Wobble at high speeds

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Wobble at high speeds

Unread post by MUTT Vet » September 17th, 2008, 3:27 pm

I have been doing a lot of work on my A2 and have it just about where i want it.

I was out driving yesterday doing about 45-50 mph and the jeep drove just fine. I went off roading and hit a jump and all 4 wheels came off the ground. It was actually a light landing, I was quite impressed with myself. :lol:

I didn't hear or feel anything bad happen when i landed and drove home with no problem.

Today I took the jeep to lunch and when i got up to 45-50 again i noticed the jeep had severe wobble at those speeds. It would start to snake back and forth, and it got worse when i braked; it would pull hard to the right.

What has happened?! What do i need to check to fix this problem? My steering has always had a little play in it and it kind of feels like it has a little more now. Could it be a steering gear assembly problem?
Eric
***My Jeep won a war, your CJ delivers my mail***
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Re: Wobble at high speeds

Unread post by rickf » September 17th, 2008, 8:19 pm

Sounds like a ball joint just about ready to let go.
Rick
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: Wobble at high speeds

Unread post by MUTT Vet » September 17th, 2008, 10:24 pm

Is that something easily fixable or should i replace it? If i replace one should i replace them all?
Eric
***My Jeep won a war, your CJ delivers my mail***
------------------------------------
AIR FORCE (1998-Present)
The American Legion
NRA, 1999 (#: 39234404)
MVPA (#: 34922)
------------------------------------
M151A2 super MUTT (stolen)
M151A2 regular MUTT (in works)
Harley Davidson WLA w/ sidecar
M-37 x 2

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Re: Wobble at high speeds

Unread post by rickf » September 18th, 2008, 6:26 am

Ball joints are not repairable, they can only be replaced. To be perfectly honest I have never had to do one in a Mutt. I don't know if the joint is replaceable or if you have to replace the control arm. I am pretty sure I have seen replacement ball joints. I can tell you that if you are going to be jumping it much you will be getting real familiar with suspension repairs! Other things to check are see if you knocked a control arm bushing out of the arm or bent a tie rod.
Rick
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: Wobble at high speeds

Unread post by Fil Bonica » September 18th, 2008, 10:00 am

Replacing upper and lower ball joint is not difficult but it takes a little finesse taking the front end apart . Don't plan on doing the whole thing in a couple of hours.
You really need to have the -20-1 and -2 available plus jack stands and WD 40 to loosen all the nuts and bolts. Pressure washing the front end might not be a bad idea also before you start.

I think Riv RAD has a set for around $ 150.00.

Good Luck

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Re: Wobble at high speeds

Unread post by MUTT Vet » September 19th, 2008, 8:13 am

I've looked on TNJ Murray and a couple of other sites but i can't find ball joints for sale.

Other than Riv RAD, where might i get some?
Eric
***My Jeep won a war, your CJ delivers my mail***
------------------------------------
AIR FORCE (1998-Present)
The American Legion
NRA, 1999 (#: 39234404)
MVPA (#: 34922)
------------------------------------
M151A2 super MUTT (stolen)
M151A2 regular MUTT (in works)
Harley Davidson WLA w/ sidecar
M-37 x 2

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Re: Wobble at high speeds

Unread post by rickf » September 19th, 2008, 9:56 am

Have you tried Saturn Surplus or Front line military vehicle supply? I deal with Saturn all the time and have always had excellent service.
Rick
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: Wobble at high speeds

Unread post by Mr. Recovery » September 19th, 2008, 11:55 am

Saturn Surplus has the listed, Please Call (717) 692-9500 or Fax: (717) 692-2170 for Pricing and Availability!!

Ball Joint - Lower 11640669, 2530-00-176-3344 $48.50 Y1-4

Ball Joint - Upper 11640670, 2530-00-176-3343 $48.50 Y1-4

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Re: Wobble at high speeds

Unread post by Mr. Recovery » September 19th, 2008, 12:07 pm

They are also listed on, RapcoParts,

BallJoint -Lower- M151-11640669- $34.50

BallJoint-upper-M151-11640670- $34.50

Image Dan.
1960 M151 Run 1
1963 M151 Willys DoD 10-63 in Baltimore
1989 Alley Cat. "work in Progress"
NRA Life Member
American Legion Post 275 Fl
US Army 6 years 2nd Armored Cavalry Bindlach Germany
Colorado Army Nat. Guard 5 years
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Re: Wobble at high speeds

Unread post by mrdibbles » September 23rd, 2008, 8:18 pm

rickf wrote:Have you tried Saturn Surplus or Front line military vehicle supply? I deal with Saturn all the time and have always had excellent service.
Rick
If you call Saturn make sure you ask for Jay. He's real outgoing and a genuine ham :wink: I have dealt with Jay and Saturn a bunch and I'd agree with Rick... their service is excellent.

