Death wobbles
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Death wobbles
I have a 2012 f350 6.7. with 105k on the clock. A lil while back I would hit bumps on the freeway and it would go into death wobble. But just the left side only. I could hear it sounds different on the left like something is loose or worn on the left front. The right sounds solid.
I took it to a local dealer, they said left ball joints where worn as well as steering ends. We change everything, ball joints upper and lower on both sides and all steering ends. Also bearings in the front. I also changed the shocks on all 4 corners.
We aligned it too.
I got it back and I can still hear the loose noise in the left front, but no more wobble going over bumps.
That is until today, going about 80mph with a load in the bed.
the thing shook like crazy twice in a mile. I thought the tire was gonna fall off. It stops shaking when I slow to 50 mph.
Anyone else have this issue before. It seems like we changed all the moving parts. What else could it be????
oh another thing, I still have stock wheels and tire.
Any help would be appreciated.
Tony
I took it to a local dealer, they said left ball joints where worn as well as steering ends. We change everything, ball joints upper and lower on both sides and all steering ends. Also bearings in the front. I also changed the shocks on all 4 corners.
We aligned it too.
I got it back and I can still hear the loose noise in the left front, but no more wobble going over bumps.
That is until today, going about 80mph with a load in the bed.
the thing shook like crazy twice in a mile. I thought the tire was gonna fall off. It stops shaking when I slow to 50 mph.
Anyone else have this issue before. It seems like we changed all the moving parts. What else could it be????
oh another thing, I still have stock wheels and tire.
Any help would be appreciated.
Tony
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Joined: Nov 2018
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Re:Death wobbles
I had a similar issue with my 2000 fr350 with the 6.8L I changed tie rod ends, pitman arm, drag link, and steering damper (the horizontal shock on your suspension). You may want to check to see if the wheel bearings are loose.
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 500
Likes: 38
From: Pacific Northwest
To check if a wheel bearing is loose, jack up the front end or an individual tire on the front. (Hopefully you have a jack) Then
push on the top of the wheel & see if you have any movement. Sorta push on the top and bottom and see if you can rock it at all.
Plus if a bearing is out try rotating it by hand, if its bad enough yet it will make a bad bearing grinding noise.
Also just crawl under the truck with some gloves on and try turning and hand shacking everything you see. Everything should be nice and tight! You should not be able to
turn or twist your tie rods ect. (This is how I found my loose steering issue, turned out to be a bad tie rob off my steering box, as well as a shot steering box. eghhh.)
push on the top of the wheel & see if you have any movement. Sorta push on the top and bottom and see if you can rock it at all.
Plus if a bearing is out try rotating it by hand, if its bad enough yet it will make a bad bearing grinding noise.
Also just crawl under the truck with some gloves on and try turning and hand shacking everything you see. Everything should be nice and tight! You should not be able to
turn or twist your tie rods ect. (This is how I found my loose steering issue, turned out to be a bad tie rob off my steering box, as well as a shot steering box. eghhh.)
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,521
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From: Washington Coast
Check shocks. They need to be replaced at about 40,000 miles. My 14 was starting to develop a wobble and that was the issue.
My 08 F 350 4X4 developed a bad case of death wobble anybump above10 mph, blew out one and the other right front was leaking (dual shocks on the front).
My 08 F 350 4X4 developed a bad case of death wobble anybump above10 mph, blew out one and the other right front was leaking (dual shocks on the front).
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Thanks everyone
I tried to Jack the truck and check loose stuff before I took it in. I didn't feel anything obvious.
As I said in my post. I ve changed bearings, steering arm and joints, ball joints upper and lower both sides and shocks.
All this have less than 500 miles on them.
I don't run a steering stabilizer. I still have stock wheels and tires. I didn't feel the need to add one. I will probably add one when I change the wheels and tires to larger ones later.
I talk to someone who said they had an issue with a torsion arm. I assume that's the arm that goes up to the frame.
Thanks for the input. If anyone has another idea. I'm not going back to the dealer for a couple days
Thanks again...
As I said in my post. I ve changed bearings, steering arm and joints, ball joints upper and lower both sides and shocks.
All this have less than 500 miles on them.
I don't run a steering stabilizer. I still have stock wheels and tires. I didn't feel the need to add one. I will probably add one when I change the wheels and tires to larger ones later.
I talk to someone who said they had an issue with a torsion arm. I assume that's the arm that goes up to the frame.
Thanks for the input. If anyone has another idea. I'm not going back to the dealer for a couple days
Thanks again...
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 356
Likes: 77
From: Fayetteville, NC
Well this is probably too simple, but how worn are your tires. I was experiencing the death wobble about 6 months ago. Had the whole under carriage checked by Ford. A tech told me that my tires were almost worn to the limit, and he'd heard that it could cause the wobble. Well I bought 4 new Micheline tires, and haven't had a Wobble since. I've read many forums that said the same.. Might be worth looking into..
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The tires are junk. But I wanted to deal with this problem before I went with new rubber.
It's a sound idea.
But i still hear a rattle on the left that the right side doesn't have. And right doesn't wobble
Thank you
It's a sound idea.
But i still hear a rattle on the left that the right side doesn't have. And right doesn't wobble
Thank you
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