Another Death Wobble Incident?

[CB HUNTER]

Lately I have been noticing a little ruff ride in my truck and then I had the notorious death wobble happen. I started diagnosting by getting my tires balance and rotated thinking that might be the issue, it wasn't... then took my truck to front end specialist and had tie rods replaced. . wasn't that either... death wobble happen again this morning at about 45 when i hit a bump, it shook big time and i had to slow down quickly. . shocks only have 50,000 on them. can the front end stabilizer shock cause this? I have around 100,000 on it, or dose any one have another ideas. Now I'm thinking maybe something in the stearing. I have 208,000 miles on truck. Any ideals will be appreciated. thx

 

[Slow Six]

I had the same problem on my truck. I knew my ball joints were bad and the more they wore the worse the death wobble got. I was waiting for the Carli ball joints to become available. I finally got them in about 2 weeks ago. I only had to drive a short distance to feel the difference. There was a drastic improvement in steering and handling. This may sound ridiculous but there was a major ride improvement as well. Best of all no more death wobble. I have tried to get the wobble to occur but so far so good. This may not be your problem but it cured mine. There is a new tie rod assembly for our trucks that I have been told helps this problem as well. As for the Carli ball joints the price is a shock but after having them in it was very good purchase and I would not even consider any thing less.

 

[SierraRam]

Is your suspension completely stock or do you have a leveling kit?

 

[CB HUNTER]

Completely stock suspension, I also had the ball joints look at front end shop and they said they were fine, I also can't see any issues with the ball joints that I can see? thanks for your reply's, keep them coming, i need to solve this, i drive a lot of miles each day. thx

 

[JCasper]

I'm not sure why but it seems that most people who have this problem are running BFG's.



That might not be true, but it is something I have noticed.



I have 88K on my truck and have never experienced this.



Stock tires, Pro Comps, and now Toyo M/T's

 

[CB HUNTER]

YOU KNOW I KINDA QUESTION THE TIRES MY SELF AND DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY HAD A HELL OF TIME BALANCING THESE TIRES LAST WEEK. I PONDER THIS MY SELF MAYBE A BAD BELT OR JUST A BAD TIRE, I HAVE 25,000 ON THESE TIRES. JUST TALK TO MY FRONT END SHOP AGAIN AND HE SUGGESTED CHANGING OUT THE STABALIZER SHOCK, i'LL DO THAT TONIGHT BUT I GOT A BAD FEELING ABOUT THE TIRES ALSO. I BELIVE I HAVE READ OTHER ISSUES ABOUT THESE TIRES?

 

[Motorhead]

A bad steering stabilizer will contribute to the wobble.

 

[Regcabguy]

I've never experienced DW,but when I had BFG's on the '99 it took Discount forever to balance them also. I replaced them w/Toyo M-55's and they took a fraction of the weight.

 

[CB HUNTER]

Well I change out the Steering stabilzer last night, drove it this morning, not much difference if any. Good news was it had Life-Time warentee on stabilzer so it didn't cost me anything. Going with new shocks this weekend, same senerio(lifetime warentee). I'm still thinkn tires, when I had them rotated the set on the front were choppy and they went to the back. front ones now are pretty level across the tire though ?

 

[BEmmert]

Hey for what its worth I have had two 2 ½ ton farm trucks develop this type of death wobble. The only cure for them was new front tires and wheels. Cant say they drive like new, but they do drive MUCH better and no more wobble. Simply hitting a bump in the road would send them into the wobble. I have a 98. 5 Dodge pickup that has 200,000 on it and has never developed this issue.

 

[DPurchase]

I had 315 BFG's on my truck, the DW was unreal. I went back to stock tires and the DW is way less. The problem I found with the BFG's was that you could not get the recommended air pressure in them for the truck, to light of a rating.

 

[JBallou]

On other trucks that I have had I went crazy trying to figure it out. Thank the man above that I have not had issues with the dodge.

On all others it was the ball joints. They felt OK but replaced them as the last straw fixed the problem.

I vote for BJ's

 

[CooperJohn]

I'm no expert, but I have a co-worker who was complaining about a horrible out of control shaking in the steering wheel and front end of his truck but only when he hit certain bumps on the highway and only above 70mph. He would have to slow down quickly and pull over to get it to stop wobbling. His truck is a 2005 Ford F350 4x4 diesel with BFG tires. After numerous trips to the front end shop and the dealer to no avail we figured out his problem. He was running 32psi in his e-rated Rugged Trails on a 8000lb truck. We filled up the tires to 65psi all around and no more death wobble. Murphy's Law will probably prevail here and it will be something more complicated or expensive than air pressure but his story might lend credence to a tire brand or worn tires being part of the problem.

 

[CLWilliams]

I got rid of my 2003 for the DW because we could not diagnose it and it was just toooooooo dangerous for the family. I went to a Super Duty. I now have a 2006 and a 1997 Dodge. Many, many, many members here tried to help and I know there are differing opinions on everything, but I never had any DW on my 2003 until I put the leveling kit and 315 BFG's on. In hindsight, I would say that was the cause. The dealer changed every component on the front of that truck to no avail and at 22k she went packin'. My 2006 now has BFG's on it but they are the 10ply 305's with the E-rating and I also have the leveling kit. I think many things can contribute to it and some guys experience it with bone stock trucks, but when you change the stock components on a truck, you are taking a chance. I wish I would have kept the 03, but I did not have the time or patience to see it to the end.

 

[CB HUNTER]

Well, I put new shocks on this past weekend,and I lowered my air pressure in my tires to 60psi. . this did seem to make a handling difference. I have not had any DW yet. But I'm pretty convinced that Tires are a Big factor, This will be my last set of BFG All Terrains. I will go with a straight street tire Next time. I just drive too many highway miles and not enough off-road to have aggressive tread. Any Sugestions on good Street Truck tires is appreciated.

 

[Geno's Garage]

I hope that what you have done so far has taken care of your DW. I can tell you that not all steering stabilizer shocks are the same. Brandon, who works at Genos, was experiencing the DW in his 03 truck & tried a couple different steering shocks & they did nothing till he put on a new factory steering shock. His truck is leveled with 19. 5 steel wheels & 35" tires. Just a sugestion, & we now stock these factory steering shocks for this reason. Scott

 

[wmarosits]

Stock Michelin A/S

 

[Regcabguy]

Stock Michelin A/S

Jason Hughes@ HRC, a KORE distributor/installer had an '08 come in with 100 miles on it. DW w/stockers. It went back to the dealer. He hadn't heard from the guy when I spoke to him. Stockers definitely seem to eliminate it though.

 

[pullya]

IMO--Finding the cause for DW is like a dog chasing his tail. You will read(and there is plenty to read) that people have cured it by: changing air pressure, changing tires, changing rims, changing steering boxes, changing suspenison parts, and on and on. There seems to be a lot of people that have had the problem when they have put BFG tires on usually 315's and many others that say their BFG tires haven't caused any problems. Dodge now has a "new and improved" suspenison kit 52122362AE and 52122370AA(steering stablizer) that appear to have solved many people's problems. However this kit is on nationwide back order. After changing ball joint, tie rod ends, tires and the steering box I am going to try this new kit. I hope it works. Good luck with your search to cure your problem. There is plenty of advise out there, but no magic bullet I've found.

Jay

 

[Yo Hoot]

I killed DW forever. Not happened in a year and a half after chasing for two years. Cure... ... . the BFG's wore out and I put quality tires on. Jelly roll tires is a major cause of death wobble.