Death Wobble
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Death Wobble
My 78 F150 4X4 develops Death Wobble whenever I hit even a small bump just right. It is so violent that I have to almost come to a complete stop to make it quit. I have replaced the steering dampner and the track bar bushings. The tie rod ends look and feel okay. The P/S box has some play in it; about 3/8 of a turn. I can easily feel every bump in the steering wheel, even with a new dampner. Any more suggestions?
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: North of Kansas City.
Death Wobble
Is the little Bubber thing that comes from the steering colom cracked of broke? I had that problem with my F-100.. my 4x4s almost looks new.. I feal ever bump but maybe thats because i have not shocks. lol..
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: West central Indiana
Death Wobble
seems to be a fairly common problem with the seventies ford 4x4s.i have owned several hi boy F250's that had the same problem and i have known a few people with seventies 1/2 tons that had the same thing going on. just keep replacing till you fix it.
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From: Whately, Ma
Death Wobble
I had bad death wobble in my 94F1504x4 after I did a solid-axle swap. I replaced the tie-rod ends, steering stabilizer. Still had it bad. I tried rotating the tires, Bingo!! I had a front wheel that lost all the weights. Fixed. 
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Death Wobble
While I realize we are talking about VASTLY DIFFERENT vehicles.....I had the same thing happen on a VW bug I used to have. I would hit a bump (railroad crossings were the worst) and it would get to vibrating so badly I could barely control it. It would typically happen at city street speeds, and at its worst I had to pretty much stop (much to the anger of my fellow commuters) to get the thing to settle down. It turned out the tie rods were completely wore out. I had about 5-6 inches of play on the steering wheel right before I broke down and did the work.
If not the tie rod, maybe the pitman arm (???) (The arm that comes out of the bottom of the steering gear and connects to the tie rods).
If not the tie rod, maybe the pitman arm (???) (The arm that comes out of the bottom of the steering gear and connects to the tie rods).
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Joined: Aug 2003
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From: South Florida
Death Wobble
Your tires could be cupped. Deflate your tires and see if they are bowed. This happened in my 79 F-150 and took me a while trying to figure it out. I didn't have a lot of money so my friends dad has a shop behind his house well we took the gear box off and inspected the whole steering column and found nothing. Checked the stabelizer and nothing was wrong with that either. The total front end was checked and found nothing, took it to a shop and they had a jeep with the same problem but didn't know what was wrong with it either. Since they told me it would cost about $1500 dollars I explained that I was broke so they said well start with the tires and that was it. She ran and felt like a brand new truck. I was amazed if you didn't look at the tires I suggest that strongly or you may be replacing GOOD PARTS!!
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: KC Metro
Death Wobble
The 1978 F-100 Short bed chassis is the same thing as the 78-9 Bronco Chassis, therefore the F-150 is probably very much similar, they all have the same steering style and the coil sprung front suspension. Experience with the Death wobble in 78 Broncos is too common of an occurance.
One of the causes of this that I have seen is located right behind the steering box mount, the frame is been known to crack there sometimes, which can cause you all sorts of problems. Im not saying thats what it is, but it is nothing that hasn't been seen before.
-Daniel
One of the causes of this that I have seen is located right behind the steering box mount, the frame is been known to crack there sometimes, which can cause you all sorts of problems. Im not saying thats what it is, but it is nothing that hasn't been seen before.
-Daniel
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From: South Florida
Death Wobble
Yeah, my frame was cracked their as well. It was from the cupped tires making my truck bounce violently. I welded it and it still happened. Well after a few more times, about a dozen, I figured out it was the tires; the crack came back on the frame behind the gear box, but it didn't shake anymore. So it could still be something else but in my case it was the tires. I have heard of people selling their trucks because they couldn't figure it out. If all is inspected on the front end then what else could it be? How old are your tires?
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Death Wobble
My 79 Had the "Death Wobble" you describe, when I first bought the truck, which is why I got a great deal on it. The first time it happened I thought I was loosing a wheel. After checking the ball joints, tie rod ends, track bar bushings, etc. I couldn't find it. Then one day after incuring the wrath of the wobble, I pulled off the road and checked everything again. The bracket that connects the track bar to the left frame rail was loose! After torqing those bolts, the wobble has never returned, its been over 2 years. 
I have also repaired several frames at the steering gear mount where it cracks, but it never seemed to cause this type of wobble, it just seemed to cause excessive play in the steering system.
I have also repaired several frames at the steering gear mount where it cracks, but it never seemed to cause this type of wobble, it just seemed to cause excessive play in the steering system.
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Death Wobble
Problem solved! I jacked it up to check the track bar bracket like you suggested. Bracket was okay but I noticed some play in the bar like the bushings were bad again. Sure enough, that was the problem. However, this presents a new problem. Since the old (new) bushings were only about 10 months old, why did they wear out so soon? The new set I put in (McQuay-Norris) seem a little loose. Even after I remounted the track bar, there was still a little play in the bar at the bushing at the frame mount. I suspect it won't be long until I have to replace them again. Any further suggestions?
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Joined: Oct 2002
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Death Wobble
Try lubing the bushings or putting a bolt drilled with a grease zerk in it. if the bolt is binding inside the bushing it will work the bushing back and forth causing the rubber to rip itself thus the play. Also check to see that the bolt is the right size and it doesn't have grooves worn in it. This will also cause heck.