Death Wobble experience
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2010
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Another one for 406. Don't know if it is a 2011 though... Ford Truck World - Track Bar Bushing - Wont Last! (Super Duty)
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
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lol - you said ravine in your title when you showed us pictures so we would read it.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 852
Likes: 12
From: Kentucky
Ok, I might do this plan. Replace the shocks and steering damper with Bilstein, then install the WC trackbar with the metal ends. Then go get an alignment with increased caster.
Is this trackbar the same as the WC? http://www.iconvehicledynamics.com/s...r-with-Bearing
Anybody agree with it?
Also, who all has experienced a death wobble with their 2011? Or who experiences a steering wheel that shakes a bit when hitting bumps.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
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From: Isanti, MN
Nope. The second you start changing out parts Ford is no longer responsible for correcting the issue. What if you spend some money on parts and it doesn't fix the problem? At that point warranty won't help you any.
Seriously, this really needs to get to a dealer for proper diagnosis. The best part about this is that since you're under warranty IT'S FREE!
Seriously, this really needs to get to a dealer for proper diagnosis. The best part about this is that since you're under warranty IT'S FREE!
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
Check this out, Tyler. Posted in another thread here in the 6.7L forum:
He took it to a dealer and had a proper diagnosis done. And it fixed the problem better than what can be claimed by another aftermarket solution. 
I had the dreaded "Death Wobble". I found a place I could reproduce the "wobble" at will. It was a manhole that was about 4 inches below road grade and I would hit with my left tire. This is where I took the Service Manager for rides.
I put my truck in the dealer's shop the first time and they replaced the front shocks and said a nut had "loosened". I'm assuming the nut was on the ball joint for the track bar. They said the front shocks were dead.
Several months later I took it back in with complaints of the front end bouncing too much. They replaced the front shocks again.
On the drive home I still wasn't happy with it. I called the dealer and got the number for - THIS IS IMPORTANT, SO PAY ATTENTION - ask for the number of FORD CUSTOMER ASSITANCE and file a formal complaint. I called them and they opened a ticket on my truck. I took it to the dealer and left it for a week.
The Ford engineers came onsite and were in charge of all repairs.
They replaced the front shocks with upgraded factory certified Rancho 5000s. They also replaced the track bar and ball joint, along with the steering damper.
This DID fix my problems and I am happy with my truck again.
They also tested and replaced my rear shocks, they said they were weak. This eliminated the bounce I was getting on concrete highways and was not part of my complaint, but I sure am glad they did it. I was ready to pull the trigger on a Firestone R4Tech airbag system.
Before I took it in, I talked to Steve at WC Motorsports about their track bar solution - $825.00 - parts only.
But the item of note is he said you can't run BFG All Terrain KOs on these trucks - which I am. I have standard size with 18" rims. I noticed if I ran 65lbs in the fronts it would bounce like crazy and the Death Wobble was easy to reproduce, but if I put 70-75lbs in them, no death wobble. I did report this to the Ford and their response was, you should be able to run any tire of the right size on these trucks without issue.
Now I am running my BFGs with 65lbs and have no issues.
I put my truck in the dealer's shop the first time and they replaced the front shocks and said a nut had "loosened". I'm assuming the nut was on the ball joint for the track bar. They said the front shocks were dead.
Several months later I took it back in with complaints of the front end bouncing too much. They replaced the front shocks again.
On the drive home I still wasn't happy with it. I called the dealer and got the number for - THIS IS IMPORTANT, SO PAY ATTENTION - ask for the number of FORD CUSTOMER ASSITANCE and file a formal complaint. I called them and they opened a ticket on my truck. I took it to the dealer and left it for a week.
The Ford engineers came onsite and were in charge of all repairs.
They replaced the front shocks with upgraded factory certified Rancho 5000s. They also replaced the track bar and ball joint, along with the steering damper.
This DID fix my problems and I am happy with my truck again.
They also tested and replaced my rear shocks, they said they were weak. This eliminated the bounce I was getting on concrete highways and was not part of my complaint, but I sure am glad they did it. I was ready to pull the trigger on a Firestone R4Tech airbag system.
Before I took it in, I talked to Steve at WC Motorsports about their track bar solution - $825.00 - parts only.
But the item of note is he said you can't run BFG All Terrain KOs on these trucks - which I am. I have standard size with 18" rims. I noticed if I ran 65lbs in the fronts it would bounce like crazy and the Death Wobble was easy to reproduce, but if I put 70-75lbs in them, no death wobble. I did report this to the Ford and their response was, you should be able to run any tire of the right size on these trucks without issue.
Now I am running my BFGs with 65lbs and have no issues.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 5
From: Maryland
The track bar video pretty clearly shows the issue. That amount of movement on the bar along with sub-par shocks is never a good combination.
