Would've Killed Myself Today...

[Big_Bad_Dually]

Well today while getting ready to head for home from town, I was driving about 35-40 miles per hour. All of the sudden my pickup started bucking and jumping VERY BAD. Every thing in the cab that wasn't attached was scattered throughout the cab. I think I remember stepping on the clutch and mashing the brakes but I don't know.

My first thoughts were that I blew a front tire because as I slowed down to about 5mph my steering wheel was jerking back and forth. I turned into a resturante parking lot and hopped out to see what the problem was. All the tires were up and the alingment looked good, but the tires were really rough.

As I circled the parking lot and was getting ready to leave a guy approached me from the Wal-Mart parking lot across the street. He said that my front tires were "bounching" back and forth and that I should go down to the tire shop and have him look at it. I told him that one of my friends was be hind me a ways and id flag him down.

My friend and I looked at the whole front part of the pickup and only found that the rod that connects the axle assembly to the frame was really loose in the ball joint. I believe this arm is called a "track bar". We think this because the body & frame of the pickup will move "on top of the axle assembly" before the tires will turn.

We went down to the local parts store and ordered this part from MOOG. It cost $140, but needs to be replaced anyway if this isn't my problem. I will be installing this part tomorrow, and hopefully that will fix it. I was able to drive it to my friends house @20mph. Didn't have any trouble and went 2. 5 miles.

Some other information about my pickup is that it sometimes vibrates going down the road like my slip yoke is rusted and doesn't slip or a U-joint is going out. My tires have been getting really worn latley like the alingment is messed up. And it wonders and all the steering ball joints are tight and have been greased regularly. The gearbox was replaced 4000 miles ago.

I'm glad that this didn't happen while i was cruzing down the highway @ 70 mph other wise I think i would be either seriously hurt or dead. #ad


Thanks for letting me explain everything.
Brian



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1995 3500 Ext. Cab, 4x4, 5 speed manual, and South Bend's 300 HP Clutch; removed silencer ring; 3" straight pipe w/Banks turndown tip; Adjustable Diesel Performance Propane Injection; Autometer UltraLite Boost; Custom 1400 watt stereo with 2-6"x9", 2-6. 5" Blapunkt mid/high ranges and 2-10" AudioBahn Subs; Dual RED top Optimas; Cobra CB and Police scanner; Motorola UHF Two-Way radio; Lund winterfront; 314,500 miles and still adding 50+ a day.

 

[Joe G.]

Brian,

While you are at it you should replace the steering shock too. In fact, it may be the main cause of the problem.

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,3. 54,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,DTT TC/VB,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Brian,

It sounds like you experienced the infamous 'Death Wobble". It must have scared the hell out of you. #ad


I think the new track bar will solve the problem. If they are worn, like you said yours is, the wobble can happen. I know what you mean when you can turn the steering wheel back and forth and the tires don't move, the body moves instead. #ad


Like Joe said, Check you steering stabilizer for any oil leakage. If thats worn, you can get a wobble too. If its bad ,upgrate it with a Rancho, Trailmaster or Skyjacker damper.

Save your recipt. The new bar should come with a lifetime warranty.

Someone here found their driveshaft yoke was rusted to the output shaft and was not sliding fore & aft like its supposed to. He was geting noise or vibration if I remember correctly. Check yours.

You may need a come-along or something similar to pull the front of the truck to the left so its centered over the axle. The front of the truck wants to shift to the right when your remove the bar. You will need to do this if the new T-bar seems too short.

Dave Fritz had to do it to get his bar in. (see pic below)

#ad

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Bill R
94 2500 SLT 4x4 5 Speed, 3. 54 LS, JRE 4" exhaust, Autometer Pyro, Boost & Water temp gauges, Bosch 215 HP injectors, Timing @ 14. 7º, JRE Stage III #4 plate 270/675, AFC spring kit, Scotty Air, Bully Dog Propane Injection, Roadmaster Active Suspension, Optima Red Tops, Geno's Exhaust Blanket, Espar Heater (won it!), Synthetic lubes throughout.

Coming Spring of '01: DD III's, Majestic prepped HX-40, ATS Pulse Exhaust Manifold, High flow delivery valves, Gov spring kit.



[This message has been edited by HEMI®Dart (edited 04-06-2001). ]

 

[pcorssmit]

Check your ball joints too. My death wobble occured on 3 occasions, starting a week after I bought the truck. It was caused by worn out lower ball joints (wish it had king pins instead), steering stabilizer, and track bar. It always happened right around 65 mph. Also cost me 3 pairs of underwear. #ad


I've found that it helps to jack up one side of the axle when installing the new track bar, as an alternative to the pic. above.

Pete

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'97 2500 CC 4X4 5spd Sport
'83 K5 Blazer 350 TBI (ex 6. 2), 39. 5 TSLs, 3" lift, Dana 60/GM 14 blt, Detroits

 

[Big_Bad_Dually]

Thanks guys. I'm heading out this morning for the repair.

