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Ford performed the steering damper replacement about a week ago. When they initially setup the appt, the damper was on back-order and I had no idea when the part would arrive. I need to drive the truck a few thousand miles this week, so I ordered a Fox damper to install just in case. Well the Ford part came in and the replaced it. The old damper was completely frozen. It wouldn't move at all. The death wobble I had is completely gone, but there was still a minor amount of bump steer. With the death wobble gone, I decided to replace the stock damper with the Fox 2.0 damper. What a great improvement. There is no bump steer and no death wobble. I highly recommend the Fox 2.0 Damper, part no. 985-24-001. It literally takes 5 minutes to install.
I had my alignment done today as well to fix a tow issue (it pulled a little to the left), and also to look at the castor angles. I think they might be a little high, but the truck seems to be driving just fine now.
Just experienced this Saturday. 2017 F25 XLT. Stock, no mods. 19,000mi. Going between 60 and 70. Hit a bridge joint and thought I'd broken something. Slowed and pulled off the road. Smoothed out around 30mph. I appreciate all of the posts on this forum regarding this. Truck goes in Thursday to be checked out. Service guy seemed very knowledgeable about it. Thanks for the TSB info. Folks on this forum are great. Thank you all.
2018 F350 4x4 crew cab, had DW after tires wore out, replaced tires all fixed.
The correct fix for DW is the track bar, not a steering stabilizer. DW is a violent left to right shaking,,, track bar centers front axle. Steering Stabilizer is a dampener, just slows the left to right movement....band-aid. It will wear out the S.S. and you’ll have DW again.
2018 F350 4x4 crew cab, had DW after tires wore out, replaced tires all fixed.
The correct fix for DW is the track bar, not a steering stabilizer. DW is a violent left to right shaking,,, track bar centers front axle. Steering Stabilizer is a dampener, just slows the left to right movement....band-aid. It will wear out the S.S. and you’ll have DW again.
So why doesn't the Ford TSB replace track bar if that is the root cause? How does a track bar wear out on trucks within a year or two under normal city driving?
So why doesn't the Ford TSB replace track bar if that is the root cause? How does a track bar wear out on trucks within a year or two under normal city driving?
theirs a rubber bushing that wears on the factory track bar. We have a fleet of F250,350,450 trucks. Track bars are $180 @ dealer,, guarantee will fix your DW.
but a good aftermarket TB won’t have any rubber bushings, buy that and be done.
theirs a rubber bushing that wears on the factory track bar. We have a fleet of F250,350,450 trucks. Track bars are $180 @ dealer,, guarantee will fix your DW.
but a good aftermarket TB won’t have any rubber bushings, buy that and be done.
I sure hope you're right! I have a Lewis Built TB waiting in my shop for a second pair of hands and a big 'o' torque wrench to get installed (@ 1700mi) along with Fox ATS SS.
Just had my first case of the death wobble today. Had to slow to just below 40 mph on the interstate in Houston to get it to stop. Called Ford right away since it’s a Certified Pre Owned and I still have a warranty they told me I need new tires. The tires only have 2500 miles on them, so I highly doubt that’s the case. Anyways I’m dropping it off with them next week. I’ll report back. Sounds like I need to push for a trac bar and steering stabilizer.
As I am no longer under warranty, I replaced my steering stabilizer with a Fox IFP 2.0 stabilizer in my driveway for $160. Then, I took it to an independent truck alignment shop and told them to reduce the caster as much as possible. Ford recommended reducing it to the minimum of about 1.8. My Truck seemed to have about 4.5 on each side from the factory (which was acceptable, but high.) So the 17's and 18's may have been set with too much caster from the factory before the problem was discovered. The Shop did it for $100 in parts (Two caster bushings) and $120 Alignment and $100 in labor costs. Bringing it to $320 total. Ford was back ordered on caster bushings @ $90 Each, back ordered on the stock steering stabilizer and quoted me about $800 for their fix. So far, replacing both the steering stabilizer (although the old one was not too bad off) and reducing the caster seems to have worked as I cannot replicate the previous DW.
