Hi everyone. I thought I had my bump steer/death wobble problem fixed. The steering was good for a very long time. Today, I took my '56 gasser out for a ride for about 20 miles. Again no problem until I came to a stop sign and had to make a hard left turn onto the road I live on. Made the turn and started up the road. Was going about 20-25mph and OMG, the death wobble started all over again. I didn't hit any bumps or holes. I couldn't believe it. Thank God I was only a couple hundred feet from home and I was able to back it down the driveway. I looked underneath and didn't s anything of interest. I don't have a clue as to why this happened. Had the car up to 60-70 mph several times without a problem. It tracked very straight. During travel, hit minor bumps but still no problem. I also made other hard left and right turns with no problem. I might also add, that the stock steering box on this car is shot. There is absolutely no adjustment left. You have to constantly correct the car going around even slight turns. By correcting, I mean turning the steering wheel a decent distance. Any ideas why this suddenly happened?? Would this bad steering box cause this or at least contribute to it?? I'm open to any and all suggestions. Thank you, Carmine.
Bump steer/death wobble
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Carmine2
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Hi everyone. I thought I had my bump steer/death wobble problem fixed. The steering was good for a very long time. Today, I took my '56 gasser out for a ride for about 20 miles. Again no problem until I came to a stop sign and had to make a hard left turn onto the road I live on. Made the turn and started up the road. Was going about 20-25mph and OMG, the death wobble started all over again. I didn't hit any bumps or holes. I couldn't believe it. Thank God I was only a couple hundred feet from home and I was able to back it down the driveway. I looked underneath and didn't s anything of interest. I don't have a clue as to why this happened. Had the car up to 60-70 mph several times without a problem. It tracked very straight. During travel, hit minor bumps but still no problem. I also made other hard left and right turns with no problem. I might also add, that the stock steering box on this car is shot. There is absolutely no adjustment left. You have to constantly correct the car going around even slight turns. By correcting, I mean turning the steering wheel a decent distance. Any ideas why this suddenly happened?? Would this bad steering box cause this or at least contribute to it?? I'm open to any and all suggestions. Thank you, Carmine.
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17,438 Posts
I am far from an expert here but I would think you would need to freshen up the box pronto. I assume you have a straight axle no? The only straight axel car I ever drove had 12 spoke Americans and would really wobble when I launched it. Ended up using a shock absorber set up a friend fixed up for me that bolted to the frame and the steering cross shaft that stabilized and dampened the wobbling. I wish I could remember exactly what was used for the absorber but that was a pretty common set up back in the day.
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That steering dampener set up would be a way to go. May want to run this by the folks over on this truck site, www.Stovebolt.com I beam city over there.
:anim_25:
Jim
:anim_25:
Jim
Yes, I have a straight axle. The steering was so good for so long (no wobble) and out of the clear blue, this happens. Regardless of anything else, that steering box is coming out. I took this box apart to take it off the car because I wasn't going to use it again. I then changed my mind and tried putting it back together using an older schematic. I'm not even sure I had all the ball bearings and I even did it right as usual. Always something.
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491 Posts
Hey ,
Retire that poor old steering box for sure , and I know you have
the same air pressure in both front tires ?
easy
Tires seem to be inflated equally but I will put a gauge on them.
I bought a back up steering box about a year ago from Bam Bam. Seems real tight. I'm going to give this one a try as soon as I get my buddies car off the lift.
Thank you everyone for your responses, Carmine.
1956 210 2dr. Sedan, 283, TKX, 9”, yup still working on it.
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Location:
Albuquerque
It's been my experience, if the front axle alignment is correct, you really don't need it attached to a steering wheel. All the steering wheel/steering box/linkage (from the spindle to the box), is supposed to do is input a direction change, NOT be the thing that holds the wheels in a straight direction. Camber, caster, toe in, are the settings that make the wheels track correctly. IF all those things are correct theoretically, you should be able to drive in a straight line on a flat smooth road without ANY steering input. (bumps, road crown, all will require input from the steering wheel). My point being, I think you have an alignment issue, either the alignment is incorrect, or something is changing as you roll down the road. Stop, take a deep breath, and think about what's going on and check EVERYTHING.
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Huh ?
What's this guy smokin'?? Sounds like the new steering box is the ticket , along with an alignment check and maybe a bit more caster . Be safe...Bob
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491 Posts
Bob ,
I don't smoke but I will take a sip of old #7 from time to time : )
Actually my remarks were directed to Mr. Classic Gary next door in
New Mexico , what do y'all Canucks take to smooth off the hard
edges now and then ???
easy
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19,952 Posts
Carmine, Have you had the car to an alignment shop since you built it? If not that is where you need to start and keep in mind that you need to have a good amount of caster on a straight axle set-up, I set mine at 8 degrees minimum and have no issues. It is also a good idea to get the junk box swapped out too.
