Death Wobble experience
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Idaho
Video I took today while driving on a two lane road. I did not experience death wobble today, but you can see there were a few times of good shaking.
YouTube - Death wobble on road
YouTube - Death wobble on road
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,600
Likes: 84
Yea, that's worse than mine plus I don't have the clatter noise I hear from your truck when you go over those bumps.
Unless of course that's from something inside your cab.
Mine sounds firm and the steering wheel turn I get is from the front wheels shifting left to right over the bumps since the steering in this truck is more refined (easy).
I'm calling mine a feature of the solid front axle whereas something isn't right with yours (yes I realize that's the point of this topic).
Then again, this is past my troubleshooting abilities on this issue.
Unless of course that's from something inside your cab.
Mine sounds firm and the steering wheel turn I get is from the front wheels shifting left to right over the bumps since the steering in this truck is more refined (easy).
I'm calling mine a feature of the solid front axle whereas something isn't right with yours (yes I realize that's the point of this topic).
Then again, this is past my troubleshooting abilities on this issue.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 852
Likes: 12
From: Kentucky
Truck is all stock in the front. With the exception of the steering damper.
Ok, I ordered the WC Motorsports track bar for $825 and ordered Bilstein shocks and damper. I plan on them being here Friday with an install date and alignment done on Saturday. I know its pricey, but it sounds like this will fix my wobble problems for the life of the truck. I'll report back Satuday.
Ok, I ordered the WC Motorsports track bar for $825 and ordered Bilstein shocks and damper. I plan on them being here Friday with an install date and alignment done on Saturday. I know its pricey, but it sounds like this will fix my wobble problems for the life of the truck. I'll report back Satuday.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 1
From: WY
I bought my truck in Aug of '10 and it had a front end shimmy from day 1. After 7 months and 5000 miles, I had enuf. So, I took it to the dealer and had it serviced and tires rotated and the front end aligned. The front end shimmy went away for 4 1/2 months, until last week. IT'S BAAAACK!!!
After all this death wobble talk resurfacing, I went to the dealer today and made an appointment to have the front end checked again.
After all this death wobble talk resurfacing, I went to the dealer today and made an appointment to have the front end checked again.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
From: Land of Lincoln
Can't wait to hear the results on this
Truck is all stock in the front. With the exception of the steering damper.
Ok, I ordered the WC Motorsports track bar for $825 and ordered Bilstein shocks and damper. I plan on them being here Friday with an install date and alignment done on Saturday. I know its pricey, but it sounds like this will fix my wobble problems for the life of the truck. I'll report back Satuday.
Ok, I ordered the WC Motorsports track bar for $825 and ordered Bilstein shocks and damper. I plan on them being here Friday with an install date and alignment done on Saturday. I know its pricey, but it sounds like this will fix my wobble problems for the life of the truck. I'll report back Satuday.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 852
Likes: 12
From: Kentucky
looking like Monday on the fix. The guy at WC did not get the part out in time.... 
I'll report back Monday.
I'll report back Monday.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 444
Likes: 2
From: Franktown, CO
Death Wobble
I bought my truck in Aug of '10 and it had a front end shimmy from day 1. After 7 months and 5000 miles, I had enuf. So, I took it to the dealer and had it serviced and tires rotated and the front end aligned. The front end shimmy went away for 4 1/2 months, until last week. IT'S BAAAACK!!!
After all this death wobble talk resurfacing, I went to the dealer today and made an appointment to have the front end checked again.
After all this death wobble talk resurfacing, I went to the dealer today and made an appointment to have the front end checked again.
Originally Posted by Rickx
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.
New User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Had similar issue with my 2010, same front end I believe. Dealership replaced my ball joint on the track bar and I had a trusted shop re-adjust the front end after delaership put it to specs. He set the toe and camber/caster to what he said suits the area I live in better. Night and day in the handling and tightness of the steering. Maybe start there and I agree you paid thousands of dollars for a truck and want it to be reliable, I would take it back to the shop and don't exccept it back until it is fixed. I to have had to contact Ford customer service cooperate offices when the shop gave the "can't duplicate" answer. You got a warranty I would use it. Good luck.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 1
From: WY
Thanks for the info RickX.
I had my truck aligned again on Wed. and haven't driven it yet. I asked them to check the track bar, the track bar torque, the bushings, the shocks, and the steering stabilizer. Supposably, they aligned it and changed some cams in the front end. I will find out Monday, how she handles, when I take the 5er for a 150 mile trip to the dealer for some warranty work. I'm working all weekend so I drive my work car. I will let you know what I find out.
I had my truck aligned again on Wed. and haven't driven it yet. I asked them to check the track bar, the track bar torque, the bushings, the shocks, and the steering stabilizer. Supposably, they aligned it and changed some cams in the front end. I will find out Monday, how she handles, when I take the 5er for a 150 mile trip to the dealer for some warranty work. I'm working all weekend so I drive my work car. I will let you know what I find out.
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Just read everything here and I am very disapointed that the issue is still out there. In my 2006 F-250 gas, I had the same DW issue but mine started at 50k and was out of warrenty. I had it in and out of the dealer at my cost anyway with no success. Went trhough the entire TSB myself, got the letter from Ford about air pressure and on and on. From everything I can read and my 4 wheeling background the front end is not a great design, ie track bar position. When you hit a bump it is phiscally pushing the axle out and causing the wobble. Shocks, tire pressure, and stabilizers are good things to solve the issue for a time but not forever. I just cant understand how it is only on some trucks and not all!!!! For me I put new tires, rancho 9000RS shocks and stabilizer, new draglink and tie rod ends and re torqued everything and it has not happened since but I am honestly just waiting for it to happen. I was all set to buy a new 6.7 but now I am having second thoughts, guess if I do it will have the longest warrenty i can buy..... good luck, please keep us posted on the track bar fix. Thanks
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
This is not correct. I just got one delivered and am trying to install it. Wrong part number. Spindle on the ball joint side is too short, not going to fit in the position on the tie rod. I'm pissed!
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 852
Likes: 12
From: Kentucky
Yup. I found out the same thing today! That stabilizer will fit to like an 05'. They don't make one for 08-11'. The problem is the bolt is not tapered so it will not fit in the hole. I have a good write up for tonight. It's a no go on the WC trackbar.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Idaho
Today i ruled out 4-New shock's and new Steering Stabilizer Shock.Got them installed this morning and on the way home it still does it on the same bumps in the road.I was hoping that cured the issue.I'm down to Tires(pressure?) I have BFG's 315x17 KO's,Track bar is tight and Drag link end's are tight.