Death Wobble experience
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,094
Likes: 5
From: Central Illinois
It is truly amazing when a customer working in his home garage without the benefit of so called Ford engineering expertise can come up with a possible solution to the 10 year old "Death Wobble". My hat is off to you Epic. 
Ford needs to get with the program before some product liability attorney drags them into court like they did with the ignition fires.
Ford needs to get with the program before some product liability attorney drags them into court like they did with the ignition fires.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 754
Likes: 0
I have been researching the "death wobble" this week since my son has a Jeep that has been having some problems. This is the first time I have heard of this other than on Jeeps.
From what I have found out this is typically something loose or damaged on the front end. Many times a loose tracbar. The steering stabilizer, from what I have been able to find out, has nothing to do with a true death wobble. It may help reduce it but it is only covering up another issue that is causing it. Also, a true death wobble can only be stopped by coming to almost a complete stop. If it stops with just a speed reduction then it is not a death wobble.
Again, this is just what I have found from researching it on Jeeps which seem prone to it especially with larger tires.
Here is a good link from a Jeep forum: Diagnosing Death Wobble and Fixing Non-DW Shimmies and Wobbles - JeepForum.com
Hope this helps.
From what I have found out this is typically something loose or damaged on the front end. Many times a loose tracbar. The steering stabilizer, from what I have been able to find out, has nothing to do with a true death wobble. It may help reduce it but it is only covering up another issue that is causing it. Also, a true death wobble can only be stopped by coming to almost a complete stop. If it stops with just a speed reduction then it is not a death wobble.
Again, this is just what I have found from researching it on Jeeps which seem prone to it especially with larger tires.
Here is a good link from a Jeep forum: Diagnosing Death Wobble and Fixing Non-DW Shimmies and Wobbles - JeepForum.com
Hope this helps.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
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Glug glug glug
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 5
From: Maryland
As Rick said, front end alignment is a good place to start. If you have the pathetic "Rancho" shocks on your truck, better shocks also help. I am going to assume that you are still covered by a warranty, but this is one of those issues that takes a good tech that actually wants to do something for you. It's too easy for a lazy tech to say that he cannot replicate the problem.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,839
Likes: 2
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Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,923
Likes: 2,642
From: The Great State of Texas
Assuming you still have warranty on your truck, did you consider taking it to the Ford shop. I would think the techs would have experience with this problem and may know exactly how to fix the issue and would be no cost to you.
Good luck...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,856
Likes: 52
From: Sacramento Delta, CA
Read these:
Concensus is that Bilstein steering stabilizer won't dampen the mass. Opposing dual shocks will:
Sportsmobileforum.com • View topic - SMB Steering Stabilizer
I am starting to fabricate this set up this weekend:
Sportsmobileforum.com • View topic - Quadvan Death Wobble
I speculate that there are at least two DW types.
1. Track bar not holding vehicle laterally over the axle.
2. R front wheel pushing on a too weak steering pump, which spring loads and pushes back pulling the L front wheel along with it which follows through with mass to over push the too weak steering pump and pushes back with repeat.
I know that new tires will make my DW go away for 10-12 months. I just had my 18 month old tires balanced by a guy who knew I had DW and was meticulous and put weights on both the inside and outside of my front rims (which have too large an offset which likely contributes to the problem.
As Turbostew said (above articles) only way to stop a mass from rebounding is to dampen it before it starts.
Concensus is that Bilstein steering stabilizer won't dampen the mass. Opposing dual shocks will:
Sportsmobileforum.com • View topic - SMB Steering Stabilizer
I am starting to fabricate this set up this weekend:
Sportsmobileforum.com • View topic - Quadvan Death Wobble
I speculate that there are at least two DW types.
1. Track bar not holding vehicle laterally over the axle.
2. R front wheel pushing on a too weak steering pump, which spring loads and pushes back pulling the L front wheel along with it which follows through with mass to over push the too weak steering pump and pushes back with repeat.
I know that new tires will make my DW go away for 10-12 months. I just had my 18 month old tires balanced by a guy who knew I had DW and was meticulous and put weights on both the inside and outside of my front rims (which have too large an offset which likely contributes to the problem.
As Turbostew said (above articles) only way to stop a mass from rebounding is to dampen it before it starts.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: nantucket usa
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
Sorry for the elementary illustrations but this is how I remember how these elements work together. It also helps to understand the complicated front end geometries when you're talking to the technician.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 266
Likes: 1
From: Sunshine Coast, BC
There is a recent death wobble thread on TDS. Look for "Dangerous Front End Problem"
A couple replies in that thread might be of interest.
This one on the caster idea:
"Make DAMN sure they dont increase caster! Death wobble is caused by too much caster, increasing it will make it worse."
This one from a Ford Master Diesel Technician:
"Your front shocks have likely failed. We are beginning to see this problem develop."
There are several other theories as well.
A couple replies in that thread might be of interest.
This one on the caster idea:
"Make DAMN sure they dont increase caster! Death wobble is caused by too much caster, increasing it will make it worse."
This one from a Ford Master Diesel Technician:
"Your front shocks have likely failed. We are beginning to see this problem develop."
There are several other theories as well.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
I ordered the Bilstein HD shocks and the 5100 steering dampener. In a week and a half I will have some time to install them and see what happens.
New tires are within a couple months so the alignment/caster/camber settings will wait until then.
The shocks at shockwarehouse.com (#F4-BE5-C295-HO and F4-BE5-C296-HO) were $68.95ea and shipping is free.
The 5100 steering dampener from Summit Racing (#24-158848 is $82.95), shipping varies I think.
New tires are within a couple months so the alignment/caster/camber settings will wait until then.
The shocks at shockwarehouse.com (#F4-BE5-C295-HO and F4-BE5-C296-HO) were $68.95ea and shipping is free.
The 5100 steering dampener from Summit Racing (#24-158848 is $82.95), shipping varies I think.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,345
Likes: 0
You'll want to increase the CASTER first and then align the CAMBER and TOE as necessary. A good alignment technician will not just simply restore factory specs, he will adjust for your local roads and driving needs. There's almost an art to it. Setting caster is finding the proper balance between shopping cart wheels that turn every direction at the slightest input vs. the ape hanger chopper type steering that takes 4 lanes to turn but tracks straight as an arrow. Did that make sense? Camber is the "plumb-ness" of the wheel in comparison to vertical. Toe is in or out like that pigeon toed girl in 2nd grade or that bow-legged cowboy coming in off the range. Their toes are either in or out or somewhere in between.
Sorry for the elementary illustrations but this is how I remember how these elements work together. It also helps to understand the complicated front end geometries when you're talking to the technician.
Sorry for the elementary illustrations but this is how I remember how these elements work together. It also helps to understand the complicated front end geometries when you're talking to the technician.