[702GT]

Drove a buddy to the airport this morning, and on the way back I hit an interchange that had a bump where the ramp starts. I hit it doing about 55mph and the truck started shaking violently, you could feel the steering wheel getting rocked left-to-right. I thought I was losing a wheel! Talk about "pucker up"! I was fortunate there was no one behind me or to the side of me, as I applied slight brake and decelerated to about 35mph and the shaking stopped. I pulled off the road and did a walk around the truck. Nothing appeared out of place, I checked the tire pressure to be sure, all 4 tires came back at 74psi (I run 70psi cold). I crawled under to check behind the wheels and see if I broke any steering linkages or axels bearings had spit out. No fluids, nothing out of place, bushings whole and in all the right places. I tried pushing/pulling on the front wheels to see if there was play in the wheels or bearings, no clunks or play. Couldn't find anything so I got back on the road and all was as if it never happened.

I've had an alignment done by Ford 1800 miles ago, they said it was perfect. I just had the tires rotated and balanced literally 2 days/150 miles ago. Tread wear is perfect and tread depth matches, one wheel was slightly out of balance by .5oz and they corrected it. The ride is smooth as silk as it gets for a 4x4 3/4 ton.

I'm not even going to bother taking it in to the dealer, after searching the web and here, it's just another issue Ford doesn't give a damn about. So I'll save myself their $200, just to tell you nothings wrong, diagnostic fee.

The list of Ford Fail is growing for my truck: Water Pump Failure (50k/mi), Radiator Leak (?50k/mi?), Death Wobble (51k/mi).

To Ford Service, don't bother. As you said with my radiator leak, we've got nothing to discuss.

I'm waiting for the coup de grâce for my poor F-250. My money's on water in fuel.

 

[stevedunham]

In my experience with Death Wobble on several Fords, both lifted and not, Death Wobble is almost always attributed to loose/worn trac bar bushings, loose nuts/bolts in those bushings, or a loose trac bar drop bracket... The trac bar should be pretty much parallel to the drag link from the pitman arm to the right side of the axle where it mounts...

 

[702GT]

In my experience with Death Wobble on several Fords, both lifted and not, Death Wobble is almost always attributed to loose/worn trac bar bushings, loose nuts/bolts in those bushings, or a loose trac bar drop bracket... The trac bar should be pretty much parallel to the drag link from the pitman arm to the right side of the axle where it mounts...

I'll take it to my alignment guy and have him check on it. Visually, all the bushing looked good (nothing cracked or egged out) and I didn't see any nuts/bolts that looked backed off. From what I have read, people have reported milage across the map (5,000 to hundreds of thousands) that experience this death wobble. If a newer truck experiences this issue, I would venture to say it's not bushings or nuts/bolts causing it. But I'll check on your suggestion, this is my first 3/4 ton. Never had any such issues with my 1/2 tons. I'm just glad it didn't happen when I was doing 80.

 

[702GT]

In my experience with Death Wobble on several Fords, both lifted and not, Death Wobble is almost always attributed to loose/worn trac bar bushings, loose nuts/bolts in those bushings, or a loose trac bar drop bracket... The trac bar should be pretty much parallel to the drag link from the pitman arm to the right side of the axle where it mounts...

Had my alignment tech check both the alignment and all the suspension parts in question, he says everything is reading proper torque and is where it needs to be. Gave me a print out so I can put it in my warranty folder. Probably won't matter in a year or so anyway, I'm about to start laying down some serious miles on the truck. Next job will be in Maryland for me, could be out there the rest of the year. I'm sacrificing a Honda before I go, in an attempt to appease the Car Gods and allow me a breakdown free journey cross-country. I've decided against hauling the 5'er for this trip.. I just don't trust the truck.

 

[fordsforever73]

I installed the "Tracinator" in my '05. It made a huge difference in handling and the dreaded wobble. It's a few bucks, but well worth it imo. Have a look at the site and they explain the difference in bars.

Trac-inator

 

[702GT]

I installed the "Tracinator" in my '05. It made a huge difference in handling and the dreaded wobble. It's a few bucks, but well worth it imo. Have a look at the site and they explain the difference in bars.

Trac-inator

You say it made a huge difference and is worth the money. How did it make a difference for you?

Are you OEM ride height or do you have a lift/lower/level kit? Aftermarket upgrades beyond just this bar? Do you run over-sized wheels? Did you install the bar before or after any other suspension upgrades?

I've read that lifted trucks and trucks with over-sized wheels experience the death wobble more-so than stock, because it throws off the steering geometry even more. So I ask if you are or aren't, because if you added the bar after suspension mods, it may be correcting what the aftermarket suspension was making worse.

Also, when you say it made a huge difference, are you implying you used to get the death wobble regularly, and since the bar was installed you *never* get the death wobble, or less frequently?

Not putting you on trial here lol, just being thorough.

 

[Captcaper]

The wobble is coming from the track bar bushing on the drivers side...I had it replaced with a Moog one and solved the issue. My 2011 had it happen hitting a bump... same as your issue after hitting the bump. I think it cost around $250 to replace it and align the front.

 

[fordsforever73]

702GT, I have stock suspension dually with Bilstein shocks and stock tires/rims. When the factory tracbar joint was sloppy, I could feel a lot of what seemed like, body roll and sort of sloppy steering. When the wobble would start, I'd back off the throttle a bit, before it wanted to "let go". I've had big trucks and know what death wobble is...damn near puts you in the ditch! Not cool. Now, with the tracinator, it's a lot more responsive, and handles way better...wanna say like a sports car...but not quite. Lol.

