SERIOUS PROBLEM/Arbitration Help

[CLWilliams]

I'm sure most of you have seen the posts "Scared to Death" and "I've got that bad vibration". Without going into terrible detail, I need help. Here's the gist! I use my truck for business. Had the death wobble occur so violently that my son, strapped in his car seat (correctly), slammed his head against the rear window. When I say violently... . I mean VIOLENTLY!! Dealership replaced left front hub assembly, and ordered some other part that apparently is unavailable. PROBLEM: Violent shaking has definitely damaged other things in the truck. B-pillars are rattling, driveline has started to vibrate, multiple noises in dash, and popping noises from the rear of the truck. Even if the problem is somehow fixed, I believe so much damage has been done by it that the truck will never be "right". I have contacted customer assistance and told them that nothing short of a truck "just like what I have" will do. I'm sure they are probably laughing by now. Anyway... ... . ANYONE who has experienced ANYTHING like the "Death Wobble", PLEASE POST!! NOTE: I AM going to use this in my arbitration. One member said--"we do the best advertising for Dodge/Cummins here". Well, we can also make them take responsibility here!! THANKS! I really don't want to get a FORD!

 

[rbattelle]

I sincerely hope your son is alright. Good luck.

 

[XcumminsX]

if that happen to my son because of a problem with the truck there would be some big problems..... 1) id go get a lawyer 2) i would take my son to a specialist and have alot of test done to make sure everything is ok. That is rediculus that the truck did that I would be FERIOUS. Right now sitting here i am really angered by this.



I really hope your son is ok. And i hope you are ok. Good luck with whatever you do.

Nick

 

[Kilby]

The death wobble is a common occurance with coil sprung, straight axle rigs such as the Dodge trucks and Jeep wranglers. The most common problem is the steering stabilizer. When it goes bad, it can and probably will allow the wobble. Other problems include alignment, loose tracbar and loose hardware in general in the front suspension.



I've had the death wobble twice in my '03 but it was my fault. I removed the steering stabilizer (think about why they call it that) and replaced it with a bling bling shock for a show we were going to. I never reached freeway speeds before turning around and heading back to the shop to put the OEM stabilizer back on. No problems since. My truck isn't rattling apart like yours is either.

 

[Tony T.]

clwilliams: I'm sorry your having so many problems with your truck, and like the others hope you, and your son are ok. I for one have not experienced the "Death Wobble" in the Dodge "yet", and hope I never do. Year's ago in early 80's I believe I did experience what every one is describing as the Death Wobble. I had a 69 Chevy LWB 4x4 (my first 4wd vehicle) that I had purchased from a mechanic acquaintance I knew. It had a 4 inch lift kit, but with smaller tires, and wheels on it (like 30 or 31 inch tires, and 8 inch wheels). He told me that you could not run large tire's, and wheels on it because it would shake real bad. He said it would not do it all the time just every so often. He had replaced the front end, with a front end out of a 78 Blazer and replaced several different parts related to the front end trying to correct the shaking. Still with larger tire's, and wheels it would shake violently. He gave me the 33 inch tires, and the 10 inch wheels with the purchase, and one day I mounted them on the truck to see what he was referring to. Two days went by, and no wobble, then one afternoon I was coming home from work running about 60 mph and it started shaking violently (scared the hell out of me) I barely could get it slowed down enough to get over to the shoulder. That afternoon the larger tires and wheels came off and I sold them (they had been balanced several times). The truck run perfectly, but you just could not run big tires, and wheels on it for some reason, it had him scratching his head all the time he owned the truck. I might add this, truck had the leaf front springs. I'm not sure you are running stock, or not, but this was my experience with the wobble. Hope every thing works out for you. Sorry for the long post. Oo.

 

[XcumminsX]

coming back to this thread i see you say you dont want a ford..... If my truck does this EVER i will sell it and buy either a ford or a gm, I would not deal with that crap. .

 

[StephenThomas]

Am I reading this right??? --- >14% of the members who have voted on this thread have had the "death wobble"??? That's a very high percentage for such a serious safety issue. I find myself very concerned about this. I'm wondering how many of those that have experienced this problem have done mods effecting the suspension (oversized tires, lift kits or levelers, etc... . )

 

[Tony T.]

