Notices
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Bumpsides Ford Truck

death wobble

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 12:05 AM
  #1  
sawmaned's Avatar
sawmaned
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 865
Likes: 2
death wobble

just picked up a 1970 f250 2wd,390,4spd ps pb got on the highway get it up to 50 and it feels like the front tires are wobbling,very hard to keep it on the road,cant or not brave enough to get it any faster,??? any help on this thanks
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 12:34 AM
  #2  
HIO Silver's Avatar
HIO Silver
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 83
From: NorCal
????

Have you done anything besides post on FTE? Like check for loose or worn components? Lug nut torque? Cupped tread or slipped tire belts?

.
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 05:04 AM
  #3  
jowilker's Avatar
jowilker
Fleet Owner
25 Year Member
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Club FTE Silver Member

Does the steering wheel have play in it. Your best bet is to go to a local tire shop if you know of one that can work on the older trucks and not just swap tires.


John
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 06:57 AM
  #4  
351Cleveland C4's Avatar
351Cleveland C4
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 191
From: On the Edge of the Desert
Separated tires, bad shocks, bent wheels...
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 10:27 AM
  #5  
D & D's Avatar
D & D
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 474
Likes: 3
From: Central Wisconsin
I had a wheel lose the wheel weight and become unbalanced. Same thing would happen. In town, no problem, go over 45 and it was scary. That wheel was on the rear too.
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 10:36 AM
  #6  
coyoterun51's Avatar
coyoterun51
Mountain Pass
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 126
Likes: 6
From: North Central Texas
Worn kingpins?
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 12:48 PM
  #7  
sawmaned's Avatar
sawmaned
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 865
Likes: 2
before I posted,i check tires for wear they look good,no bubbles,tread looks even,it has new shocks,,will check the steering joint next and take it over and have the tires balanced,might be the king pins,all I no it took everthing I had to keep it in one lane,
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 04:47 PM
  #8  
MIKES 68 F100's Avatar
MIKES 68 F100
Logistics Pro
10 Year Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,762
Likes: 54
From: Antelope Valley ,CA
Rag joint is common problem .
connects steering column to steering box .
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-3

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-5

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 04:49 PM
  #9  
351Cleveland C4's Avatar
351Cleveland C4
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 191
From: On the Edge of the Desert
Even if the steering wasn't connected at all, it should still go relatively straight down the road....
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 08:11 PM
  #10  
greasy rider's Avatar
greasy rider
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
In addition to all the other guesses, may I add: front wheel bearings.
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 09:26 PM
  #11  
sawmaned's Avatar
sawmaned
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 865
Likes: 2
thanks all,i checked to see if tie rod ends/king pins/tire wear,rag joint ,didn't feel to bad,it shakes bad like when you run a bias tire with radial tires,,will have tires balanced tomorrow,
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 10:08 PM
  #12  
willowbilly3's Avatar
willowbilly3
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,209
Likes: 12
From: Black Hills of SD
Well, just keep in mind most tire shops never look at a tire as it's spinning on the balancer, just close the lid, spin it up and slam on the weights. You can balance a square tire. Just sayin...
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 11:13 PM
  #13  
ultraranger's Avatar
ultraranger
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,399
Likes: 40
From: El Dorado, Arkansas
If the tires are more than 6 years old, it's time to replace them, regardless of their tread depth.

The tires should have a manufacture date code on them. --a partial manufacturer/date code may be on one side of the tire while the complete number can be located on the other side. The code will follow after the letters "DOT" on the sidewall near the bead.

Tire Tech Information - Determining the Age of a Tire
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2016 | 11:54 PM
  #14  
HIO Silver's Avatar
HIO Silver
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 83
From: NorCal
Originally Posted by ultraranger
If the tires are more than 6 years old, it's time to replace them, regardless of their tread depth.

The tires should have a manufacture date code on them. --a partial manufacturer/date code may be on one side of the tire while the complete number can be located on the other side. The code will follow after the letters "DOT" on the sidewall near the bead.
[/url]
I disagree with the recommendation above as a strict rule. It depends on how/where the vehicle is stored and how often it is/was driven.

... it's like the widespread notion, more like misinformation, that engine oil must be changed every three months or 3,000 miles - whichever comes first. That is dead wrong. Vehicles are built at much closer tolerances, run cleaner and more efficiently due to computerization, and lubricant formulations are chemically much more consistent.
 
Reply
Old Aug 11, 2016 | 01:22 AM
  #15  
ultraranger's Avatar
ultraranger
Lead Driver
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,399
Likes: 40
From: El Dorado, Arkansas
Originally Posted by HIO Silver
I disagree with the recommendation above as a strict rule. It depends on how/where the vehicle is stored and how often it is/was driven.

... it's like the widespread notion, more like misinformation, that engine oil must be changed every three months or 3,000 miles - whichever comes first. That is dead wrong. Vehicles are built at much closer tolerances, run cleaner and more efficiently due to computerization, and lubricant formulations are chemically much more consistent.
Changing engine oil every 3,000 miles is an oil company/quick lube ploy to sell oil twice as often as the oil actually needs to be changed. Your owners manual (particularly on new vehicles) will most likely say something very different from this figure.

Many people like to put products on their tires to make them nice and shiny. The down side is most of these products are petroleum based. Petroleum products applied to your tires dries them out --speeding up the process of dry rotting the rubber as evidenced by tiny cracks appearing all over the sidewalls of the tires.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:19 AM.

story-0
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-12 11:01:55


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-2
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-4
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-7
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE