The "Death Wobble"
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
Just bought a used 11 250. It had the tsb done. I have not had the wobble but I know a place to check it. It's a freeway loop interchange in PHX. The interchange between two freeways we call a stack. It has a pretty good bump between bridge segments an is a sweeping left turn, and through's my car for a good ride. I am a little nervous to test the truck there. When I drive down the road and turn the wheel back and forth the truck floats and takes time to react, literally feels like being in a boat. Is this normal for the 250. Just sold an 11 150 and it was much tighter and reacted very fast no floating.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,314
Likes: 4
Although I've never had that...
isn't a stabilizer like forty dollars ?!?
cheap prevention to me it seems....
SO many things could cause that - worn ball joints, shocks, too much air pressure, bad camber... the list goes on, but it's all about wear items IMHO.... replace em !
If your dealer can't (or won't) solve it - go to another - that simple...
or a good independent shop..
isn't a stabilizer like forty dollars ?!?
cheap prevention to me it seems....
SO many things could cause that - worn ball joints, shocks, too much air pressure, bad camber... the list goes on, but it's all about wear items IMHO.... replace em !
If your dealer can't (or won't) solve it - go to another - that simple...
or a good independent shop..
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 421
Likes: 1
From: League City, TX
I had the tsb done and it fixed mine for 11K miles - shocks, alignment and dampener replacement. They were going to replace the Rancho shocks again, but I decided I didn't want to go through this every 11K. Put Bilstein 5100 shocks on and the problem went away again.
Now I have a little steering wheel oscillation again. The shocks keep the tires on the road, but I can feel the steering trying to repeat the previous problem.
In summary, I am in the camp with those who say that the factory dampener is weak. I'll probably look in to replacing it with a better after market product.
Now I have a little steering wheel oscillation again. The shocks keep the tires on the road, but I can feel the steering trying to repeat the previous problem.
In summary, I am in the camp with those who say that the factory dampener is weak. I'll probably look in to replacing it with a better after market product.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix
There are several things that will contribute to the wobble. Oversized tires, bad shocks, bad stabilizers, loose or worn suspension parts. We know the OEM FX4 shocks are really poor and upgrading them improves a lot of things. The jury is out on the OEM stabilizer, some guys have upgraded theirs with no improvement, others have seen big improvements. I'm of the opinion that you want to stop that wobble as soon as possible. There is tremendous force on the suspension and steering parts when it's going and I believe if left unchecked, those parts will wear very quickly. Here's what several people are doing to remove the wobble:
Installing Rancho Steering Stabilizer & RS9000XL Shocks Ford Super Duty - YouTube
Installing Rancho Steering Stabilizer & RS9000XL Shocks Ford Super Duty - YouTube
Does Rancho have more than one dual stabilizer kit for the 2011 F250? What was the part number for Rancho that you used?
Thanks
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 11
From: Central NJ
I have had issues with this on/off over 30k miles. I did the Rancho dual stabilizer Epic wrote about. I swapped out my factory shocks for Bil 5100's and problem was still there. I now have ordered Bil 24-196284 which replaces factory OEM stabilizer $85. Problem is, I guess it is in high demnand and has been on backorder for a month and I am being quoted 3/14 ship date. If I go to the dealer with the TSB in hand, what are they going to do that I havent already?
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 34
From: North of Salt Lake City
RS98510 is on mine and I haven't heard if they have more than one product.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
Dealer finally got mine straightened out after contacting Ford. A camber / caster adjustment was necessary after replacing the track bar assembly and the dampener. I'm ordering a set of Rancho 9000 xls as they have their rebate on again. I ll get more info as to the adjustment they made on my front end if I can......but so far so good over spots in the road that wanted to shake me out of the seat previously. Not even a slight oscillation in the wheel now!!
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix
EpicCowlick,
I checked with Rancho. I have no lift so they said I can't use the duel stabilizer setup. Just replace the stock one. My truck had the TSB done with the new stabilizer so I don't know if the rancho single would be much better. I may look into new shocks.
I checked with Rancho. I have no lift so they said I can't use the duel stabilizer setup. Just replace the stock one. My truck had the TSB done with the new stabilizer so I don't know if the rancho single would be much better. I may look into new shocks.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 34
From: North of Salt Lake City
EpicCowlick,
I checked with Rancho. I have no lift so they said I can't use the duel stabilizer setup. Just replace the stock one. My truck had the TSB done with the new stabilizer so I don't know if the rancho single would be much better. I may look into new shocks.
I checked with Rancho. I have no lift so they said I can't use the duel stabilizer setup. Just replace the stock one. My truck had the TSB done with the new stabilizer so I don't know if the rancho single would be much better. I may look into new shocks.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
EpicCowlick,
I checked with Rancho. I have no lift so they said I can't use the duel stabilizer setup. Just replace the stock one. My truck had the TSB done with the new stabilizer so I don't know if the rancho single would be much better. I may look into new
Tshocks.
I checked with Rancho. I have no lift so they said I can't use the duel stabilizer setup. Just replace the stock one. My truck had the TSB done with the new stabilizer so I don't know if the rancho single would be much better. I may look into new
Tshocks.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 565
Likes: 1
From: Middletown,NJ
If anyone is looking for a better stabilizer set up, you could try the bilstein 5100 unit, that works pretty good or you can go for the gusto and get the carli-bilstein 7100 set up. I think the later is a little better because there are heim joints in each mounting end, not pressed rubber brackets that over time will wear a bit and create some play and you won't get the full stabilizer effect of the shock itself.