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Death Wobble Revisited

 

Michael Alvarez
(@michael-alvarez)
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Joined: 9 years ago
Posts: 54
Topic starter  

I hit a pothole followed by the death wobble. It’s time to rebuild front/rear shackles as well as replace bushings. 
-are the front and rear shackles as well as front and rear bushings interchangeable. I notice chevs of the 40s sell fwd rear bushings and aft rear bushings but no front bushings or shackle rebuild kits 

thanks 

Mike 

38 Master


   
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Tiny
 Tiny
(@tiny)
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Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 928
 

The Master has single acting shocks (they only dampen in one direction). I had the same issue with my 38. I had the shocks rebuilt and it still happened. As it turns out it's not really a "wobble" as it feels at the steering wheel but rather an uncontrolled bounce of the wheel. I discovered that piece of info when I was driving the 38 home from the pinstriper's shop. I rolled through a pothole and the car started the "death wobble". The right front wheel was bouncing uncontrollably. The wife was following me home and told me it was the wheel bouncing. It had freshly rebuilt shocks but they couldn't stop the bounce. I used 39 Chevy tube shock mounts and replaced my lever action shocks with tube shocks. No more "death wobble".

 

7046 old site posts
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet
1938 Master Business Coupe
1953 210 Sedan


   
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35mike
(@35mike)
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Joined: 14 years ago
Posts: 295
 

I replaced 40 year old tires on my 1935 Standard and eliminated the death wobble. On my Model T Ford, I tightened the king pins so they squeezed the spindle a little bit and the death wobble went away. There can be several causes. Good luck finding your issue.

 

Mike

Many Miles of Happy Motoring
3469 Posts on Old VCCA Chat


   
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Michael Alvarez
(@michael-alvarez)
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Joined: 9 years ago
Posts: 54
Topic starter  

Tube shock mod kits are hard if not impossible to come by with many switching to IFS suspension


   
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Tiny
 Tiny
(@tiny)
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Joined: 20 years ago
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I don't believe simple bolt in kits are available but there are a lot of conversion kits that could probably be made to work with some fabrication.

7046 old site posts
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet
1938 Master Business Coupe
1953 210 Sedan


   
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Michael Alvarez
(@michael-alvarez)
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Joined: 9 years ago
Posts: 54
Topic starter  

Are the front and rear shackle and leaf spring bushings interchangeable 

thanks 


   
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(@anthony-williamson)
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Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 184
 

With my 38 Aus built 1/2 ton truck (sedans could be different) the shackle pins at the front of front springs (swinging shackle) and rear of rear springs (swinging shackle) are the same and rear of front (fixed shackle) and front of rear (fixed shackle) are the same.

Tony


   
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