Death Wobble Wins!

[mfelix]

75 MPH WOBBLE

BTW it only has 18,000 miles on it now

 

[DPelletier]

All 3rd gen 6spds are HO's. Take a look at the sticker on your valve cover, mine says " Model: ISB 305" and hp "305 @ 2900 RPM".



Dave

 

[Mingoglia]

I wonder if Ford will start having trac bar problems now that they changed their front end and are going to coils:

#ad

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by Mingoglia

I wonder if Ford will start having trac bar problems now that they changed their front end and are going to coils:

I doubt it, they used that set up for a 12 year run in their 1/2 tons and they worked well.

 

[Mingoglia]

Yeah but we were the same way. That trac bar that's in our truck has also been running in our half-tons. The trac bar are good for a 100k miles in the half tons because the engine/front end us much much lighter. I think the trac bar has a reasonable life in the half tons... but... well... you know the story in the heavier trucks (proof of this is also in the V10 trucks... their trac-bars last longer than ours).

 

[Matt400]

One thing about the Ford track bar from 67-79 is they used a bushing and sleeve rather than a ball socket on one end.



The jeep Cherokee is like the Rams and that ball socket goes bad all the time too. Your right about the weight cuz with all the added resistance under the tires it takes more strength to keep the axle centered under the frame.



A retro fit to a urethane bushing would be nice.

 

[CBrittan]

The 'death wobble' is not only common to Ram. My 01 Chevvy K3500 Duramax Dually developed the death wobble about 12000 miles and got progressively worse. Braking to slow this truck at 55 or so took a lot of courage! At slower speeds it was less threatening, but just as bad.



Somebody else owns the death wobble now.

 

[Mingoglia]

I would think the Duramax wouldn't be trac bar related because only trucks with solid axles in the front have trac bars. Perhaps there's another warn part that could of caused the problem you experienced? I'll tell you one thing though I sure enjoy the peace of mind my DT trac bar has given me!

 

[Matt400]

Excessive play in any of the steering/chassis components can cause a death wobble/caster shimmy on any auto regardless of the style of suspension.

Add in caster measurements out of spec and a worn steering dampener and it gets worse.



Once you have established ALL steering/chassis components are good, alignment is good then a HD dampener is all that is needed.



I have never seen an auto that had a mysterious uncorrectable wobble, something there causes it.