So what did the alignment shop set your caster to?
In regards to Ford parts costs, I got a quote of $105 for a stock steering stabilizer. You’re saying $180 for a stock track bar and $180 for the caster bushings. I assume that the labor to do the SS, TB and caster bushings/alignment is then $335 to bring the total to the $800 you were quoted. Thanks for posting the info. I have a 2019 F350 SRW 4x4 6.7 diesel that just turned over 4000 miles. I’d like to NOT experience the dreaded DW.
I have followed all the DW posts since deciding to purchase my first FORD last fall, and I have posted several pieces expressing my opinions about causes, fixes and Ford’s responsibility in this matter. I even wrote and sent a long letter to Ford last November detailing the experiences and opinions expressed in this forum, for which I have received no response. No surprise there. I have furthermore been amazed at the numerous stories about various Ford service departments claiming ignorance of the issue/problem and or irresponsible reluctance to deal with the problem when an owner, usually under warranty, brings their truck in after having had the S**T scared out of them by their truck.
I have found the opinions about the causes and fixes expressed by numerous people on this forum very enlightening, and honestly somewhat entertaining in regards to the definitive cause(s) and the solution(s). To paraphrase a few that essentially summarize the whole: “It is definitely the track bar”, “Replacing the Steering Stabilizer is akin to putting a bandaid on a gash”, and “Caster, as in increasing it, is the most effective solution.” Using all the opinions as basis, I have become a believer that DW is caused by a combination of factors, not a single factor. At the risk of being repetitive but feeling a value in so doing, some are convinced that it is CASTER, either being too high or too low. Some are convinced it’s the TRACK BAR. Others ard adamant that replacement of the STEERING STABILIZER solved the problem, at least initially.
I am of the opinion, based on the numerous reports herein, that the Steering Stabilizer has a finite lifespan, 15000 miles or less, and should be replaced at least every 15000 miles. I do believe that it plays an important role in controlling oscillation in the front suspension, and therefore, can lead to the deterioration of other suspension parts as it wears out itself. It appears that the stock track bar also has a finite lifespan, but I haven’t seen enough information posted yet to develop an idea of that lifespan. My best guess is that replacing both the SS and TB together at or before every 15000 miles is a reasonable maintenance recommendation. As for CASTER, the decision is up for argument. Ford engineers believe that it should be set at the LOW END of the range, the lower limit being +1.8 degrees, based on TSB 18-2268. Lately at least one person had it set at +2.3/2.7 with no discernible adverse affect on steering, as one poster was certain that it would. Others are convinced that it needs to be jacked up, to what or where I’m not certain. I believe the upper limit set by Ford engineers is slightly in excess of +4 degrees, but I’ve seen some information that suggests increasing it into the +5 range.
I intend to replace my SS and TB at least every 15000 miles. I may install a FOX SS with the through-shaft, and I may decide to utilize an aftermarket TB. However, I am going to lobby hard and heavy on Ford to replace these parts with stock parts while the truck remains under warranty. Whether I’m successful is another issue entirely.
In regards to CASTER, I was unsuccessful in having my selling dealership determine the alignment at delivery because they didn’t have the part necessary to attach to my STOCK wheels. Hmmmm. So I’m hoping to get it checked at my first oil change coming up in early April at 5000 miles. I’m OK with this because the delay has given the front end time to settle in. Not that think it needed it, but I had no choice in the matter because my selling dealership is several hundred miles away from where I currently am. I am as yet uncertain what I will do about setting the caster after I find out what it is. I am inclined to trust the opinion of the engineers who designed and built the truck, as in setting it at or near the lower limit, say in low to mid +2 degrees.
