2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Death Wobble

[SBradshaw]

Help!!! I have no idea what is happening to my truck. I was driving on a semi rough road going about 55 when the front end of the truck felt like it just came unglued. The steering wheel was shaking back and forth and the front of the truck just seemed to be bouncing all over the road. I had to come to a complete stop just to get control. This is now the second time it has happened and I feel alittle uneasy about driving the truck. I have heard that track bars are a problem on 4x4 trucks but how do you check them... what else do I need to look at? I know if anyone can help it will be ya'll. Thanks in advance. Scott

 

[Motorhead]

Ck your steering dampner. Un hook one end and push it in and out. It should not have any free spots with no resistance in it. I saw what happened to you to a guy on the freeway one day and it scared the cr@p out of me and I wasn't even in the truck! It looked like the frontend was coming out of this guys truck.

 

[work2muchplay2little]

Lot's of opinions about this topic. Try some searches. I had it initially about a year ago. I replaced my track bar and increased the caster. That cured it for about 10 months. Then it came back as the steering got looser. I just had the right tie rod end and ball joint replaced and it feels like new again. I think the bottom line is that nearly anything in the steering linkage or ball joints can, if there is enough play, permit the incredible oscillation we call death wobble. The shop I had mine fixed in calls it "bump shimmy" - I think death wobble is much more descriptive

 

[Turn&Burn 94]

Shake & Shimmy

Scott, I am running a 94,2wheel,with 5 speed, but I stopped by a friends shop today and he was telling me he has had the same problem with his 98 3500 cummins 4x4. He said he has had to change the steering dampner just about every 10,000 miles to keep the truck from shaking after hitting a bump. I told him I would see what I could find out on here. I asked him if this ever happens when he has a trailer on or with some kind of a load. He said it has never happend under those conditions. I would like to know if this has ever happen to your truck while loaded or towing. He has had his truck checked at a frame and alignment shop and has also recently changed the track bar. I believe there must have been someone who has found some kind of cure for this here in TDR land. His truck is in factory spec's, but I am wondering if the caster is increased as it would be if you had some weight on the truck if it would make this problem go away. I should also note that he said he has had some outboard wear on the left front, not a lot but a noticeable amount.

 

[SBradshaw]

Hey Guys, Well I have two steering dampners... one that looks like it was factory and the other is a Rancho 5000 that attaches to the front diff. I will change out the factory one... is there a certian brand that would be better than another? Also the passenger front tire is showing some wear on the outside edge. . air pressure is good so maybe I need to get them balanced and aligned. Turn&Burn I have only had it happen while unloaded thank God I didn't have a trailer! I do have a full front end replacement bumper with a brush guard that is pretty heavy but this problem has just started so I doubt the bumper would cause it. I guess I will start with the dampner, then track bar, and just keep on going! I will end up replacing the entire front end before I let the family ride with me; every bump or dip in the road makes me pucker up down south! Thanks again!

 

[NVR FNSH]

Even if you install a new steering dampener and it 'seems' to solve the problem you really need to identify the root cause. The steering dampener is only covering the symptoms. Steering geometry should provide a stable system without the dampener and if it's not something is wrong. Every body can flame away but how many vehicles are sold w/o a steering dampener and DO NOT have these problems... My '79 CJ-7 with soft leaf springs & 33" BFGs doesn't have a death wobble and I don't run a steering dampener.



Did you buy your truck used? If your truck is stock and you already have a second dampener it sounds like the previous owner had the TSB (can't remember the #) performed. I had this done on my '96 2500 4wd gasser and it did not solve the problem. Adding additional caster finally solved the problem after DC installed a new trackbar (and replaced it with the original 'bad' one), new control arms/bushings and new wheel bearing/hubs.



Do a search on death wobble or my user name and you should come up with plenty of reading material.



Brian

 

[Royk]

I believe there must have been someone who has found some kind of cure for this here in TDR land.

Yeah, I did. I just don't know what it was! When my '95 was new I experienced it at least two times while doing about 65-70 mph empty. I had to stop and clean the driver's seat the first time! Scared the bejeebers out of me. For a long time I was afraid to go over 60-65 mph. Then the problem went away seemingly by itself. I never did any work to the front end that I can remember till much later in the trucks life. The only thing that I know of that changed was that as soon as my stock tires were somewhat worn, I went up about 3 sizes for a better look. Had the truck 7 years and never had the Death Wobble again.



