Death rattle

[chucks70]

At least I think thats what its called. Between 32 and 37 mph my trucks front end will start shaking side to side almost enough for me to lose control. Going faster or slower will stop it. Ball joints are fresh and all linkages are tight. Steering damper shock is old. Thought an alignment would cure it but didn't. Could a brake problem cause this?

Thanks
Chuck

[lolife99]

Broken belt in the front tires. Put a different set of tires on the front and see if it fixes it.

[72BLAZERDUDE]

Might try checking the idler arm. I seem to remember I had that prob once and that was the problem.

[flip66]

I would have the tires checked for balance

[chucks70]

All the linkages and rods in front are tight as far as I can tell. I'll do a tire rotation tonight and see if that fixes it or not.

[swervin ervin]

I bet money it's the idler arm. I had a I-Cube van once that did this and it was the idler arm. Mine got do bad that when it started shaking, I would have to just about stop to get it to quit.

[chucks70]

Uh, went looking for an idler arm and guess what, it's a 4X4, no idler. Do I feel dumb. Changing tires didn't do much. Could it be a brake caliper hanging up, the passenger side seems a little harder to spin than the driver side.

[REPO1]

Put a new steering stabalizer shock on and all will be fine. They can cause this quite regularily.

I had an '81 with larger tires on it, and one wouldn't stop it, I had to buy a dual Rancho kit to fix the problem.


Reid

[flatblackclassic]

Originally Posted by REPO1

Put a new steering stabalizer shock on and all will be fine. They can cause this quite regularily.

I had an '81 with larger tires on it, and one wouldn't stop it, I had to buy a dual Rancho kit to fix the problem.


Reid

A steering stabilizer is a temporary fix to a temporary problem that will only come back after a while. Get the front end checked out by someone who knows these frontends and go from there.

[REPO1]

Originally Posted by flatblackclassic

A steering stabilizer is a temporary fix to a temporary problem that will only come back after a while. Get the front end checked out by someone who knows these frontends and go from there.

All Chevy 4x4 trucks of those years came with a steering stabalizer from factory. With the larger tires these trucks needed the extra to help them. My personal truck didn't have any worn parts at all, as I kept it in great mechanical shape. (I being a journeyman mechanic myself)

[flatblackclassic]

Yeah man I know they come with a stabilizer and he probably needs to replace it, BUT there is most likely another problem with the truck that needs to be looked at by a trained professional. I'm not discrediting you in anyway, it's just that I have seen too many people jsut slap an extra stabilzer on their 4x4 hoping that it will make the Death Rattle go away.

[SanitysBane]

adjust the air in your tires, your hitting the harmonic of your front supension, same thing happend to my brother, he adjusted his air presure and it went away.

[chucks70]

Well I adjusted the air pressure all around to what the tire says, weren't off that far though. All linkages are tight, ball joints good, re-torked the front wheel bearings, don't think it changed from before. I think I found the problem though, Right front caliper was hanging up, took it apart cleaned it up, cleaned the piston up, put back together and bled it. Strange that it didn't really pull hard one way or the other. Drove out my road and it didn't have a problem but we'll see when I really drive it and get it good and warm. If the sticking returns I'll buy a rebuilt caliper for it. Maybe I should go back to front drums....

[flatblackclassic]

Originally Posted by chucks70

Well I adjusted the air pressure all around to what the tire says, weren't off that far though. All linkages are tight, ball joints good, re-torked the front wheel bearings, don't think it changed from before. I think I found the problem though, Right front caliper was hanging up, took it apart cleaned it up, cleaned the piston up, put back together and bled it. Strange that it didn't really pull hard one way or the other. Drove out my road and it didn't have a problem but we'll see when I really drive it and get it good and warm. If the sticking returns I'll buy a rebuilt caliper for it. Maybe I should go back to front drums....

Hopefully you found the problem. Why would you want drums? If you really want to go back I've got the setup off of my 67 for sale.

[Trifelynn]

Well, in my '95 Wrangler it is doing the same thing. I have it lifted 4 in on 33 in Swampers...The front tires are "feathered"...I bought new tires, and are going to have them balanced, and see if that fixes the problem. I also bought an aftermarket steering stabalizer, if the tires weren't the problem...
Hopefully it is just one of those two...if it still does it, in to the shop she goes

[tommo]

thats a common thing on 4x4s. a new stock steering stabilizer works better than any aftermarket bling junk i have tried on my 70 k30 sub with 38 inch radial swampers on steel wheels (read HEAVY). the aftermarket ones have just enough free slop in them to allow the death wobble- stock doesn't. check your frame after that wobble- the 73 and newer ones crack out from the steering box holes, but the older ones elongate the rivit holes on the front crossmember. have someone rock the free play in the steering wheel back and forth with the motor not running and watch the frame and /or box twist back and forth.

good luck-
tommo

[chucks70]

Thanks for the suggestions on fixing this. I used the shotgun approach since there seemed to be many possibilities and many things needed replaced anyhow. I did a 4 wheel brake replacement, put new calipers on the front (right front one was sticking), new tires, new front shocks and a steering stabilizer. The problem is now gone.

[Trifelynn]

Yeah, I replaced tires, and it was gone.

I had swampers up front. I had had them for 3 years
I know, I know, but they still had tread on them. They weren't radial though.
Well, I guess my front driveshaft is at a different angle than it is supposed to be at stock, and it made my tires "feather". Kind of hard to explain, via email, but the tread was worn off in parts of my tire....so it was creating a death wobble...