More on Front end issues and what I found

[cougar]

My truck had issues when I bought it 7-8 years ago but have steadily gotten worse. It seemed like the usual fixes didn't fix anything but the balance of my check book.
What was happening was death wobble during braking, death wobble on uneven rutted roads, shimmy between 45-55, and a basket ball bounce when slowing down.
Parts replaced, some more than once by assorted shops;
brake rotors
tie rod ends
lower king pins
tires
rims
shocks
steering box
cv joints
u joints
steering shaft
and added a steering stabizer
Non of which helped.
After I got my truck out of its icy winter grave (another story) I noticed some cracks. The front left leaf spring bracket had several cracks from one shop that air chiseled it off and reinstalled it with bolts. The right side was also loose. And a cracked steering box bracket. The leaf spring bushings were also shot but not in a way that was obvious. I suspected this to be the main problem some time back but no one would change the bushings.
I got it to a frame shop and they confirmed the problems. Once parts arrive, the plan is to repair or replace the leaf spring mounts, replace the leaf springs, replace the frame bushings, and replace the steering box bracket.
Sorry for the long thread but I hope this will give you more things to check if you run into similar issues.

[jogl]

That is very interesting information. Your patience and commitment is admirable.

Please keep us informed of how it goes.

Good Day,
JP.

[cougar]

Work is still in progress but I am pleased with what these guys have done so far. I hope to have my truck back by Monday afternoon.
With the parts I knew were bad off, I got to see just how bad. And how loose the front section of the frame was. Scary!
With the weight taken off the front axle but not off the ground, revealed other problems. Like the axle loose on the leaf springs. The U bolts and spring plates will have to be replaced.
Can't wait to get her back.

[cougar]

What a difference
The death wobble is gone! Both braking and road. I have a little more work, routine maintenance stuff, but the worst is over.

I think I may have figured out my basket ball bounce. Motor mounts.
The rear mount is oil soaked and the fronts are probably original. As you near stop, the back of the engine starts bouncing.

[Richie O]

As you near stop, the back of the engine starts bouncing.

Maybe the engine is from Mexico and comes standard with hydraulic shocks like the LOW RIDERS.

[cougar]

Took it in to have the front wheel bearings packed and found some more problems. Apparently the death wobble had taken out the upper king pin bushings. So that is being replaced along with the axle u-joints and inner spindle bearings. While that is being done I am also having the rear leaf springs rebuilt. A new set of shocks and I should be set for another 250,000 miles.

[cougar]

A month later and I finally got er back.
The front end has new upper and lower king pins. The uppers have an eccentric bushing for camber correction. And new bearings and u-joints.
The rear has new leaf spring bushings and new shackles.
What a cluster trying to get the right parts. Some were not clearly identified in the parts books and others are no longer available. In most cases I had to go to different people before I could find someone with an IQ. I was waiting for them to ask if I wanted fries with that.
Next is motor mounts then on to the engine mods

[CE_TX]

Just a suggestion, you might think about replacing the 1" frame bushings in the shackle hanger on the front. Those will wear out pretty fast with just normal offroad use. I upgraded mine to 1.5" on my first truck and will be doing the same when I convert my D250 to a W250 later this year.

[cougar]

I put in factory new ones with the springs. So far everything is good. No more death wobble.

[cougar]

Well the death wobble came right back. After all of that and it still wasn't fixed.
I finally got the truck into a brake shop and, well, read my thread "Warped Again".