-Roy

 

[BPINE]

I chased this problem for over a year and the only thing that would fix it was new tires. I replaced everything on the front end. installed a DT track bar, Rancho links and tried every combination of Caster and Camber . New tires helped for about 15k and then it was back, replaced the tires again with 01 Michelin Tires and so far 20k and I am ok. I am sure there is something causing it but I can't find it so far. I asked everyone and tried everything, I figured out that the same fix doesn't fix all the trucks but tires has fixed many.

 

[Dane]

I posted this a few weeks ago -



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=40756



Assumption is a thing called "caster shimmy". My truck has 23K miles, stock tires (worn) and new shocks and steering damper. See the last post...



I have new tires to be put on soon. At that time I'm going to find a shop that will align to the specs from Brent.



This is a strange problem! I hope we can find a fix.

 

[bfinn100]

I had it happen when I hit a rough spot going about 80. After spending about $75. 00 on upholstery cleaner I bought a set of Rancho RS-9000 shocks and cranked em up to 5. Never have had so much as a hint of wobble since. The ride also feels much better, controlled. The stock wussy shocks form the factory were a pretty cheap way to try and make a 3/4 4X4 ride like a car.

 

[Boondocker]

If you want to hear about Death Wobble, check out the JeepsUnlimited Grand Cherokee forum. Just about anybody with a lifted Grand Cherokee knows about it. The front end of the ZJ/WJ and the Rams are the same design. Some people will tell you they drive an old CJ (leaf springs) without a steering stabilizer that doesn't have this problem, so there must be something wrong that the stabilizer is just covering up. Maybe so, but coil springs lend themselves to this phenomenon in a way the leaf springs don't. No comparison. Coil sprung front axles wear out steering stabilizers - replace em every two years at least.



My first experience with death wobble (in the Jeep) was at 65 mpg while towing a 5000-lb trailer. I thought I ran over a chunk of 4x4 wood and it stuck to my tire. Holy cr@p it's un-nerving. It's happened a few times since, and each time, attending to one of the items on the hit list below tamed the problem for a while.



Hitting certain bumps in my 6-month old Ram, I can feel the propensity for death wobble. Probably the steering stabilizer is keeping it under control since all parts are relatively new and not abused. Looking forward to Bilstein shocks though.



Unfortunately, there is no one cure. Anything loose (worn) in the front suspension or steering is a contributor.

The hit list:

1. Steering stabilizer

2. Trackbar (worn ends)

3. Tires - out of balance/round

4. Alignment - adjust it now, adjust it later, conditions change.

5. Ball Joints

6. Control arm bushings



It's an eye-opener, or should I say sphincter opener, when it happens the first time. Do something about it, it'll help with the confidence.



Good Luck,

Neil

 

[NVR FNSH]

Boondocker I think you mean it's sphincter CLOSING experience... .



I'm trying to understand your comment about coil spring front ends going thru stabilizers more than a leaf spring front end and I can't come up with your rationale. Please explain in more detail what you mean by this. My buddies '69 Bronco never had any problems with death wobble and it's a coil front end. Granted it's not a 4 bar front end and doesn't have as many joints/pivot as a Grand Cherokee or Ram.



Steering systems are designed to be dynamically stable and should not require a dampener for normal street driving. Can you imagine the law suits the Big Three would be facing if they designed all cars to require a steering dampener to be driven by the average driver? Adding a second stabilizer or installing a heavier damped stabilizer is covering up the symptom not solving the root cause.



My '00 2500 has had 315s on it since mile 17 - it's now at 43K. It's got the stock steering dampener and there is no hint of death wobble. On my '96 gasser increasing the caster solved the problem - not all the new parts DC threw at it. I had installed new stock sized tires and Edelbrock IAS shocks trying to solve the problem and they didn't do squat.



On the other hand my '85 Toyota 4wd p/u is exhibiting a bit of a death wobble type symptom - and it's a leaf spring front end. I've checked the wheel bearings and they seem to be adjusted correctly. So I've got to move on to the tires, alignment, worn out bushings/tie rod ends etc.



I'm on vacation for the next two weeks so I'll check back then.



Have a great 4th of July,



Brian