230K and now I have the DEATH WOBBLE

[Deleted member 995608]

As you know, last Sat, the driver side tie rod broke on my truck in a slow speed parking lot manuver. I had my 2500 towed to the only reputable shop I have which specializes in drivetrain work; Owner is also a CTD fan. Normally, I do my own work and have them align it on most occasions (They've done 6 alignments for me without issue and the same guy does the work). This time, I'm 45 minutes from home so my best option was to have them replace the tie rod and align. I picked my truck up the following Mon and fiddled farted round town for a bit.

As soon as I got to 65 MPH, hit a bump in the highway and went into death wobble. Let off the gas, applied the brakes and pulled onto the shoulder. I nursed it back to the alignment shop and pulled my driver seat out of my *****. Checked steering on the ground, up on rack etc. Nothing obvious. We then rotated the tires and I went about my marry way. Made it home and drove over the exact bump without issue.

TODAY. After driving my truck up and down the hill several times since Monday, my truck goes back into death wobble after hitting another bump on the highway. Almost a full week without trouble and BAM!

I pull the seat out of my ***** again and limp back to the shop. Neither they or I know where to start.

I put Lukes Link bushings in the track bar back in 09. These are the only parts that show some sort of wear. I had them order a OEM track bar from Dodge $$$$ but I don't know where to start.

I forget the exact date, but I did rebuild the entire front end of my truck earlier this year- upper/lower ball joints (MOOG), Hub bearings, front axle u-joints etc etc... . Had the same shop align my work and have been 100% until last Sat.

 

[Slow Six]

I went through all that with my 03. I finally had the 08 steering upgrade installed and I never had death wobble again. The steering upgrade has heavier components and totally different geometry plus a heavy duty steering stabilizer. I used Carli ball joints. The death wobble is quite an experience, especially when it starts just as you finish passing a semi and have to slam on the brakes andget off the road. There have a lot of posts on the DW.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I have the updated linkage. Installed in late 09

 

[jhenderson]

Check the steering stabilizer. Dodge put one on for good reason. Just a little weakness can cause this problem.

 

[sag2]

I always go back to what you did to break it. You said the tie rod broke and the shop replaced it. Did the wheel(s) rotate all the way in or out when it broke damaging something else, the stabilizer perhaps? What else did the shop do besides replace the tie rod end and set the toe? Did they adjust the tire pressure? Is the toe set "close enough" or right on the money? If it didn't do it before, and only after, something else was damaged, or the shop did something different than they normally did.

 

[RodMorris]

I haven't had that problem with my Dodge, but I had it on my old '96 Chevy K2500. I put a new steering stabilizer on it, and it never did it again. My son drives it now and it has almost 300,000 miles on it.

 

[AH64ID]

I always go back to what you did to break it. You said the tie rod broke and the shop replaced it. Did the wheel(s) rotate all the way in or out when it broke damaging something else, the stabilizer perhaps? What else did the shop do besides replace the tie rod end and set the toe? Did they adjust the tire pressure? Is the toe set "close enough" or right on the money? If it didn't do it before, and only after, something else was damaged, or the shop did something different than they normally did.

I agree, view it as a coincidence as a last resort. Either something was damaged when it broke, or the new tie-rod end is the cause.

 

[04blackcherry]

I replaced the drag link after finding some play in it. I had had a few near death experiences with death wobble. Went and had the truck aligned. It was worse after the toe adjust and new drag link. I have a steering box stabalizer, a Bilstein steering stabilizer and Luke's links in the track bar. I replaced the rest of the steering ties and cranked in some caster. I have been good so far. The alignment shop said the caster was in the 3 degree range. Said the truck would steer easier. These trucks need at least 4 or more degrees of caster. So I did it myself.



Previously had replaced all front ujoints, balljoints and hub bearings.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

So I brought my truck home today with a new Dodge OEM track bar installed. Drove the same highway home and tried to steer through the same expansion joints that made my A $ $ suddenly adhere to the seat.

So far so good. But then again, my truck was fine for a week after the first incident when it decided to buck uncontrolably again.

I'm hoping that it was just the Luke's Links bushings in the track bar that wore out. if not, I'll replace some more parts and hope for the best.