As for the Steering stabilizer shock it is a fairly new RS5000 but I didn't install it, it came with the pickup. The other four shocks are also RS5000's. The only problem is i have no receipt for the lifetime warrenty. #ad


My slip yoke in my t-case was moving 500 miles ago when i put my clutch in, so that isn't the problem.

My dad and I had pondered replacing the track bar when we bought it, but only replaced the ball joint on the steering gear box.

PCORSSMIT- lucky for me Wal-Mart was accross the way for new underwear. #ad
#ad


Thanks alot guys. This site is awsome

 

[Big_Bad_Dually]

Well there is good news and bad news.

Got the track bar installed, and it helped my wandering problem. The "death woble" still exists, but not as bad.

While I was crawling around under my pickup I found two things wrong. That the lower front shock bushings were worn out or something. Because i can push up and down on the frame and shocks move then stop. I also found that my alingment toes out instead of in.

Now I am thinking that the combination of the alingment problem and the shocks not keeping the axle from moving nice and steady is causing the axle to actually jump up and down. I could see this by letting my friend drive from the center seat and driving down a rough gravel road. Once the woble started happening I hung out the drivers side window and watched the axle. It looked like it was moving up and down really fast.

So I think that if i can replace the front shocks and get the front end realinged maybe it will quit. Hopefully someone has had a similar problem or knows another way to fix this.

BTW the shocks are RS5000 Ranchos that look pretty new and have a lifetime warrenty but they came on the pickup and i don't have a reciept.

Brian

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I think the Rancho RS-5000's have rubber bushings on the bottom mount. The 9000's have polyurethane. See it you can find a set of poly bushings to replace the crappy rubber ones.

 

[Andy Morrison]

After you have your toe set properly. Put the front tires on the back of the truck. Sometimes worn tires can cause a violent shimmy. I have had this happen to me in the past and it is not a pleasant experience.
Hope this helps, Andy

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'97 2500 4X4 club cab, BLACK, Leer XL-100,running boards , cup smoothie, EZ Drain, 103,000 miles

 

[Crash_AF]

Welcome to the wonderful world of quad link suspensions!! We have had this discussion many a time on the Cherokee forums (the other Mopar product with quad link front suspension) and have found many causes of the infamous 'Death Wobble'.

I have had it occur for two separate reasons and several others have found a couple of other causes.

First off, alignment is critical! Get your toe reset to correct specifications ASAP.

Second, I'm not sure how the Ram trackbar attaches to the frame, but the Cherokee has a tie rod style end on the frame side of the bar and the mount for it is notorious for coming loose from the frame rail and causing death wobble.

Third, check your steering stabilizer! This is what finally solved it for me on my Comanche. Even if it looks good, if nothing else works, replace it.

Finally, rebalance your tires because this also seems to be a contributing factor.

I hope this helps you because I know how scary it can get... Imagine that same thing happening at 75 in a 9" lifted Jeep Comanche (Cherokee pickup) on 35" tires. #ad


Later,
Joe H



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Joe Hinson, 93 D-350
Stock, 3in straight pipe - For now

 

[bowhunter]

Mine does it too.

I have nearly new trailmaster shocks, steering stabilizer, and brand new 315/75/16 tires. I also recently put on a new track bar. I now get a little shimmy, instead of a violent bucking. Mine did it @ over 70 mph two times, just on the drivers side. Mine also shimmys more when making left turns on a windy road.

I am taking it in for an alignment this week and I might tighten the steering box. Maybe this will help.

Anyone have any other ideas?

Kurt

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97 2500 SLT Reg cab 4WD, Emerald Green and Driftwood, 3. 54 gears, 2. 5" Tuff Country Steel Coil Spacers, 295/75/16 AT BFG'S on Alcoa's, Trailmaster SSV shocks & SSV steering stabilizer, Holcomb Air, Amsoiled,4 inch exhaust, turbo to tail, stock--#10 TST plate and AFC Spring Kit thats waiting on a new clutch

K. Kinion

 

[CumminsAholic]

My dad's truck just went into the dealer for warranty work. Last week the steering stabilizer broke and when we took it off the joints that are on the end of that bar (tie rod ends?) were sooooo loose it's unbelievable. Over a quarter turn on the steering wheel before they'd tighten up enough to turn. I never noticed it while servicing it, but without the stabilizer on there it was really obvious. BTW his truck only has 50k on it... hope mine doesn't do that at 50,000 miles. Maybe that's a contributing factor to your guys' problem?? Just a thought.
Corey



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1998. 5 2500, 4x4, SB, Red Sport, Agate Interior, Quad Cab, O. H. Console, Auto, 4. 10 LSD, Trailer Tow and Camper Special Packages, Mopar Aluminum Nerf Bars, Spray In Bedliner, Pioneer/Jensen System, 255/85's, Bd Adjustable Preformance Box w/boost module, Boost Elbow, 4" Exhaust Split Into Two 3" w/5" cans, K+N Scotty Style, Exhaust Blanket, Bill K's Valve Body, Mopar Tow Hooks, Factory Fog Lights, Front Bumper Step, 55 watt Back-up Lights, Etc, Etc... .

