I have a 2012 F-250 XLT, Super Crew, short bed, 6.2L & the FX4 package, completely stock. It currently has 45,000 miles on it. Recently I've been having an issue with the "death wobble." When hitting some rough humps or bridges at highway speed (70-80mph), the truck will shake violently & you can't hardly keep control. When you brake to get it to stop, it starts shaking even worse until it finally stops at 30-50mph. One time I even had to completely pull off onto the side of the road. It had been riding rough anyway & I saw where people were complaining about the stock Rancho shocks on the FX4s. I'm not a mechanic & I suck at figuring this stuff out, I know little to nothing about vehicles. I had the shocks replaced today all the way around, the local tire shop put some type of Monroe shocks on there. I'm not sure exactly what model or anything. On the way back from there, it still started the death wobble but it wasn't nearly as violent & I didn't have to pull off the road or slow down. It shook for about 5-6 seconds & quit. Also, I'll throw in that I'm using the stock Michelin tires that came on it. They still have about 5,000 miles worth of tread on them so the tires are fine. I've been looking around the internet for some solution. I've been reading about how installing a dual steering stabilizer has fixed the issue for some people with older Super Dutys. I can't find anything about death wobble on a Super Duty as new as mine. This is getting out of hand. It's doing it nearly EVERY TIME I take it on the interstate & I am getting desperate for a solution. I plan to take it to a dealership soon unless I happen upon a solution. Please help if you can.

UPDATE:
My truck just spent a day at the dealership and they said there's nothing wrong with it and they've never even heard of the death wobble or anything like that. A Ford dealership telling me they've never heard of this problem is nothing but a lie. Especially as common as I've known this to be with older Super Dutys. I guess I'll have to make someone from the dealership ride with me and get it to do it. It does it now literally every time I take it on the interstate. My local diesel shop said there is a bushing or bearing or something like that gone bad with the tie rod. They couldn't get me in to fix it and they went on vacation for 2 weeks. Just when I thought I was getting somewhere, here we are back at square one.

 

Yikes, that sound like more than the typical death wobble especially on a stock suspension. I'm sure you will get some helpful feedback here.
I'll offer one warning in regard to add-on steering stabilizers, I like you have a 2012 F250 4x4 and I just gave up on getting the Pro Comp Pro Runner model 222582Z installed on it. Whether the issue is with the kit, the truck, or me I do not know but I'm through messing with it.
Good luck.

 

My 2011 CC 6.2L had the same thing earlier this year... Several threads here about the death wobble.
My personal opinion after reading many (many) posts is that the gas Super Duties with the lighter front end are most prone. The Crew Cabs with heavier front springs also pop up a lot in posts. What fixed mine was Bilstein shocks all around (including the stock steering damener), inflating tires to door plate psi, and a new tracbar. I ruined the tracbar trying to remove it, my intent at the time was to replace it with an aftermarket bar. Worn tracbar bushings are reportedly a major contributor to the death wobble.
YMMV, but I would replace the shocks and stock steering dampener, inflate the tires to door plate psi, and inspect the tracbar bushing. Also, with only 5k left on your tires consider replacing them also. Good luck.

 

I just had a somewhat similar experience last week while driving I40 East bound between Memphis and Nashville. The road has several potholes with bad patch jobs. While doing 70ish we would hit and vibrate violently and the rear end would fishtail a little. Several times there was some serious pucker factor.

Seemed to me that stiff suspension, 75 and 80psi front and rear respectively, and only hauling 1000lbs all contributed to this issue. Still wasn't quite the Death Wobble one would get from a lift and large mud tires.

 

My theory is it has something to do with the durometer of the bushings in the shocks and other components. I've seen the you-tube dealing with the wobble where they test the parts (shocks) on a UL lab durability test machine and the bushings look like they weren't doing the job. Additively throughout the front end I believe this "too soft" durometer of the rubber components is at least part of the problem. Geometry and tires etc all could be cumulatively adding to the problem.

I have a 95 GC Jeep in which I thought Id change the stabilizer just be cause I was going through the front end. Well to my surprise at 70mph it nearly threw me off the road. Had to stand on the brakes to control it. Never had the problem before. Took the chit moog chineasium replacement off and installed the OEM 200k original... wobble gone!

To the OP the first thing Id do is get it into a heavy duty "TRUCK" shop that specializes in 3/4 ton and up trucks...NOT pep-boys, Kost, kmart etc...Have it inspected for proper front end alignment specs. Then install a rancho or bilstein steering stabilizer. In fact lose the monroes and put rancho 9000 series or bilstein 5100s in place of the Monroe crap. Both of these brands preform day and night over the average shock IMO... Why one truck will do this and the other of the exact year make and model wont is anyones guess. FORD needs to do a DOE experiment on this.

 

The root cause of the death wobble is that your tires are out of balance. This along with fords front end design is what allows the wobble. Even a tiny bit out of balance can set this off. Its hard to get tires balanced very well so things like upgraded steering stabilizers definitely help. I get my tires balanced with every 10,000km rotate. My superduty wears its tire funny. I have aligned it twice since new.

 

^^^agree and then play with decreasing tire psi.

 

Before you modify anything or use aftermarket parts, be absolutely sure that all your front end components, particularly the panhard rod bushings, ball joints, and wheel bearings are perfect. Then, get a front end alignment and make sure the caster is within spec's. SFA's with leading or radius arm coil spring suspension can be prone to this problem, and worn ball joints and bushings are not uncommon in Super Duty's @50,000 miles.

 

^^^ Completely agree. A good alignment shop should do all of the above as part of their service. An alignment not preceded with a complete front end review end fix up, if needed, is a complete waste and you will gain nothing.

Good luck.