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491 Posts
Everyone is always suggesting " take it to an alignment shop " I can't think of
any alignment shop that would touch a straight axle conversion deal ???
First they would say we don't have anything like that in our reference manuals
then they would site concerns for libility and insurance limitations , and finally just
throw their hands in the air and say " I'm sorry we just cannot help you " !!
This is a seat of your pants deal I think , I have been setting front alignment for
years with my old beat up toe plates and a slick little bubble deal for castor / camber
that I got long ago from a dirt track race supply , Just get workable specs from
the guys here on the forum and set up your own alignment : ) i have been concerned
with a few alignment shops that did work on my street cars that they didn't do what
they said , like untouched adjusting bolts and so on , better to do it yourownself if
you can , Ha Ha !! Just my oldmans attitude I guess ~~~
Carry on now ~~~
easy
any alignment shop that would touch a straight axle conversion deal ???
First they would say we don't have anything like that in our reference manuals
then they would site concerns for libility and insurance limitations , and finally just
throw their hands in the air and say " I'm sorry we just cannot help you " !!
This is a seat of your pants deal I think , I have been setting front alignment for
years with my old beat up toe plates and a slick little bubble deal for castor / camber
that I got long ago from a dirt track race supply , Just get workable specs from
the guys here on the forum and set up your own alignment : ) i have been concerned
with a few alignment shops that did work on my street cars that they didn't do what
they said , like untouched adjusting bolts and so on , better to do it yourownself if
you can , Ha Ha !! Just my oldmans attitude I guess ~~~
Carry on now ~~~
easy
No Bruce, I haven't had it in an alignment shop since building it, though I know I probably should. I also have 8 degrees of caster. This car was tracking real straight until the other day. I did have a previous, serious problem with death wobble but I thought I had fixed it. A friend suggested that while the car was sitting on the ground, the tie rod end from the left steering arm to the pitman arm, should be level. Mine wasn't. It was angled down. I then shimmed and corrected this, making it level, and never had another problem with it until yesterday. Like I mentioned, out of the clear blue, going 20-25 mph, no bumps, holes, nothing and the steering wheel wants to shake out of my hands. Not a good feeling. Guess I'll put it on the lift this week and I will be changing the steering box. Don't really know what else to do.
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Carmine, I just took my 55 out for it's shake down run yesterday after installing a straight axle. I have done everything that everyone else has done when installing it but my steering box is worn also. I will eventually change it. My point is I had a "death wobble" so bad that I could not go over 40 miles per hour without the wheel shaking out of my hands. I have 8 degrees caster, wheels balanced, alignment, and all new front end parts except the steering box. I started thinking of what could stop it and a steering stabilizer came to mind. Well I decided to install one. I bought one that fits an S-10 pickup. I had to fab up some mounts to install it. I can take pictures if you like. The "death Wobble" is completely gone and the car drives itself down the road straight as an arrow with my hands off the wheel. Everyone else has had good suggestions but I have just experienced it and got rid of it by installing the steering damper. Every car is different and some front end geometries' just need a stabilizer. Hope this helps...Bob C.
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you got any photos of your steering set up with the original box. on my ride, i took most of the rubber bushings out and installed a metal sleeve so the leaf springs can't sway or move left to right. the trucks don't have rubber bushings, they are solid steel. but a new steering box would probably help the situation.
![Image]()
originally i had some coil over shocks from a harley mounted at an angle supplementing the leaf springs...but it was way to stiff a ride, and the springs would create a shimmy when i hit big bumps. i ditched the coil overs, kept the leafs and installed the shocks inside the frame. so it's kind of like cheating...cuz there is no place for the axle to move left to right because the shocks are up against the frame rail. as you can see i installed a dampner for the steering as well.
originally i had some coil over shocks from a harley mounted at an angle supplementing the leaf springs...but it was way to stiff a ride, and the springs would create a shimmy when i hit big bumps. i ditched the coil overs, kept the leafs and installed the shocks inside the frame. so it's kind of like cheating...cuz there is no place for the axle to move left to right because the shocks are up against the frame rail. as you can see i installed a dampner for the steering as well.
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Easyways - whether or not Carmine found any of your input productive, it does not excuse your immature insults and rant. I suggest you not take non-responses as a personal slight. I'm sure you have much to contribute to this site, I look forward to seeing it- but let's spend energy on constructive comments, not barbs. Thanks
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Not a gasser person myself however could you have thrown a weight from the wheel or have a tyre go bad ?? You say it has not happened for some time and it come on suddenly?? Just thinking
As others have suggested i would consider seriously to replace the box however may not fix this particular issue as the "death wobbles started suddenly".
I would love to see pics. That would be great. Thank you Bob C.
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