RockRangerII refresh

[RangerSVT]

3/4" is way too much, it needs to be closer to 1/8", no more than 1/4". Check your tierods/joints/heims (don't remember what you used for steering linkage) for looseness. You have plenty of caster...

SVT

 

[RockRanger]

Using chevy TRE. They are 8 years old with less then 5000 miles on them. They feel tight but they are all i can think is left to swap.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

I agree with SVT 1/8". That would definitely cause a death wobble being 3/4" off.


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[PlumCrazy]

Just read through this....That belly skid/crossmember setup is exactly what I just drew up for mine the other day. lol My current setup is very similar, but not as robust. I had the same issue with 1/8" just folding up. I was actually planning on 1/4", but just because I already have a sheet.lol

 

[RockRanger]

Increased the tierod length to reduce the toe in and no change to death wobble.

 

[RangerSVT]

Death wobble is 95% of the time caused by slwck/looseness in the steering system. It could be the slop in your gearbox that's causing the issue...

SVT

 

[RockRanger]

Put in all new TRE's on both the draglink and trackbar yesterday and still have death wobble. None of the old ones felt loose when I took them off. I wanted some spares anyway so I will make the old ones my spares. I did noticed that my tie rod has a slight bow it. When I hold a strait edge against it there is about a 1/16" gap at the middle. Wonder what hit it was that bent 1.5 x.250 4130. Was running out of time last night so did a quick toe guess and drove it around the "block". The block is about a mile long loop with a road I can get up to about 60mph. All of it also has a nice wide shoulder so if I need to stop or pull over I can easily. I did the loop and had a bit of shimmy so came home and added a touch more toe in. Went back out and it handled great up to 55 mph. Instead of going home I decided to run up the main road a little farther and see how it did. The stop light turned green and as soon as I hit about 40mph violent death wobble started again. Came back home and parked it in the garage. Will mess with it more today.

 

[RangerSVT]

Check your gearbox, its the only thing left. A steering stabilizer/ram assist would be a quick fix, but it won't substitute the original pproblem....

SVT

 

[PlumCrazy]

On all of my modified suspensions..I run about an 1/8" toe OUT. I have never had any shimmy or death wobble...hell I had sloppy rod ends though out the steering linkage and still held 70 mph without any wobble.

But...once when I extruded a track bar bushing out and had a bad wobble triggered by a bridge joint at 55 mph.

 

[Mickey Bitsko]

Put in all new TRE's on both the draglink and trackbar yesterday and still have death wobble. None of the old ones felt loose when I took them off. I wanted some spares anyway so I will make the old ones my spares. I did noticed that my tie rod has a slight bow it. When I hold a strait edge against it there is about a 1/16" gap at the middle. Wonder what hit it was that bent 1.5 x.250 4130. Was running out of time last night so did a quick toe guess and drove it around the "block". The block is about a mile long loop with a road I can get up to about 60mph. All of it also has a nice wide shoulder so if I need to stop or pull over I can easily. I did the loop and had a bit of shimmy so came home and added a touch more toe in. Went back out and it handled great up to 55 mph. Instead of going home I decided to run up the main road a little farther and see how it did. The stop light turned green and as soon as I hit about 40mph violent death wobble started again. Came back home and parked it in the garage. Will mess with it more today.

Maybe jack it up and check play in front hub/axle/wheel bearings...

 

[RockRanger]

So I messed with it more today. Jacked the truck up and checked the toe. My eyeball wing last night I had about 1.25" of toe in. Re adjusted it to 1/8" toe in. I also started measuring and found the wheel base on the passenger side was 5/16 in shorter then the drivers. I know my frame is bent from building the bed and squaring not working on it. So I lengthen the link on the passenger side and now have it within 1/16 of an inch.

Took it out for a drive and it does much better. I wouldn't say it drives perfect but for as soft as the suspension is it is livable. I was able to get up 65-70 on the freeway with the flow of traffic and did about 10 miles of driving. I do think a front swaybar, some stiffer springs and better shocks would solve a bunch of the driving issues. I also think the tires might have some flat spotting issues. The truck sat for 2 years on my trailer with out moving so it wouldn't surprise me if they flat spotted slightly. I will see how it does tomorrow as I have about 50 miles of road driving I plan to do with it.

 

[Rowdy Fitzgerald]

Good to hear you've got it figured out! A sway bar would make it feel totally different. I wouldn't swap the springs out until you install the sway bar. You're probably right about the flat spot on your tires. Mine did the same thing from settin for a year.


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[RockRanger]

I want to eventually lower the truck a few inches anyway. It is taller then I really wanted it to be.

 

[RockRanger]

Yesterday I did a good 50 miles of driving. Started out meeting with a few different local 4wd clubs and took a bunch of toys to the local Children's hospital. Then at the end of the day the club I am in was in a local Christmas parade.

The truck never had any death wobble but does have a slight shimmy over about 45. I also need to find a front swaybar. It leans bad on corners.

 

[PlumCrazy]

I just got used to the lean. If I go around a left corner the truck will stay leaned over until I let off of the gas....then drops down and comes up again for 2nd and 3rd.lol