 

Here is what Ford says about it, for the 2005-2007 trucks:

FORD:
2005-2007 F-Super Duty
This article supersedes TSB 06-15-1 to update the service labor operations.

ISSUE:

Some 2005-2007 F-Super Duty vehicles may exhibit steering wheel oscillation (back and forth motion), immediately following front or rear wheel impacts (i.e. pavement joints, frost heaves, rough roads, etc.). Steering wheel motion is typically in the range of � 5 degrees, and typically dampens out in fewer than five oscillations. This condition occurs mostly on 4X4 vehicles, and is more evident on trucks equipped with a gas engine.

ACTION:

Refer to the following Service Procedure to minimize the steering wheel oscillations on impacts, however, there may be some remaining minor oscillation which would be considered normal.

SERVICE PROCEDURE SUMMARY

Set tire pressure and road test vehicle to evaluate vehicle before proceeding with further repairs. If issue is resolved, do not proceed with the rest of this TSB
If concern still exists, check steering damper for leaks; torque steering and suspension fasteners per Workshop Manual
If concern still exists, check front alignment and reduce front caster
Replacement of redundant control steering wheel (if equipped and vehicle built prior to 10/8/2004)
VEHICLE INSPECTION – TIRE PRESSURE

Set tire pressures as indicated on the vehicle label (located on driver’s door label).
NOTE: SETTING TIRE PRESSURE TO DOOR SPECIFICATION IS ONE OF THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT MEASURES IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. LOWERING TIRE PRESSURE WILL MAKE THIS ISSUE WORSE.
ROAD TEST

Ask customer what type of road surface and speed generates the steering wheel oscillation.
Road test vehicle on similar road surface and speed, to gain a feel for the customer’s issue.
If no issues are identified during the road test, do not proceed with the rest of this TSB.
STEERING DAMPER INSPECTION AND STEERING/SUSPENSION FASTENER TORQUE CHECK

Wipe down and inspect the steering damper. Turn the steering wheel from lock to lock several times to cycle the steering damper and inspect for leaks.
If leaks are present, install a new steering damper.
Check torques on the following steering and suspension fasteners and adjust to specification as required (see following Table).

Torque Specification
Description Lb-ft Nm
Damper nuts (4X2) 59 80
Damper-to-bracket (F-250, F-350 4X4) 26 35
Damper-to-drag link 67 91
Drag link-to-pitman arm nut 148 201
Inner tie-rod end nuts 85 115
Outer tie-rod end nuts 85 115
Track bar bracket-to-frame nuts and bolts 129 175
Track bar-to-track bar bracket bolt 406 550
Track bar-to-axle nut 185 250
Radius arm to axle bolts 222 300
Radius arm to bracket nut 222 300

NOTE: ADJUSTING TORQUE ON STEERING AND SUSPENSION FASTENERS IS VERY IMPORTANT IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. FASTENERS THAT ARE IMPROPERLY TORQUED WILL MAKE THIS ISSUE WORSE.
FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND REDUCE FRONT CASTER

NOTE: OSCILLATION ISSUES RESOLVED BY WHEEL ALIGNMENT ARE WARRANTED FOR 12/12 ONLY, REGARDLESS OF OTHER STEPS PERFORMED.
Measure wheel alignment. Verify that Front Caster, Camber, and Total Toe are within specification. Adjust as required. Refer to the Workshop Manual, Section 204-00 for complete alignment specifications.

REDUCE FRONT CASTER

Note the current front caster
Use alignment adjustment bushings to reduce front caster by 0.5 to 0.75 degrees. The caster setting may be at the lower end of the specification as long as the vehicle drives smoothly. Do not put caster setting below the lower specification limit. Use alignment adjustment bushings
F-250/350 4X4:

5C3Z-3B440-CCC (0.5 degree bushing)
5C3Z-3B440-DDD (0.75 degree bushing)
5C3Z-3B440-EEE (1.0 degree bushing)
F-450/550 4X4 and 4X2:

5C3Z-3B440-HHH (0.5 degree bushing)
5C3Z-3B440-JJJ (0.75 degree bushing)
5C3Z-3B440-KKK (1.0 degree bushing)
F-250/350 4X2:

5C3Z-3B440-C (0.5 degree busing)
5C3Z-3B440-D (0.75 degree bushing)
5C3Z-3B440-E (1.0 degree bushing)
For All 4X4 and for F-450/550 4X2:

Rotate the alignment adjustment bushing so that the bushing hole is in the 45 degree forward and inboard position (See Figure 1)



Figure 1 – Article 06-22-14

This should lower the caster, while keeping the camber within the specification range. If the camber is not in the specification range than rotate the alignment adjustment bushing as needed
The final caster and camber settings must be within the specification limits
Maintain the current front camber, cross-camber and cross-caster settings as close as you possibly can
Adding weight behind the rear axle lowers the rear of the vehicle, which decreases the frame angle, which in effect increases caster
For All F-250/350 4X2:

Observe the camber position of the alignment bushing that is currently in the truck and attempt to maintain that position while moving the caster position forward in the truck
The final caster and camber settings must be within the specification limits
NOTE: CASTER SETTING IS VERY IMPORTANT IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. INCREASING THE CASTER SETTING WILL MAKE THIS ISSUE WORSE.

 

redford, would you have the same information about later year Superdutys? I have a stock 2010 F-250 and would like to know if the same things apply.

 

Redford thanks!

 

The same things apply, at least to the extent that this is a good list to start with when troubleshooting.

 

Thanks. I thought most of this would apply to later model years too.

 

I have a 2015 F-350 and suffered the same situation, I changed my tires away from those crappy Michelin's and I've never experienced the wobble again..... Ever...!!!!