Death Wobble Terminator
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New User
Joined: Dec 2010
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Death Wobble Terminator
I was recently informed by a family member who owns a F-250 of the dreaded “death wobble”. He asked me if I could design a new track bar for him. This is what I came up with. Let me know what you guys think.
Design attributes:
-Both link-bar pivot points same as stock locations.
-Machined uniball cup, pressed into lower axle mount, including a C-clip
-.875” uniball-1.375” ball dia, at the axle mount, with Hi-miss spacers.
-Axle mount end double sheared for strength and to prevent leverage movement
-1.00” Heim joint- 1.875 ball, at the frame, with isolators to keep the link-bar vertical
Question for the guys with lift kits on their trucks;
Does your kit relocate the frame mount back to the stock location?
Design attributes:
-Both link-bar pivot points same as stock locations.
-Machined uniball cup, pressed into lower axle mount, including a C-clip
-.875” uniball-1.375” ball dia, at the axle mount, with Hi-miss spacers.
-Axle mount end double sheared for strength and to prevent leverage movement
-1.00” Heim joint- 1.875 ball, at the frame, with isolators to keep the link-bar vertical
Question for the guys with lift kits on their trucks;
Does your kit relocate the frame mount back to the stock location?
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh
I was recently informed by a family member who owns a F-250 of the dreaded “death wobble”. He asked me if I could design a new track bar for him. This is what I came up with. Let me know what you guys think.
Design attributes:
-Both link-bar pivot points same as stock locations.
-Machined uniball cup, pressed into lower axle mount, including a C-clip
-.875” uniball-1.375” ball dia, at the axle mount, with Hi-miss spacers.
-Axle mount end double sheared for strength and to prevent leverage movement
-1.00” Heim joint- 1.875 ball, at the frame, with isolators to keep the link-bar vertical
Question for the guys with lift kits on their trucks;
Does your kit relocate the frame mount back to the stock location?
Design attributes:
-Both link-bar pivot points same as stock locations.
-Machined uniball cup, pressed into lower axle mount, including a C-clip
-.875” uniball-1.375” ball dia, at the axle mount, with Hi-miss spacers.
-Axle mount end double sheared for strength and to prevent leverage movement
-1.00” Heim joint- 1.875 ball, at the frame, with isolators to keep the link-bar vertical
Question for the guys with lift kits on their trucks;
Does your kit relocate the frame mount back to the stock location?
Looks like a nice setup.
EDIT: Welcome to FTE by the way!
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
What program are you using? Solid Works? NX?
Looks like a nice setup.
EDIT: Welcome to FTE by the way!
Looks like a nice setup.
EDIT: Welcome to FTE by the way!
the trac bar is part of the issue. shocks, radius arms as well as the trac bar are all part of the culprits
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 7
From: NH
I think you may have a good start but i think your might be missing more of an ability to provide enough "vertical" movement. The lower joint would seem to be a bit compromised during high axle articulation. I would also question the overall strength of the forked track bar end. Many don't realize the mass load and weight that is needed to be controlled at these points.
Yes, with most kits (they either include or recomend depending on the quality, manufacturer or lift height) the drop bracket replaces the OEM upper bracket or a adj. bar is used.
Keep up with the design and continue your research. let us know your advancements.
Does your kit relocate the frame mount back to the stock location?
Keep up with the design and continue your research. let us know your advancements.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 20
Likes: 1
I think you may have a good start but i think your might be missing more of an ability to provide enough "vertical" movement. The lower joint would seem to be a bit compromised during high axle articulation.
I would also question the overall strength of the forked track bar end. Many don't realize the mass load and weight that is needed to be controlled at these points.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,769
Likes: 8
From: Lubbock
Based on the picture above seems like bumpsteer would be a issue. The drag link and trac bar should be parallel right? Having different angles will cause adverse reactions during suspension cycles. Since the different angles make the bars move independantly of each other instead of in the same range of motion. Then again I'm not a engineer just a backyard fabricator.
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New User
Joined: Dec 2010
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Based on the picture above seems like bumpsteer would be a issue. The drag link and trac bar should be parallel right? Having different angles will cause adverse reactions during suspension cycles. Since the different angles make the bars move independantly of each other instead of in the same range of motion. Then again I'm not a engineer just a backyard fabricator.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 7
From: NH
Correct.
Most of us use the word parallel to reference the stock system and when lifted try to achieve similar results as we know when they are parallel or close to it our bump steer will be minimized or corrected.
Most of us use the word parallel to reference the stock system and when lifted try to achieve similar results as we know when they are parallel or close to it our bump steer will be minimized or corrected.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,424
Likes: 2
From: Albemarle, NC
Looks good! I just built a custom bar myself for my truck. Yes you will need a bend in it like you have in the last pic, to clear the engine "craddle" part of the frame. I used an OEM ball joint on the pass side but flipped it and it points upwards instead of down and has worked great. Not as fancy as yours, but has corrected 100% of my bumpsteer. Please keep us posted.
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New User
Joined: Dec 2010
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Update, all the parts are machined and ready. I was able to fit a bigger uniball at the axle mount than I originally planned. I've just been waiting on my relative to find the time to have me install it.
I'm also looking for someone with a non-lifted truck, with wobble problems, to try my kit on too. If your around the Riverside CA area send me a PM.
I'm also looking for someone with a non-lifted truck, with wobble problems, to try my kit on too. If your around the Riverside CA area send me a PM.