2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Front axle after a severe death wobble question..

[cerberusiam]

What stabilizer would you suggest?....The BFG's have been on truck for 4 years with no issues, have even wear and still good tread but I wonder a bit.

That is about 3 years too long for those tires. Same exact problem on a set of BFGs on an 01 and 2 05's, sent the 01 and 05 both into DW with just a leveling kit on them. Replace the tires and problem gone. Put them on my truck which was stock height with a dual stabilizer and good shocks, no DW but you could feel those tires bounce periodically on smooth roads. Just an intermittent bounce and if you moved over in the lane or changed speed it would dissipate then come back once everything stabilized. Even though they were an E rated tire with less than 20k when the problem started. The sidewalls are just not enough to handle the weight of the Cummins over time, they get soft and when they warm up they get magnitudes worse.

I like the dual stabilizers and even with worn out BJ's, tie rod ends and plenty of slack in the bushings ZERO DW. Bilstein shocks, a dual stabilizer, and a GOOD set of tires like Nitto, pretty much anything EXCEPT BFG, and DW is not an issue. If you have a steering stabilizer to tie the fornt frame rails together and support the pitman arm on the steering box get one first. Most of your problems are going to disappear with the tires, stabilizer, and SS.

 

[AEdelheit]

What stabilizer would you suggest?....The BFG's have been on truck for 4 years with no issues, have even wear and still good tread but I wonder a bit. There is no clunking or noises of any kind noticed. The weird thing is it is sporadic. I can drive 3 miles down a road and not have what feels like a bouncing. I can then turn around and drive the same road back and get the bounce. Like I said also I've tried recording video in multiple areas under truck while driving and can note when I feel this bouncing and don't see a thing on video indicating what or where it could be...

I would go with a very high quality single stabilizer from King with rod end bearings instead of bushings, it will out perform 2 cheaper stabilizers by far. For example https://www.thurenfabrication.com/p...steering/thuren-ram-king-steering-damper.html or the Carli Bilstien works well too.

On the tires its pretty common for them to be fine for the first 20-30k then start having issues, seen it many times before.

 

[BillBaker]

I meant this as in only when YOU drive the truck and not when someone else drives the truck.

Didn't figure it was bouncing around sitting in the drive......:-laf

Yes it does it when a few of the mechanics drove it also.

 

[GrantP]

Well I'll state the obvious...have the tires been rebalanced? I really, REALLY, doubt this is an axle related issue.

 

[BillBaker]

Well I'll state the obvious...have the tires been rebalanced? I really, REALLY, doubt this is an axle related issue.

This is actually next on my list...i'll be darned if it's the tires.

 

[BillBaker]

I would go with a very high quality single stabilizer from King with rod end bearings instead of bushings, it will out perform 2 cheaper stabilizers by far. For example https://www.thurenfabrication.com/p...steering/thuren-ram-king-steering-damper.html or the Carli Bilstien works well too.

On the tires its pretty common for them to be fine for the first 20-30k then start having issues, seen it many times before.

This truck is a 98 and I know I've searched for a different stabilizer before...if my memory is correct I only had 2 options.. A rancho or skyjacker. I will search more and if you've got any suggestions let me know thanks.

 

[AEdelheit]

This is actually next on my list...i'll be darned if it's the tires.

Just because the tires balance does not mean they are good, be careful assuming that.

Forgot the truck is a 98, I would contact CJC off road at www.cjcoffroad.com or 844-252-6373 as they carry a good selection of 2nd gen products and know what works!

 

[BillBaker]

Just because the tires balance does not mean they are good, be careful assuming that.

Forgot the truck is a 98, I would contact CJC off road at www.cjcoffroad.com or 844-252-6373 as they carry a good selection of 2nd gen products and know what works!

Cool man thanks, i did contact them and will be ordering some parts.

 

[BillBaker]

So I've ordered a Carli low mount steering stabilizer and am looking at getting a set of Nitto tires hoping this solves my issue. I'll post the result after all is installed soon...

 

[BigPapa]

Do you have a friend you could swap wheels/tires with just to test?

 

[BillBaker]

Do you have a friend you could swap wheels/tires with just to test?

Unfortunately no... live in a new and rural area or i would try that.

 

[BillBaker]

Ok so I contacted cjcoffroad and they said I could use the Carli low mount steering stabilizer on my truck. Weird thing is it says for factory 08+ T-style steering. As far as I know I've got the Y style, but, if I look at comparison pictures I get confused of the Y and T. See attached pictures for a better visual. Truck has had a 3rd gen track bar conversion (before I got this truck).

 

[GrantP]

You've got the T-style.

 

[BillBaker]

You've got the T-style.

Was this standard or upgrade with 3rd gen track bar upgrade do you know?...

 

[GrantP]

Was this standard or upgrade with 3rd gen track bar upgrade do you know?...

It has nothing to do with the track bar. There was a HD steering option available in '99 and maybe 2000 (unsure of the years) that was the T-style. It was a popular conversion when the Y style wore out. I did it on my 97 many years ago using off the shelf parts.

 

[BillBaker]

It has nothing to do with the track bar. There was a HD steering option available in '99 and maybe 2000 (unsure of the years) that was the T-style. It was a popular conversion when the Y style wore out. I did it on my 97 many years ago using off the shelf parts.

Interesting...possible is came on the 98 stock?...previous owner did any and all upgrades on this truck and doesn't recall doing a Y to T.

 

[JR]

Interesting...possible is came on the 98 stock?...previous owner did any and all upgrades on this truck and doesn't recall doing a Y to T.

Yes it did. 99 and earlier had the preferred (T style) steering set up of the 2nd gens. In 2000 they changed the front axle from the balljoints out as well as the steering set up. A short explanation of why imo T style is desirable is toe in does not change with loading as you go from running empty to max gvw and everything in between. Load distribution among components is better equalized across the board on t style. It seems to be the better set up for a HD truck, at least of this vintage.

 

[BillBaker]

Yes it did. 99 and earlier had the preferred (T style) steering set up of the 2nd gens. In 2000 they changed the front axle from the balljoints out as well as the steering set up. A short explanation of why imo T style is desirable is toe in does not change with loading as you go from running empty to max gvw and everything in between. Load distribution among components is better equalized across the board on t style. It seems to be the better set up for a HD truck, at least of this vintage.

Good clarification on this.... thanks

 

[GrantP]

99 and earlier had the preferred (T style) steering set up of the 2nd gens.

My 97 had the Y type originally. The T style was a "heavy duty steering" option in the later model 2nd gens. It may be possible it was stock on the OP's 98, I'm just not sure what years it was available but T style definitely was not standard on the early 2nd gens.

 

[JR]

My 97 had the Y type originally. The T style was a "heavy duty steering" option in the later model 2nd gens. It may be possible it was stock on the OP's 98, I'm just not sure what years it was available but T style definitely was not standard on the early 2nd gens.

You could be very well right. I just know it was available factory on the 98-99 (Bills year truck). Point being the drag link attaches to the tie rod in a position that is very close to the knuckle. The idea is that the less distance between the drag link and knuckle, the firmer the steering will be.
Starting in 2000 they changed up the axles from bj out including steering linkages. The tapers are all smaller making components non interchangeable. So I assumed it was all early 2nd gen...but we know what happens when one ASSumes :-laf