2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Death Wobble?

[kgarciactd]

I have done a little research on this website but have not quite found what i was looking for. I have had 2 very similar incidents with my truck within the last month, that i have not had at all until now. I have a 1996 2500 club cab long bed with stock suspension. The other day I was driving south on the grape vine at about 65-70mph when I hit a pothole in the road. Normally this doesnt bother me, but my truck began to shake violently and it took all i could to control it, and move over to the right lane where I slowed to about 35mph when the truck finally stopped shaking. This has happened to me one other time on a local county road, hit a bump, exact same thing. I am now truely scared to take this pickup on any long trips, and I have considered selling it. Does anyone have any idea what this might be?

 

[monkeyman]

Hitting a hole and having the wheel shake till you slow done most likely is your track bar.
Time to upgrade your steering.
Rick

 

[EForbes]

This may not be the same, but i had a 76 ford pick up, and it did the same as you describe. , hit pot hole and the wheel would just wobble until i hit the brakes. It is scary the first couple times. Mine was diagnosed as bad steering box, had it changed and the truck never did it again. hope that helps

 

[champspa]

track bar is what I did.

 

[WilsonF]

Put on Luke's Link on my track bar and all is good again.

Floyd

 

[abranz]

Likely worn suspension parts. I replaced my track bar, shocks, and steering stabalizer and have had no further problems.

Tony

 

[SRath]

The Dreaded Dodge Death Wobble all right... Welcome to the money pit!



The BEST solution imo, is to remove your Cummins engine and put it in an older chevy K30 with leafspring front suspension and a real Dana 60 or a 1st gen Dodge with the same components.



The 2nd best, and easier, thing is to do what these guys have told you.



If you search "death wobble" you will read posts here for hours. You can spend alot (hundred$) or you can spend 10 x "alot" (thousand$) fixing it. It just depends on how "fixed" you want it to stay.

 

[DLangford]

Kgarcia,

I agree with SRath, you just experienced the death wobble.

The first time I worked on my steering system, I put in a Lukes link. At first it worked well. But, after awhile, it loosened up on me TWICE, both causing the death wobble, one time with the wife driving on a trip when I was not there... bad situation!

I got tired of the necessity of checking the Luke's link for tightness, so I just installed the solid steel 3rd gen track bar retrofit kit for 2nd gen trucks. I got it from source automotive. Dodge "fixed" the weak track bar with the 3rd gen trucks, and using this upgrade is what this kit is about.

 

[Seisenbath]

I have a 97 Clubcab long bed, 5 speed that did the same thing, twice, real scary. I changed to Monroe shocks from Geno's and the problem went away.



Steven