ot 1980 chevy k-30 death wobble

ericlb · Mar 11, 2015

i know this is for tractors but i cant find any usable info on this on the web, my 1980 chevy k-30 has developed a death wobble in the front end, not all the time but frequent,this is a violent shaking of the front wheels and steering wheels like the 70's 4x4 fords were famous for when they got some wear on the tracking rod bushings, now about the truck its not worn out this truck has a documented 54000 miles since brand new, in 1980 ive been around it all its life, i have replaced the whole steering linkage from the box, which is fine, to the wheel ends, even though no wear was apparent,its been stored inside from about '85 to 2011 when i bought it, the "ball joints, upper and lower, [in the top and bottom of the axle tube] are good,no play, i have 1/8th inch toe in on the alignment, no change, i replaced what might have been a perfectly good factory steering stabilizer with a off road super size stabilizer shock, no change, there just isnt much more under this thing to change, what am i overlooking, i need to go pick up a 1951 ford coupe next week with this truck which has a winch on the deck in case the old ford doesnt run, and i need to make a 60 mile trip without this truck killing me

JMS/.MN · Mar 11, 2015

Internal issues with the tires? Borrow a couple from a friend.

Bryce Frazier · Mar 11, 2015

That just SCREAMS worn brake rotors! Is it when you are running down the road or when braking only? Power steering pump might be wigging out as well!?

Wheatfarmer · Mar 11, 2015

Years ago when I was a kid we had a 54 IHC pickup that did that. Drove it for years that way. Dad was working on another truck and forgot to put some wedges back in between the axle and springs. It stated this, so he made some for the IHC. fixed it.

GregCO · Mar 11, 2015

In 1979 I had a band new K series truck that started that at about 3,000 miles. The dreaded death wobble. Sent it in to the dealer and turned out all it needed was an alignment. It had no toe in on the front wheels. They set the toe and she was good.

Greg

gab · Mar 11, 2015

Is this a 4x4 ?

charlie n · Mar 11, 2015

I'm not doubting your mechanical knowledge and ability but you say you changed the stabilizer.From around 75 till 82 they were notorious for causing the problem you have .Classic example.Check to see that you don't have it on backwards.It's been known to have happened in the past.Good Luck.

Den N Ms · Mar 11, 2015

Ericlb,Jack up the front and put it on stands.Grab both of the tires front with your hands shake em hard up and down,left and right and check for play,spindle hubs,tie rods,steering box.Are the front wheels in balance,recheck the toe in with a gage.With it on the ground have someone shake the steering wheel and fourth hard engine off, while you look for play in components.

CenTex Farmall · Mar 11, 2015

With the things you have checked, I would double check the tires. Swap front to back and see if there is a change. Could be a separated belt.

gab · Mar 11, 2015

After reading again I see it is a 4x4. Somewhere back in that time frame (don't member any k30's doing it though) you could be driving down the road and it would be like hitting a washboard at 60 mph, hard to hold on to. That was dry trunion bearings where the front axles are supported in the spindles.

Allan in NE · Mar 12, 2015

Broken bead on a tire, dry axle u-joint...? See if the steering box is tight to the frame.

Allan

olddog · Mar 12, 2015

I vote with wheatfarmer.....Caster issue....
check spring(s), wedges, bushings & hangers.

44 massey · Mar 12, 2015

Check and make sure you don't a clump of mud on a rim (wheel) that is stuck on the inside that is throwing it out of balance, wifes escape would do this even with ice!!

ericlb · Mar 12, 2015

thanks guys i have another c-30 with same wheels different tires, im going to swap all 6 and see what happens i hadnt thought about internal tire problems these are not the factory tires lol, but they are made in america,they are almost like new,treadwise, but age may be something this truck has never been apart before chassis wise so nothing would be left out by somebody,steering box is tight to the frame which is not cracked, a problem back in the day, power steering pump, i replaced a few months ago in my quest to solve this, and its fine too, the odd thing is this truck never used to do this for the first year after i bought it, and i only put about 2,000 miles on it, at 6 mpg i dont drive it much either, unless i need to lift something or pull a tree or something sometimes its 454,4 speed manual and 4;56 gears are just the thing, most times not...

Allan in NE · Mar 12, 2015

Just jack up the front end.

Spin the tire and look at it head on. If it has a broken bead, you'll see the tread 'wobble' as the tire turns.

Allan

hd6gtom · Mar 12, 2015

Do you have fix a flat in the tires? This will cause the exact problem you describe.

1130Leo · Mar 12, 2015

Check the Pitman arm, and all of the rubber bushings in the sway bar and torsion bar assemblies. With the low miles, I would lean towards dry rotted rubber parts in the steering system.
Had a 65 chevy that the pitman arm caused the death wobble, of course found that after replacing everything else...

rbhuntn · Mar 12, 2015

I had a 94 Chevy 2500 4x4 that started this issue and it turned out to be the pittman arm and getting worn.

Had an 88 Chevy C20 van that stated the same and that time it was a worn idler arm.

78 Chevy 1/2 2wd started this and it turned out to be bad shocks that had allowed the tires to get out of round.

Had a 02 VW that started same also turned out to be broken belt in a front tire.

As others have stated check inner and outer tie rod ends, axle spindles and bearing for proper lube, all the rubber bushings and the things that I have run into.

Good luck

BANDITFARMER · Mar 12, 2015

Have you checked the gear lash in the steering box? With a truck with low gears 4;56 the power steering pump is moving a lot of oil and the steering is more sensitive at road speeds and if the steering box gears are alittle loose it can cause this problem. Its there and its not. A screw driver and wrench is all you need to snug it up. This is what was wrong with my old Dodge truck and once I did this it solved the problem. Bandit

Duner Wi · Mar 12, 2015

And if you don't see anything, spin tire and hold you hand next to the tread as it spins. You can feel if the plies slipped or tire is cone shaped.

ericlb · Mar 12, 2015

already checked that, no problems there

Jon Hagen · Mar 12, 2015

I owned / drove the same year and model truck for 25 years. It had the same death wobble when the steering stabilizer shock was worn out. Replaced it with a stock type stabilizer and the wobble was gone.

Any chance your new super stabilizer is bad or needs the air bled out ? I seem to remember that it is necessary to move the stabilizer shaft full travel several times with one end upright to bleed the air out of it.

JayinNY · Mar 12, 2015

It's a bad steering stabilizer. Had that on my 89 brand new moog or what ever there called. Crap out of the box. Got a GM damper and it's been fine ever since.

ot 1980 chevy k-30 death wobble

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