Archived Violent Shake

[DU516]

I was driving down a old bumpy road the other day and all of a sudden the truck stared shaking violently it's happpened a few times since. I checked the front end and everything appears to be tight ( Didn't find anything loose ) What could cause this. A friend of mine who is a FORD guy he had the same problem and he replaced his Trac bar and it went away. Just wanted to see what you guys think. The truck is a 94 2500 4x4

 

[bramage]

DEATH WOBBLE!!!

The problem is known as the death wobble on this forum. Do a search on it and you will find lots of reading material on it. I used to the think it was always caused by the track bar because fixing the track bar fixed the problem on my '97. On my '98 however I fixed the track bar (Luke's link) and the problem persists. Never the less it is a good place to start and to check it is quite simple. Have someone go in your truck and turn the steering wheel back and forth while you watch the end of the track bar attatched to the frame on the drivers side. If it moves in and out at all the joint is shot. There are several solutions to fix it but I personally think Luke's Link is the best for the money. While you are under there check everything else tie rod ends, pitman arm and steering box. Then jack wheels up and check ball joints make sure every thing is tight. You should also check your steering stabilizer. If all of that checks out and your shocks are good check the alignment. Good luck.



JUnior

 

[DU516]

Thanks for the info where can I get a Lukes Link?

 

[bramage]

Look in your TDR magazine.



Jr.

 

[Stmpplr]

You might also check the steering stabilizer. Mine was shot. Replaced it with a dual stabilizer unit and have had no problem since. At least you were on land when it started. My first experience with it was on a two lane bridge. That will get your attention in a hurry!

 

[barbwire]

Wobble

Violent shake;

This may sound stupid, but I had this experience before, and thought the front end was going to vacate my truck. It tuns out that all I needed to do was to balance the tires, and the problem went away. If you were off roading, you may have built up a bunch of mud, and threw off the balance. Just my $. 02

 

[Andy Redmond]

It is usually a caster shimmy. More caster usually helps this to go away. Once it starts, any worn steering parts make it worse. Track bar, tie rods, drag link etc.



Also do a search for Darin's Steering Stabilizer. . its slick too.



Finally, Ingall's Engineering (Denver, CO area) manufactuers adjust. caster/camber sleeves for the upper ball joint.



These are slick. If you have an older 2nd gen the eccentrics on the bottom of the lower control arm will likely not allow enough positive caster to eliminate this, without the Ingall's products mentioned.



You need a few parts and a good alignment shop and you'll be smiling soon! If your alignment place hasn't heard of Ingall's ask them about Astro, that should cross over too (ingall part in astro box).



Good luck

Andy. . who thinks the Death wobble is bad!!!

 

[DieselTim]

Having just resently gotten a 98. 5 3500 4x4 with a posi I will throw in that on one road that I drive, I found that the posi does cause a hop at a certain speed when it hits a washboard near the end of the road where it was graded. I thought my buddy was just complaining about the rough road, because his 3500 rwd would hop with him at that spot too. Then after I got mine and drove thru the same place, it hopped just like his. I have a 96 2500 that I had driven over this same place several times with no hint of hopping, but it is not a posi ( just one wheel drive). So I must give some of the rearend hopping credit to the posi.



By the way the 2500 did have several times of the frontend wobble, rebalancing/ rotating the tires fixed it just about every time. Put on new tires and haven't had a wobble problem in some time now.



Tim

 

[DU516]

Gone for Now

I replaced the Track bar with Skyjackers adjustable track bar. Rotated and balanced the tires and got and alignment Yesterday. Tookit out and drove over some of the spots that set it off . And all was good no Death Wobble. Thanks to all who responded.