2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Death Wobble takes a life

[jrlawler]

Real sorry about the dog. In my world it's like losing a family member. I have never posted about this death wobble before but thought I should share what info I have. My first death wobble experience was in my 92 CTD 4x4 dually. I kept hitting this one pothole and that set it off. It was very scary but fortunately no one was hurt. After the second time I replaced the front leafs (the originals were totally inadequate) with a Skyjacker set. Then I went back to the same pothole and tried to set it off again. No problem, things were fixed. From mechanical engineering (if my memory is correct) --- any system, from an airframe to a truck suspension has a natural frequency. If it encounters the same frequency or a harmonic of that frequency, in phase, then it amplifies the vibration-- in engineering this is known as flutter and has been known to bring down planes. We know it as death wobble. Any change to the system changes the parameters of the occurence. So all the reports we are hearing about things that helped out are true. New trackbars, shocks, caster adjustment, springs etc. all will help. My personal feeling is that the caster adjustment works best because it changes the nature of the frequency in such a way that makes it much harder for a bump to be in phase with the natural frequency. That's all I know but I'm doing all these things because I never want to go through this again as fast as I drive. As with all these problems, where the hell is DC? They need to get their head out of their *** and listen to their customers. Does anyone at DC in the executive suite belong to the TDR? Are you listening you DC morons?

 

[Yo Hoot]

As with all these problems, where the hell is DC? They need to get their head out of their *** and listen to their customers. Does anyone at DC in the executive suite belong to the TDR? Are you listening you DC morons?

Ain't that the truth

 

[JPittinger]

Thanks, Heet...

1. Solid Steel Industries braces and 03' trac bar

2. Caster adjustment

3. Upgraded coil springs

4. New bushings in all components

5. New ball joints

1. Built my own brace, helped the steering but not DW. Lukes Link on the trackbar.

2. Yup

3. Yup, TRex. Along with new shocks.

4. All poly bushings, incl. trackbar, swaybar, and control arms. The control arm bushings had a bigger effect than I would have thought. Turns out my rubbers were shot, contributing alot of slack to the system.

5. Not yet.



To your list I would add:

6. New heavy duty Steering Stabilizer.

7. Tires. Weaker sidewall=more bounce. I'll only be running 'E' rated from now on. Worn out tires also hurt the issue.



After all this, I've had DW one time. 75mph, very dark, and a pothole sent me into the shoulder of the fastlane. On the bright side, now I have my own testing ground. If anyone feels like running the gauntlet and you're around Denver, try I-76 from I-70 to I-25 and then back. Still gets me everytime.



I'd be interested in additions to this list, since I'm still searching for the holy grail.

 

[jrlawler]

The more I think about this death wobble the madder I get. Do we have any lawyers that are members? What does it take to get something from DC. How do we get a recall? It's a wonder no one has been killed. It's a definite safety issue and they should address it now.

 

[BigEasy]

I had an 86 F-250 (460,leaves, TTB) that did exactly what you are all describing. Cleanin' out the shorts was almost needed. 36" tires will rip the steering wheel right out of your hand!



As soon as I got an alignment (caster was way off) and and new shimmy shocks it went away...

 

[Heetseeker_1]

It has been said that without caster adjustment, all other parts only 'mask' the symptoms of the illness. However, caster without worn suspension component replacement is yet another bandaid. Here is the list now. Anything we missed? How about a total cost and hrs to install parts?





1. Solid Steel Industries braces and 03' trac bar

2. Caster adjustment

3. Upgraded coil springs

4. New bushings in all components (trac bar, sway bar, control arms)

5. New ball joints if needed

6. Heavy duty shocks

7. Heavy duty steering stabilizer shock(s)

8. Tires with stiff sidewalls (E load range)

 

[truckstom]

I know this happens to the 4x4 guys mostly, but i raised the front of my 2x4 3500 by 1. 5 inches and I've had the DW twice. Scary doesn't begin to describe it. Guess I'll take it in for caster adjustment.

BTW I just bought a 2001 4x4. Pick it up Monday. I'll start bombing on the front end first

 

[Silver Bullet Ram]

Everyone needs to go to NHTSA and complain, this will get an investiagation launched and then a recall will happen. Also mention the lift pump.

