Great video! You just explained everything I am going through with my 1991 Chevy Kodiak. The gearbox is no longer sold. I had to send the gearbox to Cardone to rebuild via Rock Auto Parts, which helped with the excess steering play. Next, I replaced both front shocks. Then I had an alignment and the alignment man installed the shims on the axle. Next, I replaced the front steer tires and old split rims. I am at an 85% solution at this point. I am still trying to figure out what to do aside from replacing the kind pins. The death wobble is gone, but I still have too much play with the steering wheel.
Thank you sir glad I could help! That's why I try to put things on RU-vid once in awhile because I've been helped out myself. Best of luck on your move!
I just purchased a a 95 kodiak anf the front end is out of alignment some . But doesn't wobble like you say this one was where is the best place to get shims and other parts for this truck ?
I have an 89 international s1900 single axle dump truck. Runs great and steering is good but maybe a little loose when going straight down the road. Occasionally i get a little shudder in the steering wheel when loaded with rock and braking hard. I think the leaf springs are getting tired like you mentioned and changing the camber out of spec when braking putting extra weight on the front axle and springs. All my brake shoes look good and are adjusted properly. Have you seen this before?
Neal, I think you meant to say you believe the caster is changing not the camber. The camber won't change on a solid front axle unless you bend it. So I would think you should see about shimming it like I did but use new U-boats also u bolts that have been stretched may not tighten up correctly and are always at a risk of breaking. If your springs are dearching under heavy braking you might want to consider new ones but if they look in good shape otherwise I would put a shim in there. You can actually check your springs front and back of the axle by finding a spot equal in distance from the axle and maybe at least two or three of the spring leaves wrap masking tape around them tightly and then take it for a right road test on a straight road hit the brakes hard when it's safe to do so and then go back and see if the masking tape breaks. Leaf springs do slide against each other slightly as they go up and down with the load but this little test will give you some insight as to how good they are.
@@gvmcrae thank you! Yes I typed camber, meant caster! I'll try the scotch tape trick, never heard of that one. I think I could try a 1 or 1.5 degree shim.
@@gvmcrae do you also have an easy way to check toe? I was going to try just pulling a steel tape across for now on forward edge of rim and back edge of rim and see what I got. Is it normal to have 1/8"' toe in or what would you consider normal?
@@NealORussa all we ever use on our trucks is a tape measure. We go to the tread as long as you go the same place on the front and back and maybe 10 in off the floor front and back you're going to be very accurate. Typically we like to see a 16th to 1/8 toe in. There's always a little tiny bit of slack in your joints and since the tires are trying to fight each other all the time it's better to have them towed in slightly. If you toe any vehicle out especially a truck you will see it wanders each tire tries to find its own way outside the travel direction. We actually have a truck tow gauge but we never use it. Just a good tape measure and two guys in the same spots
quick question i have a 2019 peterbilt and on the front it has a aggressive death wobble between 45-60 mph i took it to peterbilt they put everything new and it still does it and they dont know what it could be could you help me out?
Hey I'm sorry about your Peterbilt I didn't see this until just now hopefully you got it fixed. Like I said in the video make sure everything's tight and if it is the only thing that's going to make it wobble if the tires are trying to argue with each other which one is going to lead the way. Caster is your fix and generally just a 3° shim will do it. If you see this response please let me know that you got it fixed sorry I didn't get back to you sooner just missed the comment.
