[zecatfish]

Ok, I got a 96 F350, 4x4.
Something weird is going on under the front end. Some bumps, not all will cause what feels like the left front tire to start bouncing, thinking I had a shock with a bad valve I replaced both front shocks. Went for a spin to check it and its still there.
I'm at a loss as to the cause.
the ball joints are tight, as well as the tie rod ends. I recently replaced the long tie rod end.
One thing I suspect but looking for advice on too.
If the arm from the pitman arm to the tie rod end actually rub on each other. I know this can't by right. Could they be binding causing the frontend to shake like its coming out?

Fun fun, I've never had a front end act like this one.

 

[MilitiaAir]

Did you jack the wheel up to check it? Jack it up and pull and push the top and bottom of the wheel to check for bearing play. If you can notice any movement I would pull the wheel bearings off and inspect. I really cant think of anything else you havnt mentioned that could cause such a symptom. Mine will do it with 4x4 locked in going across ice with the diff trying to send power to the outside tire when its spinning... Hubs might be going bad maybe? Do you have autolockers or manuals?

 

[94_turbo]

as militia said--the upper and lower ball joints might be bad also, and youll find this by doing the tire thing--just look closely to see which is loose--

 

[zecatfish]

Did you jack the wheel up to check it? Jack it up and pull and push the top and bottom of the wheel to check for bearing play. If you can notice any movement I would pull the wheel bearings off and inspect. I really cant think of anything else you havnt mentioned that could cause such a symptom. Mine will do it with 4x4 locked in going across ice with the diff trying to send power to the outside tire when its spinning... Hubs might be going bad maybe? Do you have autolockers or manuals?

The bearings are fine, I just put brakes on the front, after the mechanic, (ie friend that owed me a favor) got done, I redid it cause he assembled the lock outs backwards. So yea the lock outs are fine as is the bearings.

Ball joints are another story, I hadn't checked them yet. Might be right.
one thing I didn't mention was that it doesn't do it, if the bed has at least 500lbs or more in it.
Fun Fun.
Guess I'll double check the ball joints tomorrow.
Thanks

 

[MilitiaAir]

lol I got my truck with the locks reversed couldnt figure out why my bearings kept coming loose... Weight in the back changes it? Maybe its a bushing that fell out somewhere.

 

[muhley]

might be able to help here. the bushings in the track bar go bad after a while giving the death wobble. feels like the front tires are going off the ground but they are actually going back and forth as the axle is moving side to side. getting to bushings replaced got rid of it for me. a year ot two later it came back, the track bar bushings looked good, but the plate that was added with the lift kit had sheared two of the three bolts. so if your lifted double check the bracked that relocates the track bar on the front cross member. also check the ball joints like the other guys said cause if they were good before they probably got jacked from the death wobble. good luck.