 

[NVR FNSH]

JPittinger,



The SSI stuff is the steering brace, 03' trac bar and frame brace thing. I'm still looking into it but don't want to just throw money at the problem without a definitive cure. So far, possible and I emphisize. . "possible" cures are:



1. Solid Steel Industries braces and 03' trac bar

2. Caster adjustment

3. Upgraded coil springs

4. New bushings in all components

5. New ball joints



As you can see, this could get expensive to toss money at. Where do we start? I'm thinking that they are all important. Any other fixes out there? Let's get a list going and see if we can narrow it down.

First thing to do is make sure none of the stock components - ball joints, tie rod ends, track bar, wheel bearings, etc - are worn beyond limits. Then make sure the caster is properly set. The front end on these trucks does not allow for much slop before DW can rear it's ugly head. Search on my user name for my saga with my '96 gasser and DW - bottom line is that increasing the caster fixed the problem.



BTW, solid axle/leaf spring Toyotas get DW. So does my solid axle/leaf spring CJ-7. Fundamentally, DW is an alignment problem.



Brian

 

[NIsaacs]

I have not experienced the DW in my Dodge yet, but did on an old Jeep and my "75" Ford. Both times, removing some shims from the king pin bearings cured the problem. Later I replaced and reset the bearings. The preload on the older tapered king pin bearings was very important. I feel that some of the problems with the newer trucks, is the fact that the ball joints are not adjustable, that some new and used ball joints are too "loose".



"NICK"

 

[MLee]

Everyone needs to go to NHTSA and complain, this will get an investiagation launched and then a recall will happen. Also mention the lift pump.

I made mention of duing this a couple years ago, and now it's back to the top. The NHTSA is suppose to investagate on compailnts when they recieve at least ten [10] and there have been hundreds of complaints posted on here, and I don't think but very few have made a complaint, to the NHTSA.

I even complained about my trailer reciever, and then D. C. done a recall on the later trucks. BUT the earlyer ones were not included, but they had the same problem. I complained.



just my penny's worth.



Marv.

 

[dpuckett]

Does/ can this occur in the half tons, too? I have a few friends with 94-99ish 1/2 tons, and was wondering, esp with the potholes and waves in the roads around here. I have yet to experience it, but if something gets loose or out of spec, I replace or fix it NOW. Steering is just too danged critical to my safety to go lax on.



Daniel

 

[Silver Bullet Ram]

I think we could find at least ten people that would go to www.nhtsa.gov and complain.



Gary

 

[Yo Hoot]

I just submitted my complaint.



Go here



http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/complain/

 

[MLee]

Does/ can this occur in the half tons, too? I have a few friends with 94-99ish 1/2 tons, and was wondering, esp with the potholes and waves in the roads around here. I have yet to experience it, but if something gets loose or out of spec, I replace or fix it NOW. Steering is just too danged critical to my safety to go lax on.



Daniel

Yes they do. my sons' 1/2 ton did it, it had a lift of two inches, old style front end arms, and big tires. Installed the sky jacker bars, these bars were longer to compensate for the lift, reailigned, new steering stabilizer tightened the sway control arm in the front, Bolt was loose big time cause, it had happened before he bought the truck. So apperently the caster adjustment plays a big part, and having the right parts, make it all come together.

Marv.

 

[Heetseeker_1]

Just put my complaint in too. Got the specs and i'm fighting the temptation to start bolting on "fixes" for the Death Wobble problem. I need to find a shop near Sacramento that will do our specs and not the Dodge specs.

 

[Heetseeker_1]

Just put my complaint in too. Got the specs and i'm fighting the temptation to start bolting on "fixes" for the Death Wobble problem. I need to find a shop near Sacramento that will do our specs and not the Dodge specs.

 

[jjohn]

Just put my complaint in too. Got the specs and i'm fighting the temptation to start bolting on "fixes" for the Death Wobble problem. I need to find a shop near Sacramento that will do our specs and not the Dodge specs.

Heetseeker,

Can you pass on the specs please.

Thanks JJ

 

[painekiller]

i didnt notice, can the death wobble happen on 4x2 trucks too????

 

[BKenny]

Hey, Ken Imler diesel is Sacramento Im not sure if they do suspension work but im sure they set you up (916) 920-3775 www.imlerdiesel.com. Im going to have my gauges put in there as soon as i get some time off and i will be looking into the suspention upgrade also. Im going to have to invest in some heafty jack stands and a bigger torque wrench for this beast. The ones i use to work on my old VW are not going to cut it :-laf