Serious wheel wobble!

Hey,

Have a serious problem with my 2001 Suzuki Jimny.
Driving today at 50mph I felt a wheel wooble, thought a wheel weight had fallen off, called at a garage and got them to balance it. No better!
50mph, jittering started then...!! car went out of control, had no control, car started bouncing all over the road. Very, very scary!
I was thinking pro shaft, half shaft etc.. I looked under her, all was tight and looked dead on.

I'm thinking Kingpin?
Anyone have any ideas? Cheers!

Hey up,

If you type in 'death wobble' or similar in the search box, top left of page, you should find loads of advice etc.

Good luck.

Keith

Keefe wrote: Hey up,

If you type in 'death wobble' or similar in the search box, top left of page, you should find loads of advice etc.

Good luck.

Keith

Thanks Keith!

So to clear this up, it's got to be the Kingpin bearing? Few mixxed ideas I've read.
I've heard of a few bushes going as well. Needs to be fixed on the cheap, only after spending a good deal on engine!

Anyone any ideas on what sort of money it is to put this problem right?

Thanks again, J.

Martin stocks the kits at £23 each and while you're there you might as well replace the swivel seals each side then all you need is new grease, proper cv stuff not just general grease or motorcross grease people have recommended on here.

You don't need to do the swivel seals but while you're there its worth doing. They're about £26ish a side.

The guide on here shows you just how to do it, it couldn't be more helpful.

Certainly Kingpin Bearings are a common cause which is why I sell them in the shop. However, Death Wobble can be a long and expensive problem to cure.

Some simple checks can confirm or eliminate different causes and an hour spent jacking up various wheels etc. can help.

1. Get the tracking and balance checked.

2. Do some "wobble" checks on the front wheels - Jack up each front wheel in turn and wobble it by hand (grip it top and bottom and pull/push). For both Kingpin and Wheel Bearing related problems you may feel a "clunk" in the wheel as you rock it. Get someone to press the brakes, if the wobble goes then its Wheel Bearings, if it stays then its Kingpin Bearings.

3. With it jacked up. place your hand on the tie-rod ends (four of them) and gently rock the steering, clunking in the joints means these are worn.

4. Take a careful look at the various bushes around the front. Panhard Rod bushes are a favourite. Un bolt the panhard rod and look for wear in the bush, the bolts and the mounting flanges (the holes wear oval). Undo the bottom of the shock absorbers, the bushes can look ok from the outside but be worn out on the inside.

5. Check the leading arms. Lay a straight edge along them to see if they are bent. Take a close look ar the bushes for splits where the "holes" run through the rim of the bushes. Look at the mounting plates for oval wear in the holes.

6. Check the steering box oil. top off and adjust as necessary.


Martin

I would follow Martin's advice as it must be something that is not too difficult to find the cause of when the symptoms are that bad.

I have progressively replaced all the bits on the front of my Jimny so I know it's all newish and thus have no issues.

Changing a front wheel bearing solved a steering wheel shake I had once though, although the bearing seemed fine on the car and once pushed out of the hub, so sometimes the smaller symptoms can be hard to find, but yours sounds bad enough to be able to find by what Martin has suggested.

Kirkynut