2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Death Wobble, Help!

[GROBBINS]

I cant drive 5 miles without encountering this. I know that it is my worn track bar but sounds like Thuren bars are the best. No way to contact Don Thuren from looking at the website. Anybody know where to get one, or should I just go to Napa and get their warranted one. Gabe

 

[Big Sur]

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[GROBBINS]

thanks BigSur. I must have seen a different link. Gabe

 

[Big Sur]

I've been trying to contact Don for about a week now with no response. I need a track bar and want his. How long does it take to receive it once the order has been placed??

 

[WAnderstrom]

I too am fighting the death wobble. So I ordered a Thuren bar and it took almost a month to get here. He said he was a week behind when I ordered but it turned out to be about 3 or more weeks. There is an obvious difference in construction. Don's unit is much beefier.



Now if I am hijacking your thread from hear on out let me know and I will start another. I have replaced all loose tierod ends, all 4 ball joints, thuren track bar, D25 springs, bilstein shocks. All within the last month. The wobble is only getting worse day by day. I put Don's bar in yesterday. My steering is tight. The only other thing I see down there is that my bushings on my I believe they are the control arms? They are the 4 bars that connect to the frame from the axle have cracking rubber bushings. Every thing else is new. I am running stock tires at 60 psi. Anybody else have any ideas?



Will

 

[Big Sur]

Will,



Did the Thuren bar cure your wobble??

 

[WAnderstrom]

No Big Sur i didn't.

That's why I posted all I did to ask for more help. All that is left to replace are my control arms. I have been calling around for those today. Can they be a cause for the pesky DW? My wife is getting tired of me fixing one thing after another and not finding the problem HEHE. Good luck finding yours. There is another thread going on right now about control arms I have been reading.



Will

 

[Fishin Guide]

It seems to be a combination of factors on most trucks.



A buddy of mine brought his truck over and we did a leveling kit. He was going to change out the steering stabilizer at the same time and it was the wrong kit. He chose to drive home without the stabilizer and death wobble happened at every bridge bump. Put it back on, DW dissapeared.



Other factors, oversized tires that do not have enough sidewall strength and or air pressure to resist rolling under and bouncing. 'E' range tires should be considered mandatory.



Camber/ caster angles are a biggie and usually, you can rotate the axle enough in your driveway to stop DW.



Obviously, as suspension and steering components age, they can all contribute. Don't forget shocks and the most overlooked component, the ball joint.



I have heard of one truck that replacing the arms helped with DW. Come to find out, the front end was NEVER aligned correctly. So, after about 10K and the new arms, DW came back. 10 minutes on his back under the front end and it wass stamped out and has not come back for 50K.



Also, aftermarket wheels with too little backspacing coupled to a big tire will cause this. I know full well what DW is. I have had it on more than one solid axle rig. And the Dodge is a dream compared to my old Bronco. I learned my lessons there. If you want big tires, stuff a big whell in it. Rides rougher, but handles far better. And keep those wheels close to the steering arm. You'll be much happier!!



Dave

 

[Big Sur]

Looks like the options for an adjustable track bar are:



DT $360

Thuren $270

3rd Gen $475

Kore ?? waiting for a return call



I've read EVERY track bar thread on this and other forums, and still not sure which way to go ... perhaps a coin toss??

 

[Sjester]

I was fighting it on mine and after replacing the usual suspects it turned out to be a belt separation in one of my front tires.

 

[jtwcummins]

I used Luke's Link and have not had problems since installing. Also, make sure the front axle adj are the same on both sides. This is the offset bushings in trailing arms. Caster should be about +3* or more and tires have to be ok. Try rotating tires front to back.

 

[RAJohnson]

Death Wobble Fix= Caster

 

[Big Sur]

I dialed in 3. 2* and 3. 5* positive and it didn't cure it.

 

[WAnderstrom]

I had by brake rotors turned yesterday and added as much caster as possible being that I have D25 springs. WOW!! no more DW!! So far. Thanks for the help fellas.



I was wondering about replacing my control arm bushings, I tried to get mine out last night and they woudn't budge. Also are the bushings at both ends of the control arms the same size? Or, should I just replace them. I have been looking at skyjacker DLL 23 which they claimed to go with a 2-3 inch lift. They also sell an adjustable one DLL23sx for just over double the price. How would I dial in the caster with the DLL23?



Thanks for all the info and ideas.



Will

 

[Big Sur]

Will,



Do you know what your final caster settings were? I'm thinking of adding more.

 

[JKinney]

Big Sir



Did you get in touch with Don Yet? The only potential problem with don thurens bar is it might hit your front differential, thats a might. 1. 5 and 02 they sometimes do, Mine did and I put on a leveling kit to fix it. However when I received it, I put it on and it took a couple weeks before I hit a bump to realize it was hitting, I called don and he offered to buy it back but told me about the leveling kit, so I went that rout. The track bar is well built, and rebuildable.

 

[Big Sur]

Does your bar hit with the leveling kit installed. Wasn't sure from your post. Don sent me a brief email saying it was going to be two weeks so I replied asking him if it will fit with my leveling kit but I haven't heard back ...

 

[JKinney]

No it will not hit if you have a leveling kit. I installed the leveling kit after the trackbar to stop it from hitting. If you have a leveling kit this bar is adjustable so you can center the front end

 

[Big Sur]

Good news.



Did it cure your DW if you had it?



I ordered a Luke's Link this AM while waiting to hear back.

 

[Fishin Guide]

No it will not hit if you have a leveling kit. I installed the leveling kit after the trackbar to stop it from hitting. If you have a leveling kit this bar is adjustable so you can center the front end

I do not believe that is a completely correct statement.



If you press the suspension to compress fully, the axle moves back to the stock location and if it hit before, it will again.



A leveling kit with 2" taller bump stops would most likely stop it. All you are doing is limiting suspension travel.



While your truck may not hit while driven on the street, you may in the right situation. Just something to be aware of. And I have had the axle against the stops on side of the other many times just friving very slow off road over a water break.



Dave