Is this death wobble??

[favord]

I've read much of the death wobble threads. Most sound like a high speed occurrence. I'm getting a terrible vibration/shudder that really shakes the rig, most noticeable at low speeds like rolling up to a stop sign, with or without brakes on. As I speed back up it seems to go away or be less noticable. I occasionally feel a very minimal vibration at highway speeds... I think mainly because I'm "feeling" for it and definitely not a near death experience.



Probably 80-90% of my miles are pulling a 22' gooseneck horse trailer and I really don't notice it much at all while hooked up. Immediately after unhooking I can really feel the vibration (feels sort of like driving my JD tractor on deep lugged tractor tires) and it's bad enough that it shakes the whole rig. I took it in to Les Scwhab and had them pull, balance and rotate tires but didn't change a thing. I had already had them do a balance and replacement of ball joints about 15K miles ago due to irregular tire wear. My current tires seem to be wearing fairly evenly. They said to bring it back in if it didn't help and they'd look it over more for another cause. Any ideas or hints I can give them to look for? Not sure this is the real death wobble.



Oh, I have 2" level kit, 35x12. 5x17's Open Country's - about 10K on tires, 58K miles on truck.



Doug Favor

 

[JCleary]

The first thing I would check is the U-joints. My truck would do the same thing after hard driving.



Turns out the rear U-joint would seize when it got hot. When they took it apart metal powder fell out of it and some of the needle bearings were gone.

 

[evldsl]

I've read much of the death wobble threads. Most sound like a high speed occurrence. I'm getting a terrible vibration/shudder that really shakes the rig, most noticeable at low speeds like rolling up to a stop sign, with or without brakes on. As I speed back up it seems to go away or be less noticable. I occasionally feel a very minimal vibration at highway speeds... I think mainly because I'm "feeling" for it and definitely not a near death experience.



Probably 80-90% of my miles are pulling a 22' gooseneck horse trailer and I really don't notice it much at all while hooked up. Immediately after unhooking I can really feel the vibration (feels sort of like driving my JD tractor on deep lugged tractor tires) and it's bad enough that it shakes the whole rig. I took it in to Les Scwhab and had them pull, balance and rotate tires but didn't change a thing. I had already had them do a balance and replacement of ball joints about 15K miles ago due to irregular tire wear. My current tires seem to be wearing fairly evenly. They said to bring it back in if it didn't help and they'd look it over more for another cause. Any ideas or hints I can give them to look for? Not sure this is the real death wobble.



Oh, I have 2" level kit, 35x12. 5x17's Open Country's - about 10K on tires, 58K miles on truck.



Doug Favor

I have had 2 wobbles and both were on the freeway and both happened at right around 80 mph,also my front tires were turned going into a turn. I am carefull to only drive around 70 now and I have not experenced a shutter at all. I think I was upsetting the frame going into the turn, hitting bumps and speeding at 80 mph, I guess sort of like twisting or putting a torque on the frame and then releasing the tension. I have BFG AT's installed 315. 17's at 40 psi.

 

[Slow Six]

Sounds like a U-joint problem. I had similar symptoms when 2 of the rear U-joints were gone. It is a common problem especially in the 3rd. gens.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I've never suffered a DW on my 03 (47k miles). Is there anything I should do if it happens? Hit the brakes, don't hit the brakes, ride it out, cry like Oprha at an empty buffet table?

 

[favord]

Thanks guys. What's best way to determine if it's U-joints?

 

[Slow Six]

Sometimes you can see a track of rust around the cup of the U-joint which indicates the joint is dry. Lack of grease seems to be the cause of failure. Other than that you may have to remove the drive shaft and check each joint for stiffness. My experience with these 3rd. generation joints is that there is no play in the joints, they are just dry and start to seize. Even though there is no play in them they will cause vibrations like you described. When the ones in my back drive shaft went I thought the truck was going to fall apart at certain speeds. The problem went away for a couple of days but reoccurred and then I had to deal with it. I took it to the dealer and they replaced 2 joints in the back shaft. I had to pay a $100 deductible which is more than the Precision greasables (I didn't know this at the time). Since than I have has to replace every U-joint on the truck including the ones done under warranty.

 

[Hohn]

If it's Death Wobble, THERE WILL BE NO DOUBT.

You will see your life flash before you and think of selling the truck instantly.

After you get clean underwear.

This is most likely NOT DW.

jh