98 w900 very bad death wobble

Discussion in 'Kenworth Forum' started by irishluck09, Jul 5, 2022.

  1. irishluck09

    irishluck09 Light Load Member

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    Nov 24, 2019
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    So Recently I changed the front shocks, drums, shoes, air chambers and s-cams. All this in the last month.

    Ive noticed that ive had popping going on in the front end so we determined that the leafe bushing were bad. When I disconnected my trailer and took the truck over to my mechanics last wednesday, it was the first time noticing the death wobble. This is happeneing at 30mph. So got my truck back today with new leaf bushing, pins and leaf springs (the springs were bad and wouldnt allow new bushing) and drove it back to my lot and that death wobble is still there at 30mph. I would say 90% of it is felt in the steering wheel but the whole truck is vibrating. My mechanic also checked the steers for being out of round and everything checked out.

    So truck is back at mechanics and will be looked at again in the AM but Im curious as to what this could be.
    Any thoughts?
     
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  3. PSM379

    PSM379 Heavy Load Member

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    I’ve had drums do this, and tires do this, out of balance will do it for sure.
     
  4. lilillill

    lilillill Sarcasm... it's not just for breakfast

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    The pitman arm is loose on the sector shaft. Grab the steering shaft and turn it back and forth while you look very closely at the sector shaft. When it moves, the pitman arm should go right with it. If there is even the slightest movement of the sector shaft with no movement in the pitman arm, it will cause a death wobble. Tighten the pinch bolt.
     
    Bean Jr. Thanks this.
  5. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    How much caster is on the axle?
     
  6. OLDSKOOLERnWV

    OLDSKOOLERnWV Captain Redbeard

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    Multitude of things can give this problem, time to do a process of elimination.

    Post #3 above is a good place to start……
     
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