So I took my mostly stock 1976 280z out Monday for the first time in 6 years after replacing the blown engine (replaced with a 79 2.8 L).  

Ran pretty good, but at speeds above about 30 mph, I would get an intermittent "Death Wobble" in the steering wheel.

The steering wheel would vibrate/shimmy back and forth, I actually pulled over to see if I had blown a tire.  

Jacked it up, steering wheel locked: no play up and down (pushed at 12 and 6).  Decent play side to side (pushed at 9 and 3).  

Looks like the play is in the outer tie rod ends (might be stock...) so I ordered 2 Moogs.  I have replaced tie rods on other cars before, I know they can be a pain.  I want to get the alignment at least close enough to enjoy a weekend cruise, so I'm looking at keeping the toe the same as it is now (I have normal tire wear).  

Any advice on this job?  I understand you want the leading edge to be about 1/8" less than the trailing edge of the tires for slight toe in.  What exactly do I turn to adjust this once the new ones are installed?  I assume something on the inner tie rods?  (Yes I've read that if I did need to eventually replace the inners, I have to use two RH ones etc...)  

The driver's side is the "reverse threaded" side, correct?  

I plan on just cracking the holding nut loose and using that as the starting point.  But I also know new tie rods may not be the exact same length.  

As a side note, what's everyone running for base timing?  It says 7 degrees on the hood.  This engine seems a little less powerful, the stock engine would "chirp" the tires when shifting from 1st to second (automatic, I know, I plan on a manual swap someday, but the one I pulled from a ZX is the "wide ratio", so it might be a dog).

Thanks, i'm really hoping to enjoy this car this summer!  

If you have two out of round tires and their wobbles get sync'ed up you'll get a really bad wobble.

A jack and 16 lug nuts is pretty simple.  But all of that other stuff is fun work anyway.  Except for the risk of creating new problems.  Not really many new problems that you can create by swapping wheels.

Just my keep it simple approach.  Carry on.  At least you're trying one thing at a time so you'll know what the cause was when you're done.  I can't stand the shotgun approach, with no answer at the end.

34 minutes ago, esmit208 said:

The inner tie rod spins once you undo the jamb nut for this adjustment. I suggest a professional alignment to know for sure it ends up correct.

Thanks, I knew there was a way to adjust without removing the outer end from the knuckle/spindle.  

On 6/14/2017 at 6:37 AM, siteunseen said:

Somebody said "right is right, left is wrong" on the tie rod threads 

 

On 6/16/2017 at 9:55 AM, esmit208 said:

The inner tie rod spins once you undo the jamb nut for this adjustment. I suggest a professional alignment to know for sure it ends up correct.

Well I spent the morning doing my best to align the new outer tie rod ends with some string and measuring tapes.  I think I got it pretty close, obviously I should take it to a shop, but I'd like to replace a couple more suspension components first.  

I'm happy to say that 99% of my steering wheel "death wobble" is gone.  I still get it when I brake hard, so my next mission will be to address the brakes.  

Thanks for all of the replies and comments, but special thanks to siteunseen and esmit208.  Siteunseen has routinely replied and offered good advice, and without esmit208 's advice on adjusting the tie rods, my dumb self would've been taking the tie rod ball joint out and turning it every time haha.  

 

Well thank you sir! That's awful nice of you to go out of your way instead of just clicking "LIKE".

In my expirences when you get on the brakes and you get a shaky wheel your rotors are warped, usually from being hot then driving through a puddle of water on the roadside. Hot then cold warps them. Try a cut to get it out but if it's too bad and they'll tell you at the parts store if they're too far gone so you'll buy new ones. They're only $20 or so bucks so not too bad. When and if you decide to do that I would reccomend new wheel bearings to. They aren't expensive, $5 to $10 per side. There's info on this site a bbb out driving the old ones out and the new ones on. Get a tub of grease and slop them full. I'll try to find my post from when I did it in the morning, not too easy on this phone.

Thanks again for saying thanks, that's what drives me to help out others. 

Hey no prob man.  My life for the past few years has been a movie.  Tried to kill myself in my Monte SS, but failed and subsequently lost my job, my car, and a plethora of other things.  Really, the Z has been one of my primary motivating factors.  Sorry, I keep it real. 

So when I ask for help, and people respond constructively, I really do appreciate it.  

The car is running as good as ever, and looking decent as well !  I cruised for like 6 hours today.  I might be high from the Z fumes.

 

59 minutes ago, siteunseen said:

Can't figure out this internet thing, see previous post

thanks

FYI siteunseen didn't really say that stupid stuff, giving credit where credit is due. #z

Edited June 18, 20177 yr by ramsesosirus