Death wobble?
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Death wobble?
Need some help please. My 79 f150 "Frankenstein" seems to occasionally get a horrible wobble after hitting a bump. It's got a 78 frame, 4x4, with a 460, Dana 44 I believe, Never really noticed before, and not sure if this has anything to do with it, but I never experienced this till after I changed front axle u-joints. Which was a few months ago. I really don't drive it often or far because I have a company vehicle. More or less a toy, cruiser, or beer runner
. But I also don't wanna die in it either. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks
. But I also don't wanna die in it either. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks
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At the risk of sounding stupid, I do not know how to check my tie rods. I do have some play in my steering. Prolly from bout 12-1:30 before steering responds. I've been thinking about replacing everything up front being that I don't have to drive it all the time. But then again I'm not really experienced at it. I'm not stupid just suffer from a bad case of inexperience. I am however very mechanically inclined
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Mississippi
If you do a forum search here, you will find out everything you need to know about death wobble 
but basically get under truck with it shut off and have a friend turn the wheel and look for looseness in the entire system. Worn trac bar bushings are often the culprit, worn out rag joints ( the coupling in front of your steering box with the rubber disc) worn out radius arm bushings to name just a few of the possibilitys. And with the truck running, stick your head out of the window and slowly turn the wheel some side to side, if the truck body moves before the wheels do, its probably the trac bar bushings.
but basically get under truck with it shut off and have a friend turn the wheel and look for looseness in the entire system. Worn trac bar bushings are often the culprit, worn out rag joints ( the coupling in front of your steering box with the rubber disc) worn out radius arm bushings to name just a few of the possibilitys. And with the truck running, stick your head out of the window and slowly turn the wheel some side to side, if the truck body moves before the wheels do, its probably the trac bar bushings.
Posting Guru
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From: Mississippi
Yes, a stabilizer could be bad, I just changed mine; it didnt cause wobble but it helps reduce bump steer. Looseness could be the steering gearbox is worn, mine is a bit but the trac bar bushings being worn will definitely cause death wobble.
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I'm pretty positive it's not the gearbox, I replaced that last summer. Forgive me but I may be a little naive bout some of this stuff. Any suggestions on who to order front end components from or will my lmc book work just fine. Pretty sure I would be able to change everything out, upper and lower and the rest etc. then I would have to have it aligned, correct? But would the rubbers be fine or should I go with the poly?
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Posting Guru
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From: Mississippi
Someone on here told me to do that test and sure enough they were right, body moved 1st opposite of the wheel movement; had a friend turn the wheel while I looked under there and spotted the movement at the trac bar. I replaced those bushings and it was a huge improvement. To the OP: For what its worth, I bought the poly set for my front end though I have yet to install them. I think it will wear longer according to what some who have used them here say.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: in the middle of nowhere
Trac bar, actually called the panhard rod, centers the front axle under the truck. Ford death wobble is most always associated with worn components within this design. bushings are common and have also seen the mount stud threads, on the axle side, worn enough that it would pop one thread pitch, if you will. Have a buddy sit in the truck and 'wiggle' the wheel back and forth , you should be able to see any evident play.
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From: The Shenandoah Valley
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Also check the frame rail below the gear box. Mine broke along the edge just below the bottom gearbox. I had planned on welding it up real quick because as I turned the wheel the gear box would twist. Upon pulling the gearbox and sanding the framei found hairline cracks all the way from the bottom to the top and goin behind the track bar bracket.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Arlington,Wa
^^^^what he said^^^^ The difference is unreal......you'd swear you had a whole new truck! I swapped all my rubber pieces for the urethane in 1992 and I strongly recommend everyone make the swap. Also make sure the bolt on the axle end of the track bar is torqued to spec. (around 200lb/ft) I had the Death Wobble and eliminated it by torqueing that bolt as it was loose.
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