Getting the dreaded death wobble, mainly at low speed for now, but getting worse at all speeds. While many suggest steering stabilizers, the consensus seems to be that the worn parts on the front that allow the wobble, need to be replaced. What are those parts, and how much $$$ am I looking at, parts and labor?

 

FYI: my truck is a 4wd conversion using parts off of an '06, so all parts would be for an '06 and not an '03 as the sig suggests. Thanks.

 

Start with a new trac-bar.
Don't you wish you had the leaf springs back?

 

What is your tire pressure?

 

Never had them. Mine WAS a 2wd.

 

75 lbs in the classic oversized tire that causes this problem. 285/70/19.5.

 

Modularation has the place to start in my opinion. I've seen lots of people crediting different things for the resolution of their death wobble, but the most common fix is the track bar.

I think a little slop in the bushings allows enough lateral movement for the death wobble to occur.

 

As you stated loose parts are allowing it to vibrate...loose or worn parts don't make it shake. First I would do a tire rotation and go from there. Tires and or tires/wheels are almost always overwhelmingly the issue. And don't go throwing a bunch of money at balancing...with that chassis and tire/wheel combination there is so much unsprung weight a few ounces won't make a difference.

 

Start the vehicle.

Turn the steering wheel 1/4 turn both ways.

Watch the hood.


If the track bar is worn the vehicle will move.

 

Death wobble happens because of a excessive movement allowed in the ordinarily rigid suspension/steering system. It almost always involves more than one worn part. When the oscillation starts, from an out of balance tire, pothole, ripples in the pavement, etc., The tire moves, effecting the steering, and that movement hits the next part. That movement continues to the next part, until the movement stops. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, so there is a rebounding effect. As that goes back through the steering, the worn parts allow more minute movement than normal. The wobble comes from the oscillation, as the energy moves back and forth through the steering system. When parts aren't worn out, the energy stops; when they are worn, there is room within the individual bushings to allow rebound, so that the energy continues (or can grow), instead of ceasing. This is why the only remedy is to slow down or stop, and cease the energy. Therefore, it is seldom as simple as replacing a steering stabilizer or track bar; it is essential to go through the system, and replace all worn parts. Replacing one may mitigate things, but it won't make the problem go completely away.
I dealt with this on my 94 Dodge. I systematically went through the system, and replaced the steering stabilizer, track bar, ball joints (and unit bearings, when it need them replaced), tie rod ends, a steering box brace, control arm bushings, sway bar links and bushings, and kept it in good alignment. As I went through the system, it progressively got better (I did not replace everything at one time). Once completed, I could hit pot holes or whatever, and the wobble was completely gone- I couldn't get it to happen again.
It can happen in a leaf-sprung vehicle, if the steering system is worn. It is just more prevalant in coil-sprung trucks because the track bar plays a more prominent role. You seldom to never see it in cars or autos with rack-and-pinion steering, because the design and geometry are different. Plus, they typically run smaller tires.

 

Super Duty Wobble for information only.

 

So, anybody actually bought the WC Motorsports kit and if so, did it really fix the problem?

 

Why "for information only"? Not really a viable alternative? It seems like it might be cheaper solution than replacing all of the parts, but only if it actually works.

 

Lift Kits, Leveling Kits | Superlift Suspension Systems

 

I know this pertains to JEEP's but it is probably one of the best write ups on the subject that I have seen. Best of luck to you.
Diagnosing Death Wobble and Fixing Non-DW Shimmies and Wobbles - Jeep Wrangler Forum