Hello forum,

I have been here months ago looking for some ideas an this issue and wanted to update. My truck over 55mph would shake violently when I hit any kind of bump. I had the tires aligned and had the panhard rod bushings replaced. Now it the mechanics think that the swivel housing/pins (that area) needs replacing on drivers side. The quote is about $500-$550 for one wheel. I have a $150 credit for them replacing the panhard rod bushings and it not solving the problem. My question is: Does this sound like a sound quote for the swivel? I had originally landed in the same place when diagnosing it myself but the swivel is a little over my head. I asked them if they could re-shim it but they feel that is just prolonging the inevitable. The good thing is that if they are wrong they will not charge me which I think is unheard of from a mechanic. Most seem to charge no matter what. Any thoughts or insight would be deeply appreciated.

 

What is he replacing? Both swivel pins and all of the seals and bearings? The entire housing too?

 

The book time for renewing the swivel pins:
Left - 1.35hr
Right - 1.20hr
Both - 2.50hr

I'd do both of them rather than just one. If one is worn the other isn't far behind.

 

I redid the top swivel bearings with some improvement but I only got rid of my speed wobble after changing a tie rod that had an almost unnoticeable play with huge improvement, but finally got rid of it only by changing the radius arm bushings.

 

Im new to land rovers, but have experienced death wobble in a few wranglers and cherokees. Including one 3 hour ride home from PA where every crack in the road would result in DW if i didnt nurse the throttle and brakes. I realize they are different vehicles but i had found the cause wasn't one worn out part, but a combination of parts.
My last cherokee got better and better after i replaced the siezed front u-joints, steering stabilizer, track bar, balanced tires, alignment.
Ive also been driving next to a jeep on the highway while he was experiencing death wobble... it looks as violent from the outside as it feels on the inside.

 

I had this same issue with my 96 Disco I ended up replacing my driver side ball joint and I had to replace all 4 of my shocks and the steering dampener. I no longer experience this at all.

 

If replacing the steering damper reduced the wobble then all it's doing is masking it and it will return before long. Steering damper replacement is not part of fixing steering wobble.