Help!! - Truck began to shake violently on highway at 70 MPH

[JPearcey]

Has anyone ever experienced an EXTREME virbration/shaking of their truck at highway speeds after hitting a small patch of rough pavement?



While driving on highway at approx 60-70 MPH I drove over a series of small bumps/potholes in the highway (probably an area of 5 - 6 feet). The truck started to shake VIOLENTLY and did not recover even though pavement was smooth after. This shaking was EXTREME!!! and persisted for more then 500 feet... I had difficultly keeping control of the truck... it felt like I had blown two front tires. It persisted until I was able to slow down to about 30 MPH. Then it seemed it stopped. I pulled over got out and expected to see my front tires blown... but everything looked normal. Got back in and drove on with no problem for more then a week. . but it happened again today! The truck ('06 Crew Cab short box 5. 9) has 55K miles and until this week I'd never had any problem like this before. The shaking was front to back (no side to side rolling) and very fast. I tow a fifth wheel and I'm sure I would have lost the trailer (or tore my hitch off) if I had been towing.



Anyone else ever experience this kind of thing???



JPearcey

 

[roperteacher]

Do a search for " Death Wobble" there have been quite a few reports. I have not experienced it but saw your post and knew what you were talking about

 

[wcjp]

What size tires are you running? This sounds like the death wobble. Death wobble has been known to occur with stock size tires but is usually associated with oversize tires. You may have other suspension/steering components in need of repair. Do you have a suspension lift? How much? Truck specifics would be nice.

 

[Sky]

This happened to me about a year ago just after I got new ball joints and track bar etc i have 33's. I was doing about 55 over some train tracks and my truck started shaking so bad I almost went in the ditch and it wouldn't stop until I stopped the truck. I got out and look under the truck and check everything out and all looked fine so I got back in the truck and it drove like nothing ever happened. I have hit those tracks over 100 times since then and I have never got it to happen again. It was the strangest thing but it was impossible to control the truck.

 

[MMeier]

I'd start off by replacing shocks, seems alot of people here like Bilstiens.

 

[FullSack]

I second the "death wobble" search.



I had it happen to me 3 times. All three times were AFTER I put in BFG 315's (D rated!!) I switched back to stock (E rated) and I never happened again.

 

[nickleinonen]

i've got 315's under mine [d rated 3195lbs@50psi] and i have never yet experienced death wobble. . [and i drive pretty quick on rough roads]

to see a simple example of death wobble, next time you are somewhere with a shopping cart, run with it as fast as you can and watch the front casters start to "death wobble". . while caster adjustment isn't the only cause of the death wobble, it is a major factor. . on my truck, the cam's are set nearly at max from factory giving me lots of positive caster. . i also have the rear end lowered a little with the spacer blocks out. that ever so slightly changes the angle the frame sits at, and slightly pitches the front axle into more caster

just my $0. 02

 

[AKaiser]

next time you are somewhere with a shopping cart, run with it as fast as you can

Look at 'im go!!! Bet that gets some stares.

 

[CDonaldson]

Last year on the early 06 models, death wobble was an issue in the first few thousand miles for some. DC generated a TSB regarding death wobble on the 06 models specifically. It is a mulit-segmented fix/test process of elimination. It begins with tire pressures, which our manuals state incorrectly, and goes all the way to replacement of the steering stabalizer shock. I believe you can find that TSB information on the Carson Dodge Website Carson Dodge Chrysler Support This would be the best place to go through the elimination process. Many with the 06 models have had the problem solved with the replacement shock during their warranty periods. Hope that info helps you to begin to solve your problems via the correct checklist of diagnostics. Also, John Holmes, who moderates and advises on that site has many years of experience with Dodge vehicles and tons of shop experience. There are posts on their forums discussing this from a very technical aspect.



CD

 

[jeeping_0]

i have an 06 mega cab with 315's and had the same problem so i put new rancho 5000 shocks no more death wobble

 

[JPearcey]

Thanks for the feedback on my "Death Wobble". I'd never heard of this kind of thing happening before but it's a pretty good description 'cause if this happened to me at the wrong time "Death would be a pretty real possibility.



I'd like to get some more feedback regarding this before I bring truck for service. To answer some questions... .



Truck is '06 and fully stock... "0" changes at this point. No changes to tires, no lift kit etc. Tires are orignal (michelins) so they have about 40K miles of the 55K total miles on truck. (snow tires fitted for 15K) Tires have significant wear but still lots of tread left before reaching the wear bars. Other then this occurence, the steering and front end feels very solid and tight. I've always felt it's just like new.



I do wonder about tire pressure... the tires are rated for 80 psi but I've been running with 45 PSI. I've been using 45 since new and never had this problem until now.



Not sure how I should deal with this one... should I start in and get new tires, rims, front end parts, springs? This could be a costly problem but I really don't want to do a trial and error thing. If this happens at the wrong time I might be looking for a new truck in "the great beyond"!!!

