Yay!
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2011
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Yay!
My death wobble has arrived! 
So my question is... I have to pull a five ton travel trailer home tomorrow, about 30 miles. The truck wasn't pulling when it happened (started a month ago, I was in denial until tonight when the wobble almost sent me off the road).
Truck got the trailer here no problem... now I'm slightly concerned about getting it home.
Help me out, boys... Would you go for it? Roads home are all highway, where the death wobble struck tonight.
So my question is... I have to pull a five ton travel trailer home tomorrow, about 30 miles. The truck wasn't pulling when it happened (started a month ago, I was in denial until tonight when the wobble almost sent me off the road).
Truck got the trailer here no problem... now I'm slightly concerned about getting it home.
Help me out, boys... Would you go for it? Roads home are all highway, where the death wobble struck tonight.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
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From: Isanti, MN
As long as you have a good understanding of what causes it and how to react when it happens I say go for it. Of course I'm not paying to replace your truck or camper when you wreck it, so I guess you shouldn't listen to me!
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Joined: Sep 2012
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I had that happen to me once a long time ago. Very violent. Then I read that it happens when tires are under inflated. So I keep 70psi in my tires. Hasn't happened since. Don't remember what tires were when it did happen. Good luck with the pull.
Mod note: Changed the wording due to unintended links.
Mod note: Changed the wording due to unintended links.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Isanti, MN
There are a number of different things that can cause it, the most common being worn out track bar bushings allowing too much lateral movement of the front axle.
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Mod note: changed wording due to unintended link.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
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From: Isanti, MN
I wanna say I had only about 40k on the truck when it did happen. Was a very scary few seconds. I believe I read about the tires on Fords website. That was before I found this forum. I forget whom makes it. But I have seen a new cross bar with a solid mount that is for sale that claims to fix the problem. If the wobble comes back for me I will look into the alternatives. But so far now, the the truck has 103K on it now and I haven't had it happen other than the once. Not going to attempt to fix what isn't broke.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2012
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, I remember an old auto shop teacher many moons ago when I was in school. Kiss( keep it simple stupid), as in most cases that is what it is. As he used to tell us back in the day. Of course back then these things were much simpler to work on and figure out. 
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2011
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Thanks guys. Really appreciate the insight. And humor.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2012
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Here is the vid for the fix that is out there. I think it was posted here before somewhere. This part isn't cheap after looking it up. But If I have the problem again I will certainly be looking at this pretty hard.
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Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Frederick, MD
Look at the max psi rating on the tires. I am a firm believer that what is on the door cert is for that smooth ride. When towing or heavy payloads..or better fuel mpgs then get closer to the max psi on the tires.
More payload more air.
More payload more air.
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2011
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The door pillar states 65 front, 80 rear. That is where they are at... so I increased the front to 70 per rockertom's suggestion above and I didn't notice any wobble on the way home towing the camper. But, then again, I kept it at the speed limit.
Dealer says there is a TSB about the steering dampener... They are replacing that on Wednesday...
Dealer says there is a TSB about the steering dampener... They are replacing that on Wednesday...
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Joined: Jun 2012
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Wobble can be one thing that is bad, or a number of things that add up. Ford did issue a directive to run the front tires at 70 or 75 psi, but that was for the earlier coil spring trucks like my 2005. That was to help with wobble. Other things that affect wobble are the track bar bushing, the ball joints, the alignment with caster in particular but also toe. Raising or leveling the front suspension can reduce caster and influence wobble. A tire going bad can cause wobble. Contrary to expectations the steering damper almost never has any effect on wobble.
I had wobble under braking at medium speeds and changing the track bar was the fix. Alignment, shocks, new steering damper did nothing for the wobble but did make the truck ride and drive better.
Brian
I had wobble under braking at medium speeds and changing the track bar was the fix. Alignment, shocks, new steering damper did nothing for the wobble but did make the truck ride and drive better.
Brian
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More Turbo
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The dealer replaced the steering dampener on Wednesday. They checked the existing one and it wasn't loose at all, so they put a note in with Ford, who advised them to replace it with the latest spec part.
Took the truck yesterday to the spot that cause the hop, got up to speed, took a deep breath as I neared the spot... and nothing. Nice and tight like it was when I first bought it new. Sure, it bounced a little, but nothing out of the ordinary like the maniacal wobble that almost took me off the road this past weekend.
Whew.
Took the truck yesterday to the spot that cause the hop, got up to speed, took a deep breath as I neared the spot... and nothing. Nice and tight like it was when I first bought it new. Sure, it bounced a little, but nothing out of the ordinary like the maniacal wobble that almost took me off the road this past weekend.
Whew.