go back to college when I was broke but could go wheeling 20 weekends a year.

Yep, you get more toys but no time to use them.
 






Yes, loose bushings in the leafsprings will give you a noticeable death wobble in the rear. I had this problem with my original spring packs before I got rear ended and switched to a newer set of leafsprings. I always thought it was a tire that wasn't balanced or a little play in the axle shafts.
 






The only time I experienced a wobble at speed with the SAS was when my toe adjustment was out of whack. Easy enough to check.
 






This growing up and being a productive member of society sucks. I want to go back to college when I was broke but could go wheeling 20 weekends a year.

Ditto!
 






Death wobble comes from slop in steering or suspension components. When an outsides force jostles the tires they begin to oscillate without input from the steering. Usually input from the steering will not stop it. Sometimes abrupt acceleration or slowing can stop it. It is an odd feeling when your truck starts bucking or shaking and you can't get it to stop. While a rear leaf bushing can cause clunks and other handling quarks, death wobble will not be one of them. Brian's suggestion about looking for slop is a good suggestion. Be patient, something is likely worn. Tre, trac bar bushings, old hiems, control arm bushings, steering box/rag joint/ shaft, wobbled out trac bar mounts, ball joints, loose trac bar bolts, etc. I have even seen it happen with a weak/ flexing trac bar upper mount.

Ricks suggestion about toe in is a good one. With 37s, as much as a 1/4" is good.

Also as light as our rigs are, I only run 23 or so lbs in the tires all the time. They ride so much better and the tires wear out evenly middle/ outside. That can calm handling quirks as well.

On jeeps, the drag link is connected to the passenger knuckle and the tierod is connected to the drag link about a foot above the knuckle. The axle is far forward compared to the steering box so the drag link is Curved to clear mounts. All of this puts a ton of stress
On the steering linkage and causes toe in to change through suspension cycle. Jeeps run a steering stabilizer which can usually control/ mask worn parts and keep them from causing/ allowing death wobble. It shouldn't be necessary on a 1 ton Chevy setup, but could be installed if the problem persists. I would only do that as a last resort.
 












Worked on a few more things trying to solve my death wobble. First I checked my toe in. I clamped and centered a piece of 47.5" angle to each rotor. Measure at the ends so 47.5" apart I had 3/4" shorter measurement to the front than the back.. Is that enough?

Next I swapped the 33"s off of Tracy's jeep onto the front of my ranger and ran it around the block. Still had some wobble but vaguely better but no where close to calling it fixed.

Checking for play in any of the steering I found some in the box. So I tightened the adjustment nut on the top till the play was removed. Tried it with the 33"s and still had some death wobble. Tried it with the 37"s and still had death wobble some of the time. One lap around the block up to 60 mph and I had some and then the next trip I had none.

Other then all new tie rod ends I am not sure what else to try.
 



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Nothing in the trackbar or control arm joints?

That seems like enough toe in, maybe too much. At the diameter of a 35 or 37 I usually shoot for 1/4".
 






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