hello
the vehicle:
1980 ford f150
4.9 i-six
4x4
twin i beams w/ u-joints(not kingpin)
35" tires

The issue:
The problem im having occurs around 35mph on bumpy roads or after i hit a pothole. the front tires wobble on a vertical axis. i have replaced driver inner and outer tierods, passenger outer tierod, and sway bar bushings. the problem still occurs after these replacements.

My Hypothesis:
- upper and lower ball joints on both "control arms" are shot.

Your input:
- what have you done to solve this problem?

SOLUTION: TIGHTENED ALL MOUNTING BOLTS ON TWIN I BEAM SETUP

Thanks for your speedy and knowledgeable advice!

Thanks
Lance M
602-574-7229

 

Bad ball joints can cause a lot of problems but I think your problem could be bad shocks or an un balanced wheel assembly. Don't forget to check the radius arm bushings and the pivots for the I beams.
regards
rikard

 

twin i-beams bushings are good. the wheels are balanced. struts/shocks are good. How would you check where the i beams pivot?

 

I would guess either ball joints or axle pivot bushings.

Jack the front of the truck up by the frame until the front suspension hangs free. Use jackstands! Grab a wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock and have someone move it while you look at the ball joints. If there is movement, they need to be replaced.

BTW you don't have any control arms on your truck.

To check the axle pivot bushings, crawl under it and try to move the i-beams around. If there is movement at the pivot bushing, it needs to be replaced.

Death wobbles on a twin I-beam suspension are unusual.

 

haha ya thats why i put it in parenthesis...last night i had replaced all the tierods. this morning i did a road test and the wobble was still there. i had a buddy drive the truck while i watch the axle on the sidewalk. i found out the i beam monts and spring mounts were shifting. I go back to the shop, tightened every bolt, and the problem was solved. The main issue was the mounting bolts that mount the i beams to the frame.
Thanks for your time and help everyone.

 

Check every nut and bolt on your front end with a fine tooth comb. I have a 94 f-150 that had a wobble from hell. I replaced tie rods, bushings, alignment, rotation, etc. and nothing worked. One day I crawled under the truck and started to check everything again. I started moving things around and found a sound that traced back to the I beam bracket that was seriously lose. I didn't find it because when the truck was up on jack stands the weight of the I beam hanging hid the fact that it was loose. After I torqued it down took it around the block and no more wobble. It made me sick that it was that simple to fix... I still bang my head on the hood every time I walk past my truck.

With that said check the small things a check every thing really close. It might be something really small rather something really big.

 

i have a 1994 ford f150 xlt 5.8 an have been having issues each time i drive over potholes, bumps or manhole covers, left wheel violent shaking till i stop. i added 4 yrs ago a 6" lift, no problems for 4.5 yrs then it began with .
i have replaced tie rods, ball joints, u joints, tires, tightened all bolts, at my wits end, wheel bngs. i have replaced the axle pivot bushings as well as radius arm bushings

 

Has the left spindle been checked for damage or excessive wear? Was that side's ball joint replaced properly?