[Vash]

Hey fellas,

OK i need to start learning pretty quickly because the Sierra i just picked up has the death wobbles, as i searched this forum it seems to be a common problem.

its a 95' leaf model, and unfortunately, reading all the terminology on this forum i have no idea what ubolts, swivel hub seals or any of this means, or where to start fixing the problem myself.

Coming from entirely a motorcycle background, thats all i know, cars, well, never spun a spanner under one except for an oil change or replacing a head gasket.

Heading home on the freeway with these wobbles, it was an... interesting experience to say the least.

Thanks for any help.
Jake

[xedent]

jack up the front so that your wheels are off the ground and try and see if the wheel moves up and down.
That will tell you if there is any play in the wheel bearings.

[SuziBlu]

Go look at all the steering joints, tight is tight be it a car or a bike.

If the steering system is good, do a check on the steering damper, if its strong, cool.

Get a wheel alignment, toe in, camber, and castor.

IMO thats the best start.

[JrZook]

Start with something uber simple first. Tyres and wheel alignment. How old are the tyres and when were they last balanced? You could try rotating them front to rear and see if that makes any difference. Once you've tested this then go more into depth with wheel/kingpin bearings.

[Vash]

Will give that a shot first, thanks fellas.
Going by the feel of it though i dont think it'll be wheel balance, as it goes into a crazy wobble when i hit a certain bump, like the sort of feeling like the whole front end is about to slide off the car.
and doesnt happen at certain speeds, but going by how bad it gets above 70KMH its a possibility

[SuziBlu]

Castor.

[shep]

get yourself a good workshop manual and work through the troubleshooting section.

[303zuke]

Is the car still on factory springs, or has it got a lift kit under it? Anything non-stock like extended shackles? Some brands of springs will move the axle forward slightly and this rotates the axle, affecting castor and camber.

[shakes]

shep wrote:

get yourself a good workshop manual and work through the troubleshooting section.

Only good post in this thread.

[want33s]

shakes wrote:

shep wrote:

get yourself a good workshop manual and work through the troubleshooting section.

Only good post in this thread.

Assuming the suspension is not modified this is good advice.

[Vash]

The guy i bought the car off mentioned he put new shocks in the rear and did something to the front.
There has been no life kit fitted but not sure on extended shackles.

A quick observation by a mechanic says the front is lower than the rear.

Where could i grab a workshop manual?

Cheers.

[shep]

Vash wrote:

The guy i bought the car off mentioned he put new shocks in the rear and did something to the front.
There has been no life kit fitted but not sure on extended shackles.

A quick observation by a mechanic says the front is lower than the rear.

Where could i grab a workshop manual?

Cheers.

i think there is one here somewhere. i have never found it though.

[SuziBlu]

Try an find what you want in here.