To conclude this piece, I am aware that DW is a fickle thing in that affects some trucks while never rearing it’s ugly head in many others. You can take your chances and do nothing to mitigate the occurrence of DW in your truck, and I believe that the odds are in your favor if you choose this road. On the other hand, I do believe that these trucks are quite heavy, especially those with the diesel engine, and the front suspension is subjected to excessive forces that work to deteriorate various parts. So I myself will take measures which I consider necessary but not necessarily overly expensive to prevent having the S**T scared out of me at 60-70mph while towing, or not, my travel trailer. To each his or her own. I will post the alignment results when I get them.
Hjabernathy Well done summarizing the confusion. I'm close to the same approach but I'm not waiting for it to happen at some inopportune time while gallivanting around the remote areas of the West so I plan to do aftermarket SS and TB (and maybe caster) before I hit the road for the summer when I'd have to find a dealer, possibly have to make a convincing argument, schedule an appointment, and find a place to lay my head for the time it takes to swap out OEM parts, possibly in shotgun (piecemeal) mode.
There's no guarantee that aftermarket parts will 100% prevent DW but from what I've read I think I'll feel a lot more confident rolling down the road.
You can check the wear of your track bar. Park on concrete, have a helper turn the steering wheel left to right, you will see the slop in your track bar bushing. Any side to side movement/slop is the problem.
ive delt with this in coil sprung Jeep suspensions for years, I don’t even run a S.S. on my Jeep,, no DW. I do have a Synergy Track bar with solid bushings.
Not sure how to post a poll or if it needs approval but would like to get more info on this "Death Wobble" I keep hearing about and the videos are just freeking amazing to watch...
So this whole death wobble thing has me concerned and it's kinda hard to put the wife out on the road in the new truck knowing this is happening so looking for more numbers to better understand the problem and figure out the best solution.
New truck is a '18 F250 4x4 with both the 10000# GVWR PACKAGE and CAMPER PACKAGE which changes the springs to the heaviest rating (or so I've read) and adds a rear sway bar.
My previous truck was a 2003 F350 DRW 4x4 and never had any sort of DW in over 15 years of driving it.
My poll would look like this:
Have you experienced DW? Yes or No
If yes; Truck configuration? 4x4, 4x2, SRW, DRW
If yes; Is your truck suspension stock or modified?
If yes; Did you find a fix? Shocks, steering stabilizer, tires, other____.
Any suggestions for questions?
THANKS for all the AWESOME INFO will keep learning...
My 2017 F-350 DRW developed the wobble after 25K miles. It progressively got worse and more frequent. Had the dealer check out truck with no finds, corrections or answers. I'm constantly towing a gooseneck 12k lbs.trailer and stepped up to 19.5 wheels and tires. Death wobble problem disappeared.
Yes 2018 6.7 power stroke. Almost crashed it today in heavy traffic. Immediately called dealership. They informed me of this happening to others.Ford is trying to find a fix I'm being told. I'm pissed they hadn't warned me prior to this. This was so violent at 65 mph that the vehicles around me backed off. Do not let your wife drive this until Ford finds a fix..
Make sure you open an incident with the NTSB to document the event. The more information in the system the more Ford will feel some heat. Small steps but if everyone does it it will possibly help. https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/
Yes 2018 6.7 power stroke. Almost crashed it today in heavy traffic. Immediately called dealership. They informed me of this happening to others.Ford is trying to find a fix I'm being told. I'm pissed they hadn't warned me prior to this. This was so violent at 65 mph that the vehicles around me backed off. Do not let your wife drive this until Ford finds a fix..
This problem has been around long before Ford went with the coil/5 link. It’s easy to find the WORE part. Just move the steering wheel back and forth. You’ll see the slop in your TRACK BAR BUSHING. I’ve been dealing with coil spring susplinsion for years,, 2001 Jeep TJ, 2009 Jeep Jk, 2005 F-250, and several F-250 work trucks, 90% fixed with new Track bar. It’s Just wore suspension items,, FORD isn’t going to maintain your suspension. It’s a wear item,,, the Alternitive is IFS, (Chevy)
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