The dreaded "death wobble" and how to get rid of it

[Arcticat]

Hopefully you weren't misled by my topic title, as I don't have the answer, rather I am searching for it #ad
So far I have in my list of actions taken - one track bar found to have excessive play and replaced, and one steering stabilizer replaced with a Rancho 5000. I have not had an allignment done on the truck yet, with 15000 miles so far. Other factors include I have a two inch lift in the front and a heavy steel brushguard and winch carrier that weighs probably 300 lbs alltogether. What should I do next? Obviously the allignment should be done, but if that doesn't fix it, then what? BTW I don't wan't the dealer to do the allignment to the "specs", but am having trouble finding a front end shop I am comfortable with. There is only one around here that claims to have HD truck and pickup expertiese. They use Hunter allignment systems, anybody know what that means? Is it the Kodak Colorwatch Seal of wheel allignment lol? ANY ideas welcome. I need to tow my trailer 1000 miles again in a little over a week. The last time out I got the death wobble and I will not risk that again, way to scary and dangerous. It has been getting steadily worse to the point that any speed over 60 or 65 starts to feel like the vehicle is skating the edge of control versus out of control. Help!

 

[Bake]

Arcticat,
I too had the Death Wobble. I used to run 33 inch BFG all terrains @ 48psig front and rear. I had it BAD too! I also have a heavy replacement bumper/winch combo and a 2 inch lift.
When I changed the tires to BFG mud terrains and lowered the tire pressure to 40psig the problem went away and hasn't surfaced since. I am on my secong set of MT's and wobble free.
Did the tires cause it? Mabye so. Try lowering your pressure by a few pounds and see if that helps. Also, the AT tires were more of a "flotation" tire and liked to bounce more that the MT's if that makes any sense.
Make sure that the alignment "cams" on the lower control arms are in the same position. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if they are not lined up like the other side the axle will be put in a bind and have a slight crabwalk down the road. Does this reate to the wobble o' death? Mabye not but it sure can't hurt you to check them out.
My theory on the wobble is this: large tires, overinflation, heavy axle (Dana 60), soft springs, and weak shocks = wobble wobble wobble. I have recently added a dual shock kit to my truck, and the front end seems tighter, like it doesn't bounce back from potholes so hard. Weak or single shocks may not have enough dampening force to control the inertial bounceback of the huge front spring.
These are my observations, I hope you get it fixed and you and your family stay safe.

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FTAC'99, 1995 4X4 single cab, #5 TST, 370's, Centerforce, HX-40, Psychotty, 4" turbo to tail

 

[Arcticat]

Thanks for the pointers. CMON guys I know there are more wobbler's out there! Let's hear the cure for this sickness!

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Look at this thread from the 12v forum for other "death-wobble" related posts - https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum1/HTML/003676.html



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-Steve St. Laurent - President of the Great Lakes TDR
'98 QC LB (CMNSPWR), 4x4, ISB, 5sp, 4. 10 LSD, TST Powermax3, 275hp RV injectors, Joe Donnelly modifed Sachs Clutch, SS ladder bars, SW fuel pressure gauge, BD exhaust brake, Isspro turbo temp monitor, front Draw-Tite receiver, rear Draw-Tite class V receiver, BFG 285/75R16 AT KO's, (all the common stuff clipped)

 

[Scot]

I had a Jeep that did this. Problem turned be due to the lift. What it boiled down to was the draglink was at such an angle it was trying to twist the tierod as it went back and forth. Solution was new tierod ends and making the draglink a Z-bar.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Arcticat :
Got me on this one. The track bar and the dampning shock took care of mine. There's nothing left but ball joints and bearing. Now this may sound a little weird but I found one thing that contibuted to the feel on mine was the throttle return spring. It let the rack in the pump bounce which added to the shaking. ????????????????????????
It really did.
Preston

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96 3500, Black SLT, 5 speed, turbo diesel, , with US Gear overdrive, Rhino liner, Reese 15,000 lb. fifth wheel hitch, US Gear de-celarator exhaust brake, muffler elimination kit, Amsoil lub. , Mag-hytec rear cover, dual-remote by-pass filters, and Roadmaster Active system, AutoMeter Pyro & boost, Primeloc

 

[BigBadDodge]

I had it bad it took a DT Track Bar and some Moog Tie Rod ends to fix it. I now only have the steering wonder now. but my Burgeson shaft showed up today and my AGR stage II box should before before weeks end.

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1997 Dodge Ram 2500 HD / Club Cab, Cummins Turbo Diesel (silencer ring removed), 4. 5" Skyjacker class II Double Flex suspension lift, 36x14. 5"x16. 5" Ground Hawg radial tires on 16. 5x9. 75 Weld Super Singles, dual steering stabilizer, 4. 10 gears, 33-tooth Speedo gear, Psycotty Air Induction, Mag-Hytec rear, Amsoiled bumper to bumper, JRE 4" Turbo back exhaust, Rhino liner, Extang Black Max, Grizzly double bent nerf bars, Bushwhacker exstenda fender flares, Kanduco Sweet Tooth grill insert, Confer super skid axle truss, DT Trac-bar, Moog tie rod system, Fabritech stage II traction bars, Energy sway bar bushings and end links,CATZ hyper-white (stock location)GTS headlight black outs, Lund Eclipse side window. Truck Pic's

 

[NVR FNSH]

If components are not worn out then it is probably due to insufficient caster. Do a search by my user name and you will find the saga of my '96 2500 gasser.


Brian