 

[BHolm]

Death Wobble is much more common to the 2nd gen trucks, but obvioulsy it can happen in a 3rd gen too. I second the idea to crank up the caster angle, that makes the tires want to track straight, the only negative effect is slightly more steering effort but you probably wont even notice that.



If you take it to the dealer they very likely will offer a wholesale list of fixes from ball joints, track bar and steering stabilizer. None of which are really wrong, but none of them are very cheap either. I would start with a front end alignment maximizing caster. The steering stabilizer may help but it is more of a band aid on the problem than a real fix. Getting rid of any free play up front is a better fix and may require ball joints and other suspension components, though you don't have that many miles on yet.



I witnessed Death Wobble first hand on a second gen. My sister in law was pulling a 27 ft travel trailer on the highway and I was following in our Motorhome. She hit a rough stretch of pavement and I could see the front end dancing around like crazy. Like others experiences, she had to pull it over, change underwear, and it didn't happen again on that trip but, it sure looked scary to me!

 

[CDonaldson]

I hope you do take the time to go over to the website I recommended. Tire pressure was the first thing on the list of causes. The tire pressure you are running is too low. That alone can cause death wobble. Aged tires not only loose tread, they also loose sidewall strength, that can cause death wobble. Our vehicles are not the only ones that experience death wobble from those two things, but we DO seem to be more prone to it by design. Again, there IS a TSB regarding this, it is fully explained on the Carson Dodge Site. I'm not suggesting that people here do not know how to fix it or deal with it, just that there IS a procedure for correct evaluation of what IS really causing the problem. Before going to a dealership I personally would air my tires up properly, and if they were worn or at a questionable point, I would replace them. By taking those 2 steps, you would then be ready for the dealership side of things the first time you made a visit instead of wasting your time because they aired up your tires and told you to go see what that did in fixing the problem. Same applies to the next step in maybe replacing your tires. I guess it's all a matter of how much time you want to spend at the dealership for each item on the checklist before you can actually have them begin to test components. Their methodology and mentality requires you go through EACH one at EACH visit, nothing happens any other way with their process.



CD

 

[JPearcey]

All...



Thanks for the feedback. I'm probably gonna start with a wheel alignment, new tires and increase pressure as a first step. The tires aren't too bad but I've gotten 40K miles on them so I guess it won't hurt to have fresh rubber.

 

[Regcabguy]

"dw"

While it's in for the alignment,definitely replace the shocks,front and back. Bilstein 5100's are probably your best bet. When they pull out the stocks,you'll see they are worthless at dampening these heavy trucks. The only "D. W" I've ever witnessed was in an old Ford E-100 van. It was a terrifying occurrance. I talked the owner(my boss) into double shocking the twin I beam frontend and that was it.

 

[AKaiser]

I had a serious case of DW on an old farm truck. Mid-70s IHC Loadstar. If I got up above 60, it would shake something fierce. I found I could control it somewhat by keeping some torsion on the steering linkage. Of course, a 30 year old truck will do that.

 

[brods]

CDonaldson has some good advice. Rather than shot-gunning parts at the issue and hoping something hits the mark, follow the TSB. Some automotive engineers spent time thinking the issue through and came up with the most logical causes to put in the TSB. Unless you have unlimited money to throw at the problem or a PHD in suspension design, then the TSB is the best place to start.



FYI 2005 trucks require 60 psi in the fronts, so 45 psi sounds quite low.



DW definitely sucks. I've had DW from shot ball joints on one truck. Had it on another from worn tie rod ends (and probably other sloppy components too). Both trucks had large tires on aftermarket rims which tend to amplify suspension problems.



If you do a search on the web, you'll find tons of info on DW. You'll also find there are as many opinions as to what causes DW as there are sphincters. The most common "fix" is the old "crank up the caster" band-aid, which ignores all the other potential causes of DW. Unfortunately there is very little definitive information out there. No, to be more accurate, it is because DW can have so many different root causes, that there is no magic bullet cure. Again, pay little heed to opinions on the web and go with the engineers who do it for a living (especially when dealing with a totally stock truck)... . follow the TSB!

 

[Task125]

Well after 3 dodge trucks with no DW problems I got it with this one. I got it once before a while ago but has not happend again, till yesterday when the bed was loaded. I guess wth no weight on the front end makes it worse.

Dealer says there is a TSB out on it and is ordering parts.

This is one club I did not want to join.

 

[TAbbott]

I think stock oem tires need at least 65 psi to carry the weight of a 4x4 CTD.

 

[Spooled-up]

My brother has a Ford F250 and had this happen to him and he took it to the dealer and they bumped up his tire pressure which was way low and that fixed the problem. I'd try that first as your pressure of 45 psi was way low for the CTD as others have mentioned. Before you go spending any money or being without your truck, I'd try the simple thing first.