 

[702GT]

The wobble is coming from the track bar bushing on the drivers side...I had it replaced with a Moog one and solved the issue. My 2011 had it happen hitting a bump... same as your issue after hitting the bump. I think it cost around $250 to replace it and align the front.

All my bushings look good though. Nothing hollowed out or cracked/splitting. Everything torqued to spec. Are you saying the OEM bushing just isn't doing the job?

 

[fordsforever73]

Mine was the bushing on the axle (pass) side. It was tight, side to side, but when I pried it up wards, it moved a good 1/4"+.

 

[Captcaper]

All my bushings look good though. Nothing hollowed out or cracked/splitting. Everything torqued to spec. Are you saying the OEM bushing just isn't doing the job?

Yes... it has damage that must be hard to find.. at least for some mechanics..

But I bet it is the track bar on either or both ends that is the issue.

 

[FishOnOne]

My '12 did the death wobble once when the tires where about at the end of life. I put on a new set of tires and now it runs down the road smooth as a whistle.

 

[RonKZ650]

It seems the death wobble is an ongoing problem since 1909. How in the world with steering that takes 2 full turns to turn a left or right turn this can happen? It can't without help from driver that needs major skill improvement. Look at various schools to learn before injuring yourself or others.

 

[STMPDUST]

My 2011 Dually gave me the death wobble at 50,000 miles, the factory Bf Goodrich tires were out of life, i bought a brand new 2015 Dually and installed 19.5 Tires and rims, and put the factory new tires and rims on the 2011 dually (Same BF Goodrich), i now have 80,000 miles on the 2011 and have NEVER had the death wobble again,i have done nothing else to the truck, Now i have had several duallys since 2000 and in 2005 and 2006 both those trucks had the death wobble so bad a few times it was pretty scary, the dealer did this they did that it still came back, new tires fixed those as well, i know many have had it fixed with different parts , just really stating that new tires has always fixed my death wobble. i BELIEVE the sidewalls start to give out when tire wear or low pressure happen, and when it oscillates one time with death wobble, it will continue until new tires are installed

 

[702GT]

It seems the death wobble is an ongoing problem since 1909. How in the world with steering that takes 2 full turns to turn a left or right turn this can happen? It can't without help from driver that needs major skill improvement. Look at various schools to learn before injuring yourself or others.

I'm not sure if you're serious or just messing. Are you saying some lack of skill on my part caused the truck to go into a violent shake at 60mph after hitting bump in the road? Would love to know what school teaches its drivers how to avoid such circumstances, it may be worth taking a video camera and filming the first class session. "Bumps in the Road: 101 - What you need to know before Super Duty'ing"

My 2011 Dually gave me the death wobble at 50,000 miles, the factory Bf Goodrich tires were out of life, i bought a brand new 2015 Dually and installed 19.5 Tires and rims, and put the factory new tires and rims on the 2011 dually (Same BF Goodrich), i now have 80,000 miles on the 2011 and have NEVER had the death wobble again,i have done nothing else to the truck, Now i have had several duallys since 2000 and in 2005 and 2006 both those trucks had the death wobble so bad a few times it was pretty scary, the dealer did this they did that it still came back, new tires fixed those as well, i know many have had it fixed with different parts , just really stating that new tires has always fixed my death wobble. i BELIEVE the sidewalls start to give out when tire wear or low pressure happen, and when it oscillates one time with death wobble, it will continue until new tires are installed

My tires are pretty new, as I stated originally I had just had my wheels rotated/balanced, as they were at their 5,000 mile maintenance cycle. (I suppose I left out my tires are pretty new in the original post, my fault.) After the Death Wobble occurred, I inspected everything I could immediately, tire pressure was at 74psi all 4 corners, I run 70 psi cold so that in the heat/while hot they should maintain around factory recommended pressure (75psi). I just can't see tires being the issue in my case, but I'm still looking into the track bar and bushings as being high on the list of culprits. I haven't had another incident since, but I haven't been able to reproduce the speed or bump in the road that set it off. One day I'll make it a point to drive there again and attempt to reproduce it, and then perhaps install that aftermarket track bar and bushings and see if it reproduces again.

 

[Freddyh123]

It may have something to do with tire caster. If everything is tight ( ball joints, tie rods ,etc) get your tire caster looked at. I believe the factory adjustment for caster is 1 degree, if you change it to 3 degrees or so, that should help. They sell kits that allow you to adjust caster. There is a very good video on youtube made by POWERSTROKEHELP that explains the death wobble very well.

 

[702GT]

It may have something to do with tire caster. If everything is tight ( ball joints, tie rods ,etc) get your tire caster looked at. I believe the factory adjustment for caster is 1 degree, if you change it to 3 degrees or so, that should help. They sell kits that allow you to adjust caster. There is a very good video on youtube made by POWERSTROKEHELP that explains the death wobble very well.

I'll look for that video and see if my paperwork states the caster.

Again, my biggest concern is what would happen if I had a 10,000lb load behind the truck and it did this. I haven't found anything online yet that has had someone say their truck death wobbled while towing/hauling, but if it *can* happen while tow/haul, that'll really be a pucker up moment. It's been my experience, while towing, the truck rides/drives the best.