I don't know the exact number, but I know that you need a torque multiplier to torque the track bar. It is not a job for the faint of heart!
I don't know the exact number, but I know that you need a torque multiplier to torque the track bar. It is not a job for the faint of heart!
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 852
Likes: 12
From: Kentucky
Nope. The second you start changing out parts Ford is no longer responsible for correcting the issue. What if you spend some money on parts and it doesn't fix the problem? At that point warranty won't help you any.
Seriously, this really needs to get to a dealer for proper diagnosis. The best part about this is that since you're under warranty IT'S FREE!
Seriously, this really needs to get to a dealer for proper diagnosis. The best part about this is that since you're under warranty IT'S FREE!
What would cause the track bar to go bad anyways?
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
I'd say it would be a long-term fix considering how rare these problems are. Joel(ruschejj) had his '08, which used the same components, for over 150,000 hard towing miles. He never posted about any trouble with the death wobble.
Looks like yours is just defective.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Sunshine Coast, BC
Sure would like to understand the basis for that post. We're trying to reason out some solutions and that statement in itself is not helpful. Do you know the background of that opinion?
One thing that is clear, there is likely not one single solution to the wobble. There's probably a root cause and then failure of other parts of the system that allow it to happen. Poor alignment, worn shocks, bad tires will all need to be corrected. If Lex sees some improvement with the stabilizer and alignment change but still feels like something is off, we'll keep working on it.
One thing that is clear, there is likely not one single solution to the wobble. There's probably a root cause and then failure of other parts of the system that allow it to happen. Poor alignment, worn shocks, bad tires will all need to be corrected. If Lex sees some improvement with the stabilizer and alignment change but still feels like something is off, we'll keep working on it.
That being said, I have no idea the background of that opinion but since you post on that forum (I assume it is you, same handle) you could ask him.
He could be talking out his clacker for all I know, or maybe he knows what he is talking about.
Do you reckon he's wrong and you're right? If you don't know for sure the answer to that question, you probably shouldn't be advising people to add caster. Right?
I agree with Crazy mustang guy, "we" shouldn't be fixing this, Ford should.
.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 5
From: Maryland
I think there was a misunderstanding where Epic thought that caster was being ignored. I think the confusing came from a statement about adding caster. If I am thinking correctly what Epic has been suggesting is actually taking away caster or going negative. This adjustment will definitely help with bump steer which is one contributing factor in the death wobble.
Lexus your track bar issue can be likened to a starter failing at 10,000 miles. Components can and do prematurely fail for various reasons. Usually track bar issues on these trucks are typically caused by lifts of 2 or more inches, wider wheels or different offset on the wheels and large aggressive tires. I don't recall you having any of this done to your truck so I'm going to say you just unluckily got a "10,000 mile starter".
Lexus your track bar issue can be likened to a starter failing at 10,000 miles. Components can and do prematurely fail for various reasons. Usually track bar issues on these trucks are typically caused by lifts of 2 or more inches, wider wheels or different offset on the wheels and large aggressive tires. I don't recall you having any of this done to your truck so I'm going to say you just unluckily got a "10,000 mile starter".
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 852
Likes: 12
From: Kentucky
Adding caster is something a lot of people suggest. Even the WC bar guy suggest adding caster more than factory spec. So I'd say this is a good idea.
Have you ever been to the dealer for a squeak or rattle that you hear, but the tech can't or won't? Kinda frustrating huh. I'd rether fix this myself than have the dealer take two weeks and replace subpar parts with more crappy subpar parts.
Have you ever been to the dealer for a squeak or rattle that you hear, but the tech can't or won't? Kinda frustrating huh. I'd rether fix this myself than have the dealer take two weeks and replace subpar parts with more crappy subpar parts.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 5
From: Maryland
Okay I'm a dunce! I just googled it to make sure I'm not talking out my nether regions, but of course I was. The direction that you need to move is actually positive or rotating the top of the differential assembly toward the rear of the vehicle. Rotating it forwards would cause heavier steering and bump steer. I knew the direction of movement, but I was using the wrong terminology.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2010
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Nope. The second you start changing out parts Ford is no longer responsible for correcting the issue. What if you spend some money on parts and it doesn't fix the problem? At that point warranty won't help you any.
Seriously, this really needs to get to a dealer for proper diagnosis. The best part about this is that since you're under warranty IT'S FREE!
Seriously, this really needs to get to a dealer for proper diagnosis. The best part about this is that since you're under warranty IT'S FREE!
This is the first I have ever heard of on anything other than Jeeps. Until now I thought that they were the only ones that had this issue.
Good luck, and keep us posted.