[max123]

Hey everyone,
The front wheels of the sierra start to intensely wobble at 70km/h and I have no/little control until I slow down to about 20km/h. It doesn't happen every time. I think the problem is far bigger than a wheel alignment
Has any one else had this problem before??
Any advice?

Thanks

[want33s]

What model?
Tyre size?
Rim offset?

[stockman]

Start simple:
Wheel balance? Inside of wheels full of mud?

[gypsy]

Steering dampener ?

[max123]

its a 98 SJ80
and its all stock

it hasn't seen the mud yet

[want33s]

Coily thought so....

Radius arm bushes.
Kingpin bearings.
Tie rod.
Panhard bushes.
Check all these.

[Gwagensteve]

Kingpin bearing preload. not condition, or replacement - preload, which is measured by starting torque to turn the knuckle with all the seals removed and the tie rod pulled.

Check this FIRST

Like many things on a sierra, including the steering box adjustment and wheel bearings, they need to be tighter than you imagine. My guess is that your coiler has never had the kingpins checked and they will now be quite loose after 14 years+

Kingpins seem to be the last thing people check, and from my experience, on an otherwise standard car, it's the most likely cause.

If kingpin preload is within spec and it still does it, then work though the rest of the list.

Steve.

*shitstirring mode on* Or avoid trying anything to fix it and add another steering damper *shitstirring mode off*

[max123]

Ill start there
thanks for that

[Blakey]

sounds like death wobble that jimny's get, wheel alignment, wheel balance, steering damper, check your castor for misalignment (main cause in some cases) give a shopping cart affect, where the wheel wobbles.

usually a steering damper can fix it but its usually a mask rather then a cure.

putting larger/ wider tyres on can also cause it. having no grip on your tyres can also cause it as there is no resistance to the small wobble that is always there, but with no resistance to the wobble it get bigger in magnitude until failure, or you slow down.

other causes are panhard rod's loose /bushings gone, steering rod ends and track rod ends are loose or knackered, other suspension bushes knackered. lots of thing that can cause it. bolts or mount snapped. there is probably more

also been told having your brakes machined/replaced can also fix it, but i dunno how.

[Fatzook]

Blakey wrote:

also been told having your brakes machined/replaced can also fix it, but i dunno how.

Not so much for the death wobbles, as removing a pulsing brake pedal.

Warped rotors may amplify a small wobble, but I doubt it.

[Reubs]

gypsy wrote:

Steering dampener ?

Coilies never had a steering dampener fitted when they left the factory...

Not needed if it's a stocker IMO. If you have wobbles you need to do some maintenance. Full stop.

[Ambitious]

I had this exact problem on my SJ80, I took it to the Suzi Store in Perth and they replaced my swivel hub bearings and that fixed the issue, I know this is an old thread but I hope it helps someone in the future

[azz08]

Thanks I have the same drama with my cozily I will be getting the kingpin bearings checked and tightened and also my swivel hub bearings I have already replaced the pan hard rob bushes