Steering wheel natural position changed and sudden death wobbles

[Sofes]

Hey guys, hope you're all doing well.

Just came back from KI with the family and my steering wheel natural position has changed by at least 90+ degrees. I have an 89, td42 maverick that I bought from a guy who couldn't drive it anymore.
Bit of background:
He put a new 4" lift kit into the stock mav before his accident. The car had been sitting in his front yard for a year or two, so the lift is relatively new and suspension rigid.
The steering wheel was fine when I bought it a month ago, however now it has rotated around by 90 degrees.
Also, when traveling at speed and hit a minor road bump, sudden, violent death wobbles kick in (75+kmph) when I reduce my speed to below 70kmph it stops and I can bring it back to the speed limit.
This doesn't happen all the time and there is no set speed that it occurs. I also don't have constant wobbles, its only sudden.
The RAA check that I got on it stated that the drag link joint at pitman arm has excessive movement and there is a lot of free play in the steering wheel and wandering on the road, could this attribute to the wobbles and change in wheel position?

I have done some research and another thread (http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/suspe...ddenly-173682/) stated that the panhard bushes are the reason for the sudden, out of control death wobbles. however, I am no mechanic and have no idea how to check it.
The wobbles I'm okay with as I don't do much high speed stuff, moreso the steering.
So my real question is, what could cause the steering wheel to do this and what would be causing the sudden wobbles?
Any help would be appreciated.

[MudRunnerTD]

can you tell me what Caster Correction was added when the 4" lift was installed? your description sounds like Caster Correction issues to me.

[Sofes]

can you tell me what Caster Correction was added when the 4" lift was installed? your description sounds like Caster Correction issues to me.

I wish I could sorry, the previous owner gave me the receipt but I have no idea was correction was used. Ill have a good look at the receipt and get back to you.
Is there any way of checking this?

[Sofes]

can you tell me what Caster Correction was added when the 4" lift was installed? your description sounds like Caster Correction issues to me.

Okay so I checked the car and the receipt, it had drop boxes put in for the correction (I'm assuming that is a form of castor correction)

[MudRunnerTD]

Yes it is. Id put in for a wheel alignment and ask them to check your caster and toe in. Start there.

Have you go pics underneath the car to confirm drop boxes

[Sprock]

I’d be replacing that drag link & the pitman arm if it’s worn before anything thing if it states on the report there’s excessive movement in them .

[the evil twin]

Wot Sprock said X 2

Fix what you know is wrong ASAP and then work out what else needs doing
The wear etc in the linkage will almost definitely be 'hiding' other issues at the moment

[mudski]

If the steering wheel has rotated 90degrees, without you doing anything, and was fine before. I would assume it could only be one of four things. The drag link is bent like a banana, the steering coupling is torn, the steering wheel has slipped on column or the pitman arm has moved on the steering box.

[Cuppa]

If the steering wheel has rotated 90degrees, without you doing anything, and was fine before. I would assume it could only be one of four things. The drag link is bent like a banana, the steering coupling is torn, the steering wheel has slipped on column or the pitman arm has moved on the steering box.

Whatever the cause it's a potentially dangerous situation which needs the attention of someone familiar with such things. It's not just steering wobble, it's what may or may not occur in an emergency situation. You or someone else could die, or risk spending the rest of your life wishing you had.

[happygu]

Did you hit anything hard ... a big rut perhaps, as it seems like you have bent something like the drag link, or something has partially let go.

Get underneath the front and check all the steering components, and if you are not sure what you are looking at, post up a picture, and someone will assist.

It certainly needs looking at as soon as you can