Originally posted by StephenThomas

Am I reading this right??? --- >14% of the members who have voted on this thread have had the "death wobble"??? That's a very high percentage for such a serious safety issue. I find myself very concerned about this. I'm wondering how many of those that have experienced this problem have done mods effecting the suspension (oversized tires, lift kits or levelers, etc... . )

This is a good point I also would like to know how many are getting this wobble, stock, or modified suspension.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Keep in mind that anyone who's experienced the problem is FAR more likely to click on this thread. Also it says in the poll "or any other vibration problem", that could be construed as a lot of things other than the death wobble. I personally know a LOT of people that own and drive these trucks (100's) and I'm only aware of 3 that have had the problem.

 

[Tony T.]

Originally posted by Steve St. Laurent

Keep in mind that anyone who's experienced the problem is FAR more likely to click on this thread. Also it says in the poll "or any other vibration problem", that could be construed as a lot of things other than the death wobble. I personally know a LOT of people that own and drive these trucks (100's) and I'm only aware of 3 that have had the problem.

Steve: Your point is understood. Do you know if the 3 had there truck with modified suspension, or was it stock I know of one man that has been complaining with a vibration on his 03 CTD 2wd for months to DC ( not "Death Wobble" related from what I understand). And my truck I have not developed any major vibrations (knock on wood) it will be a year old in January. In fact the only one I have noticed is when truck is idling a very slight one in the dash area close to where the radio is mounted. What has surprised me the most is the 03 Dodge in the "cold weather" that the plastic interior does not make cracking and popping noise's like my 95 Chevy did while heater is warming up the interior. I had better shut up I'm going to jinx it. I would expect to have some slight maybe minuet vibration (like when engine is idling) but nothing like a Death Wobble.

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

I have a very serious death wobble at 80 mph when I hit a bump or a hole in the road. The only cure is to let off the gas. It is a total lack of control situation. Seems to me that the left front tire is bouncing up and down badly. I do have 2" levelers on my truck. Hope this helps. Local dealer said there are no reports to DC and there is no fix available. Can I get a new truck too? Say maybe a 2004. 5?

 

[Forrest Nearing]

just do a search on "death wobble" and print up about a thousand or so posts on the subject.



I hope your son is alright!!

 

[zstroken]

new truck??

Greg you have to be kidding me. Don't take this the wrong way, but how can you expect a new truck when you have put on aftermarket components on your truck. If the truck does the same thing with the levelers removed that is one thing, but to question getting a new truck because you have a death wobble with an aftermarkte component installed that affects the suspension, is a little unrealalistic in my opinion.

 

[Sled Puller]

Did it come with 315 tires from the factory?

 

[amsoilman]

Death Wobble

Keep in mind that anyone who's experienced the problem is FAR more likely to click on this thread. Also it says in the poll "or any other vibration problem", that could be construed as a lot of things other than the death wobble. I personally know a LOT of people that own and drive these trucks (100's) and I'm only aware of 3 that have had the problem.

I think the "Death Wobble" has been seen in the "second generation" trucks more than anyother.



I had it one time in my older 94' CTD, but only once! The dealership installed new stabilizer shock on steering.





Wayne

amsoilman

 

[CLWilliams]

Thanks to so many of you for your replies, input, and well wishes..... my son is ok. Doesn't like riding in Daddy's truck anymore..... not that we are driving it! Everything that you guys say makes sense. I too have the 2" leveling kit and am running 315's. At first, I thought this was totally my fault because of the modifications, but... ... ... there are so many guys running the same setup that DON'T have the problem, and also some that are stock that have it also! Just doesn't make sense to me although I am nothing close to a mechanic. I AM going to let the dealership try to fix the problem. BUT... ... I don't want to trade(give someone else the problem), AND I'll never feel comfortable with the truck again!

 

[StephenThomas]

Everyone...



We have to assume that those who responded to this poll are individuals who have a 3rd Generation truck. After all... . this is the 3rd Generation forum. I would hope that those who responded are not just having a vibration problem, but instead are experiencing the "death wobble".



CLWilliams... .



PLEASE keep us well informed on how things go with your situation. I was just about to pull the trigger on purchasing 315's and a 2" leveler. After reading this thread and researching here on the TDR, I've decided to hold off just for a bit until I can make a more educated decision.

 

[MLee]

Death Wobble

One question, maybe two, is it only the trucks with the diesel that is having the wobble problem? that have had the front end mods done to it? I have seen a lot of gassers lifted and the larger tires, are they having the same problem??????



just my penny's worth.

Marv.

 

[nickleinonen]

how about ditching the 2" spacers and running like that? 315's will fit without the 2" spacers...

 

[XcumminsX]

the 2" kit has nothing to do with it... ... ... the 315's have nothing to do with it... ... ..... Thats where dc will point the fingers so they dont have to fix it... ive heard its the stock shocks that are crap.