Death wobble still - Diesel Forum

crewstang · 08-05-2009, 12:22 AM

so, just got word from my dealer that they can't fix my problem. Every time a hit a good bump in the road the front end feels like its goin to come apart. The dealer put it on alignment rack and said something crazy about the caster being off and that if they put it where it needed to be, it would put something in a bind, which I don't get cause I've drove the thing with every in my sig for 2 years and never had a prob till now. I've done a search and didn't find anything that I haven't tried.
Parts I've changed so far
Drag link
trac bar bracket and trac bar
added dual steering stablizer
different tires
any other ideas??
thanks

timbo2 · 08-05-2009, 10:07 AM

Those Big Tires Probubly Has Worn Out Your Front End In 2 Years And The Dealer Probubly Dont Wont To Touch Your Truck For Liability Issuies From All The After Market Stuff Added Lift Kit Ect....

**MikeL46** · 08-05-2009, 01:24 PM

Have somebody sit in your truck and move the steering wheel from side to side while you are underneath checking for any kind of looseness or play.

Pay special attention to the steering box and trac bar.

Mike

crewstang · 08-08-2009, 03:42 PM

I'll give that stuff a try. I replaced track bar. will the steering box do that also?

Ipolute · 08-08-2009, 07:22 PM

yea the steering box will do that too... you cant always trust mechanics... i took it in for the same problem... 1200 dollars later they replaced the pitman arm and the steering linkage that connects to it.... said it was all fixed... of course as soon as i got on the road ... hit my first bump it did it again...i did just like mike said and had my girlfriend sit in the truck and turn the wheel ... turns out the nut on the track bar that connects to the axle was loose... tightened it up and tah dah.... fixed... im sure youve already checked that so it couldnt be your problem.... but my brother has a dodge on 38.5 tires and his does the same... they said that his hub was bad and he needs tougher steering linkages.... hope it helps buddy

Ranger_713 · 08-10-2009, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ipolute

yea the steering box will do that too... you cant always trust mechanics... i took it in for the same problem... 1200 dollars later they replaced the pitman arm and the steering linkage that connects to it.... said it was all fixed... of course as soon as i got on the road ... hit my first bump it did it again...i did just like mike said and had my girlfriend sit in the truck and turn the wheel ... turns out the nut on the track bar that connects to the axle was loose... tightened it up and tah dah.... fixed... im sure youve already checked that so it couldnt be your problem.... but my brother has a dodge on 38.5 tires and his does the same... they said that his hub was bad and he needs tougher steering linkages.... hope it helps buddy

theres a TSB on that, where the dealer can put on a "stiffer" steering box. With that lift you may not be able, but you need 2.5-3 degrees caster to stop the wobble. Hope that helps

**caryt** · 08-10-2009, 10:08 AM

Really need 4-6* but unless you put 4 link arms you can't get it. Get some castor shims and install them yourself..15min's. Dual steering stlablizers help also.

crewstang · 08-11-2009, 10:33 PM

thanks for the info guys. I will check on that. Let you know if it works, get the truck tomorrow from blow head gaskets, oil cooler and egr cooler. Awesome huh

blizzardwarrior7 · 08-11-2009, 11:03 PM

If all else fails, and you want to end it for good, go here....WC Motorsports Home Page

They have a replacement trac bar that will put an end to death wobble.

The problem with is that the trac bar on these trucks is attached via a ball joint which allows for some lateral play....

Another thing that worked for me was this: The rough country 8" lift kit, came with a bracket to re use the factory steering stabilizer, it simply drops it to a lower positition, and it cured the death wobble for me....My truck was undriveable over 40 mph before I figured Id give it a shot.

**caryt** · 08-12-2009, 12:36 PM

Never have seen movement in the track bar....can't see even if their was how that would make up for the lack of castor. Good idea anyway.

jakes350 · 08-12-2009, 07:31 PM

the large nut i think its a 1" 7/8 that holds the drop drag link to the steering box needs to be tightened up i have two 05 f350s and both were the same once tightened now no problem good luck

blizzardwarrior7 · 08-12-2009, 10:42 PM

caryt

Not sure, but it has something to do with the fact that its a ball joint and its angle in relation to the axle....Thats what the ford engineers say anyway.

crewstang · 08-13-2009, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakes350

the large nut i think its a 1" 7/8 that holds the drop drag link to the steering box needs to be tightened up i have two 05 f350s and both were the same once tightened now no problem good luck

ya, that was the first thing I did was tighten that up. They also tried that.

crewstang · 08-13-2009, 12:04 AM

thing I don't get is, I've drove this truck for almost two years with no issues. Only thing is the track bar broke. Maybe that could have thru alignment off??

bbrrcrw · 08-16-2009, 11:27 AM

Well, just as the day after I got the notice from ford, Well my truck started doing the same thing. I can look out the window and see the driver side tire wobble back and forth severly! To the point that it looks like it is going to come off the truck. Truck shakes so bad that it feels like the entire front end is coming out of it. I also have had my life on for about 2-3 years and it just now started doing this.

It shakes so bad that anything in the truck that is not bolted down will end up in the floorboard.

Going to check on that, It does look like the trac bar has moved from its original position.

Any other help with this matter would be greatly appreciated also! Cant drive the thing as of now.