BTW... when I first saw the title of this post it made my skin go cold. I may be 25 years outside of my skateboarding years but I still remember the fear of the dreaded "Speed Wobble". So hard to recover from those bad beyatches :oops:
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Re: Wobble at high speeds

Unread post by raymond » September 23rd, 2008, 10:08 pm

You were a skateboarder Mr.D :?: So was I. I was skating back during the transition to concave decks. I still have my last street skate, a Vision Old Ghost Hippie Stick with Venture V-2 trucks Gorrilla rails, Slimeball 92 durometer wheels, German OMB bearings, thunderbolts, and a Bird 2. My last ramp board, which I no longer have was a Hosoi Hammerhead with Indy 169s. When I really got into skateboarding, it seriously advanced my slolam skiing and wakeboarding 8)
Raymond


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Re: Wobble at high speeds

Unread post by rickf » September 24th, 2008, 6:33 am

You damn KIDS!!!!! I had a 2 X 6 with a cut up roller skate screwed to the bottom! That was skateboarding in the sixties.
Rick
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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Re: Wobble at high speeds

Unread post by Rainman » September 24th, 2008, 4:28 pm

I skateboarded a little as a kid in the 60's. We had real skateboards, like flat with a small tail, 14" long, and with metal wheels. Just staying on them was a real effort, and since it was sidewalk surfing, small gaps and uneven pavement were critical barriers An ollie was unheard of back then, not like when my son got into the hobby. Upstairs in his old room there are still NOS decks and trucks, TNT bearing sets and nylon wheels just waiting for his kids if he ever starts a family. Oh how things can change in a single generation! I just feel lucky nether one of mine went gothic, punk, or ghetto in their youth.

Getting back to the original thread, what's the status of the wobble Muttvet? Any decision on the parts house or the repair itself? How about a video clip of the problem posted on youtube for us all to take a look at? :shock:


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Re: Wobble at high speeds

Unread post by mrdibbles » September 24th, 2008, 6:21 pm

Rainman wrote: Getting back to the original thread, what's the status of the wobble Muttvet? Any decision on the parts house or the repair itself? How about a video clip of the problem posted on youtube for us all to take a look at? :shock: Rainman
There's no getting back to the "original" thread on this one. This is now a SKATEBOARDING thread :lol: I envy those out there that are still in the hunt for Won Ton Animal Chin:

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Raymond I still have my old school deck. I used it again when at the age 34 I picked up the hobby again. I hadn't dropped in on a ramp of any size for about 18yrs. It was hairy laying my tail down on the edge of a 6 foot pipe for the first time but believe it or not it all came back to me. Of course at 34 I was wearing a helmet and full pads, looking more like Farve than a skater, but it was still very fun. I got up to dropping in on 8 and 10 foot pipes but chickened out on the professional 12 footer. I must have stood there for an hour before humiliating myself and walking down the stairs :oops:

Raymond did you say Hammerhead! Damn that is radical :lol: As for steel wheels... anyone that skated on those has my utmost respect!!!
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St. Augustine, Florida

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Re: Wobble at high speeds

Unread post by MUTT Vet » September 25th, 2008, 8:53 am

All skateboarding communications must cease and desist until further notice...:evil:

Rainman,

I just ordered a new steering gear assembly and 4 new ball joints, when they get here I'll install them and let everyone know the result. I checked my ball joints against the TM (9-2320-218-20-1-2 pages 7-12 thru 7-17) for excessive wear and I do have quite a bit.

I think with the replacement of the ball joints and steering gear assembly the "death wobble" should go away...

...you may now resume all skateboarding communications! :lol:
Eric
***My Jeep won a war, your CJ delivers my mail***
------------------------------------
AIR FORCE (1998-Present)
The American Legion
NRA, 1999 (#: 39234404)
MVPA (#: 34922)
------------------------------------
M151A2 super MUTT (stolen)
M151A2 regular MUTT (in works)
Harley Davidson WLA w/ sidecar
M-37 x 2

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