This look normal? Thread engagement is the same on each side. Yet, there's that gap as you can see on the driver's side. They're Spicer ball joints and are about 3 months old. And yes I tried tightening it down but it's in their as good as it's gunna get

Getting a real nice death wobble. Sure have missed it. And yes I know what it is and what causes it. Just narrowing down the possibilities.

 

Are you sure both ***** are the same PN, have you tried cleaning up the bore with a rat tail file?

 

Looks like the rubber seal deal is just a little bunched up on the one. It's fine as long as dirt and **** aren't getting in there.

 

try pumping grease into it. looks like one has more grease in it then the other. as fas as the death wobble goes check track bar or steering stabilizer. Thats the only two that usually give you death wobble

 

+1 grease isn't going to magically make a few mm more thread of that stud appear on the other side of that castle nut. Looks like it's not pressed through all the way. Is the lower ball joint on that side seated properly?

 

I did not see that the treads was still showing. Just looked like the boot was not all the way down. try pressing it in more if not I would say change the call joint. Could have been a defect on the ball joint when it was made I have soon alot of balljoints be slightly off

 

Steering stabilizer does not cause or fix death wobble.

 

Yeah... No. Steering stabilizer has nothing to do with DW. I did pump grease into it to the point that it was overflowing and still sat where it is.

I believe you are correct sir. I looked at the lowers today and the passenger side looks like it's seated up a few millimeters over the driver side. Looks like that may be my issue.

So since I've been driving on it like that for a few months (as a DD), think those ball joints are shot, being not seated completely properly?

I can definitely try to just press them in more but I'd hate to tear it all apart to find that they're shot and not have a quality replacement.

 

Finally fixed this today. Lower ball joint was shot from not being seated right. And the nut on it was pretty loose. Took a very short turn with a wrench (bout 1/8 a turn) and then could turn the rest off by hand. Went for a short drive and feels extremely tight. No more DW it seems.

Bet I just forgot to torque the lower ball joint somehow... I dont know how I managed that

 

Good to hear your out jeeping again I remember how much of a pain it was to get those to seat properly.

 

Interesting to read this. I did all 4 ball joints before a trip , D/S lower was screwy. It appeared to have seated right but a LOT of thread came through before the nut got anywhere near tight. Death wobble showed up like 1/3 through the trip.

How was it poorly seated exactly?

 

Sorry sir, just now saw this. Basically, I didn't press it in all the way. Thought I did but when I reinspected closer, it was a couple millimeters out. My dumb fault. When I took it apart and redid it all, made 100% sure it was fine.

What brand did you go with?

 

Somehow I just saw your reply now. I used Spicer joints, hopefully I get another 300k outta these. Pretty sure mine are seated all the way but I'll have a look