The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk tire shake at 45mph.

Just got this truck, engine great but shakes like crazy sometimes after hitting tiny bump! So bought a kingpin kit, draglinks too and bushings..will take to guy who knows these trucks well, but will that take care of the "Death Wobble?" Should I check the tire camber? and or Allign the tires also, as they are origianl tires on wire rims.

How old is the truck/tires and do you get steering wheel vibration as you drive at a certain speed? I have a vibration at exactly 45 mph in my 49 but the steering wheel doesn't shake at all. I replaced a worn out bushing in my torque tube thinking that might help but it didn't. Took my tires off to have them balanced and the rear tire shook enough that it would have required 9 ounces of lead to stop it. By all means balance the wheels/tires at the same time and if they are olkd be prepared to replace them.
Bill

idaho,

what year?

what condition?

how do you drive it? freeway? surface street? country road?

start with king pins, tie rods, steering connecting link, drag link, steering box, tires, wheels (wire?), in that order. get a copy of chevrolet truck shop manual 1948 to 1951. great information about front end problems.

had similar problems with my 50. would hit a bump and it would shimmy until i slowed down or put the brakes on to reel it back in.

camber/caster/toe in. after you've addressed all the other issues, check toe in first. unless it's been totally molested, camber/caster are way down the list.

worn tires can definitely contribute to the syptoms as well. check ply (if they are bias tires) or just general wear if other i.e. radials, etc. i'm assuming you've checked tire pressure?!?

i'm sure there are many ''experts" here who can provide you with additional (possibly better) info, but this these are some of the issues i've had to deal with my bolt.

good luck!

Original tires are wire rims?

I'm not remembering when wire wheels were even an option. What year is the truck?

Wire wheels can be problematic. Modern wire wheels are better but early wires are likely bent and though all the other issues could be a problem too, I'd bet those wheels are big contributors.

Do the easiest stuff first.. ie... Check for loose components, worn u-joints, proper tire pressure, proper tire balance... then go into changing parts.

When I bought my Suburban it would almost dart off the road sometimes when I hit a bump. Other times it would wobble like crazy.

I replaced the wheels and tires and most the problems went away immediately. I was just buying tires when the shop guy showed me one of the wheels could not be balanced because it was badly bent. It was amazing how much better it drove once I replaced the wheels and tires.

Since wire wheels are hard to keep straight I think you need to check those wheels. If after replacing the king pins and bushings and rod ends it still wobbles you'll want to check those wheels!

1936 Chevrolet cars had a one-year only wheel. The 2-door Standard I once owned had what looked like artillery wheels on it stock. Did a '36 pickup have six-hole wheels like the later ones or did they have the same odd five-hole wheel?

I had the death wobble problem with my '58 on a couple of occasions a few years ago. I would hit a small bump and a severe vibration would start in the front end that felt like it was going to tear the truck apart. I started looking at the front end and noticed that I had a broken upper shock mount. After I replaced it, I never had the problem again. I Don't know if that would apply to you or not.