 

[AH64ID]

I hope your cured, but I still think it deals with the recent failure.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Drove into town today without issue. I had to pick up our fifth wheel from the detail shop. I was on edge the entire way home. Luckily, my stead didn't buck on the way home.

 

[Got HO?]

Castor angle is critical. Found that out on my own truck a while ago. Had an alignment done and immediately experienced the wobble. Took it back and had them rack the truck again and take readings. Turns out they dialed the castor angle back to 2 degrees. Had them adjust it to 4 degrees and the problem was solved.

 

[BDaugherty]

Ditto on the caster angle and steering stabilizer. Also front shocks.

 

[champspa]

You'll never trust that stead again . that's my response for Death Wobble . It gives you a different feeling about a solid axle front in a 4x4 , it seems to happen in all brands . if I ever get a new one it will be 2 wd just because no matter what they do they haven't fixed it yet .

 

[Got HO?]

You'll never trust that stead again . that's my response for Death Wobble . It gives you a different feeling about a solid axle front in a 4x4 , it seems to happen in all brands . if I ever get a new one it will be 2 wd just because no matter what they do they haven't fixed it yet .

See the post above yours... ... .

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Well I'm here in Vegas to do a little business and watch NFR. I drove my trusty stead here and so far, so good. I hit 85+ a couple,... ... . okay- most of the way and NO death wobble.

My conclusion is that the Luke's Links bushings in the track bar were worn out, allowing the axle to shift from side to side too far, therefore causing the original failure of the tierod end. Sounds legit to me.

Heading back downstairs to drink more beer and lose more money. Cheers!

 

[cerberusiam]

if I ever get a new one it will be 2 wd just because no matter what they do they haven't fixed it yet .

Your choice, but the reasoning is flawed. DW is an easy fix on any truck. Period.



Problem #1 - The belief that shocks and tires will NOT cause DW. Time after time, the wrong or sub standard tires cause DW. Worn shocks allowing tires to bounce do the SAME thing. DW is a MAINTENANCE issue, not a DESIGN issue.



Problem #2 - Alignment shops have no idea what to do unless their machine tells them and beyond the published stock specs they are lost. Caster has been definitely proven to fix the DW on just about any problem truck there is. Can't ignore the wear items but caster is significant. It is entirely possible to wear out every part in the front suspension\steering at the same time, and have NO DW though. The steering and suspension geometry is the key.

 

[AEdelheit]

Your choice, but the reasoning is flawed. DW is an easy fix on any truck. Period.

Problem #1 - The belief that shocks and tires will NOT cause DW. Time after time, the wrong or sub standard tires cause DW. Worn shocks allowing tires to bounce do the SAME thing. DW is a MAINTENANCE issue, not a DESIGN issue.

Problem #2 - Alignment shops have no idea what to do unless their machine tells them and beyond the published stock specs they are lost. Caster has been definitely proven to fix the DW on just about any problem truck there is. Can't ignore the wear items but caster is significant. It is entirely possible to wear out every part in the front suspension\steering at the same time, and have NO DW though. The steering and suspension geometry is the key.

Couldn't agree more, I have never seen a case of DW that couldn't be fixed! It is amazing how many people insist it can't be tires, and some popular brands are more prone then other, I wold never put BFG AT's on our trucks, yes I know there are people in here who have them with no problems, good for you... ..... For now.

 

[cojhl2]

Just recently had a shocking experience.



My front tires were wearing like a disaster and they weren't all that old. Tire shop after instilling new tires all way around blamed the shocks. That made no sense to me as a pickup that had no springs anyway (1990 W250(Springs must have been an option)) what could a shock do to help with tire wear.



Nevertheless, I installed new shocks because i could not go back to the Tire Factory and complain if Ii did not take their advice.



Well I can not believe the difference!! The pickup rides and handles entirely different. Although I obviously have no new information on tire wear I can definitely see the difference in ride and handling.



Although I could not directly compare the action of the new shock with the old as the new ones were strapped down until install, the old ones seemed to have plenty of restriction to movement.



So,, here is where I'm at: From now on if there is any question at all on these kind of problems the shocks(especially for their little cost) will be one of the first items to be blamed.