 

[JWEST]

I had the death wobble too - mine felt like the front axle was hopping up and down violently. I had to jam on the brkaes at 65 mph to get it down to 30 and it settled down. I had just installed 2. 5" lift Skyjacker coils and Skyjacker softride shocks. I thought the shocks were too short so I replaced them with longer. Same problem. I have since put the stock coils back on with Rancho 5000's, new Moog track bar, tie rods and ball joints, new lower control arms. Now it only does it a little on certain expansion joints and choppy concrete. $900 and three pairs of underwear later I still want my 2. 5" lift!
I run 285/75 BFG A/T's, alignment is perfect (tires have 65K miles on them with tread left) and never had the problem until 140K truck miles. Someone has to know the exact nature of this problem. It is scary as hell and not safe on a crowded experessway.

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[grtescpa]

Originally posted by Big_Bad_Dually:
Well there is good news and bad news.

Got the track bar installed, and it helped my wandering problem. The "death woble" still exists, but not as bad.

While I was crawling around under my pickup I found two things wrong. That the lower front shock bushings were worn out or something. Because i can push up and down on the frame and shocks move then stop. I also found that my alingment toes out instead of in.

Now I am thinking that the combination of the alingment problem and the shocks not keeping the axle from moving nice and steady is causing the axle to actually jump up and down. I could see this by letting my friend drive from the center seat and driving down a rough gravel road. Once the woble started happening I hung out the drivers side window and watched the axle. It looked like it was moving up and down really fast.

So I think that if i can replace the front shocks and get the front end realinged maybe it will quit. Hopefully someone has had a similar problem or knows another way to fix this.

BTW the shocks are RS5000 Ranchos that look pretty new and have a lifetime warrenty but they came on the pickup and i don't have a reciept.

Brian

Thanks to reading about your close call wobble, I looked under my front end and saw the piston leaking oil.
Went down to my local truck shop and bought
the Rancho steering stablizer. The old one was a real pain to get off. You need to purchase the right puller to get the press fit bolt out of the tie rod. I bought a small car tie rod puller that almost would not fit. It took some heat from a propane tourch, WD40 and a few wacks on the puller befor the dam thing finally poped loose. Its reaL TIGHT! So if you can buy the right puller for Dodge tie rods. Good luck

 

[Big_Bad_Dually]

I've now got my tires alined the wobble is only happening sometimes (so far) only when going down the highway and not very bad when it does. I still have to get replacement shocks on.

When I put them on I'm going to check my steering stabilizer to see if it is gone or going or what. Might go with a double system with home made brackets if it needs replaced.

Any suggestions on shocks. Leaning towards Superlifts, they sound good and come with a lifetime warrenty. Would go Edelbrock IAS but NOT FOR $96 Each. #ad

Brian

 

[Big_Bad_Dually]

I'm posting this for Jeffery Smith who emailed me

Big Dually, I also hade the same problem that you experienced. To fix the
problem I hade a local off road shop order a dual steering stabilizer kit
from Sky Jacker 4x4 off road suppy. It cost me $100. 00 and I have not had
that terrible shake anymore. I hope this helps.

Jeff, 96 Ram,ext cab 4x4

 

[JWEST]

OK now I'm p---ed. I have replaced the track bar, tie rods, drag link, ball joints, and steering stabilizer. The Death Wobble remains. Tomorrow I have new 295/75 BFG A/T's put on. any bets on whether or not the $2000 I have spent will get rid of this problem? I am tired of being afraid to drive above 60 mph!!

 

[RESQ1]

Have you checked the steering shaft lately? I have gone through two in 53K miles. Also the steering box itself can wear out quickly. Usually these items will not cause the Dreaded Death Wobble but they are worth checking.

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[JWEST]

I have found the solution to what I thought was the Death Wobble. After replacing all the steering linkage and ball joints, I still had the wobble. Then I put new tires on - wobble is gone. Go figure. 285/75 BFG's with no visible problems. Even wear, no cupping or feathering, perfect balance.
Now the bumps that previously caused the wobble, my truck barely notices at 70 mph.
295 BFG A/T's are nice - big bucks, but great traction and handling at 45 psi.

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96 2500 4x4, 5 spd. 3. 54's
Jim Jessup tune-up, 285/75 BFG A/T's, 16 x 8 Hellcats, custom bumpers & tailgate, traction bars