If you have not yet taken the Death Wobble survey PLEASE do so we can get a better read on the issue. https://goo.gl/forms/FDqrvFMQfUmRvrSV2

I will update the results as we get more responses.

 

How many people who have not experienced it, do you expect to actually take the survey? Also why do you list all the plants, when only 2 build the vehicles in question?

 

No answer for you other than those that do take the survey (or read the questions and decide to answer) and I listed the vin "codes" as they are published so that is the only reason they are all there.

Just looking for info on this issue and must be a hundred other ways to do this just happens to be the way it was written.

 

I see no option in the survey for Cab length, etc. CCSB, SCSB, SCLB, etc. Wondering if the Super Cab trucks experience this as much as CC. Of course there's probably a lot more CC than SC out there.

 

I think that this is barking up the wrong tree. Does not matter what truck configuration the solid front axle happens to be mounted into. My 2011 Ford F250 did not have death wobble at all. Tight as a freakin drum. CCSB XLT 6.7 diesel.

OTOH, it had severe fueling issues that killed the fuel mileage. Did ALL XLT CCSB trucks of that model year (or ever) experience that problem? No. Do ALL Ford F250 / 350 4wd trucks exhibit the DW problem? NO. Only a small minority of trucks do.

The problem is NOT what kind of truck the solid front axle is mounted into. Irrelevant. The problem is "what is wrong with the parts in the steering control system that is contributing to a geometric misalignment, that upon sufficient energy introduced into that system, induces severe sustained oscillation"?

Because there are many trucks over many years with 2wd, 4wd solid front axles, and 4wd IFS trucks that have experienced DW. So what's up with that? Think about it. There are also many trucks over many years that ran without any DW issues for a long time. Until they didn't. Hmmm...

 

Interesting and nicely done survey!

 

Filled it out, looking forward to the results.

 

IMO, I also think the term "Death Wobble" should be defined a bit further. Many folks on the forum have experienced multiple types of vibrations which have attributed to unwanted oscillations. I experienced vibes and did as most have done- taken it to the dealer for root causal analysis. This is the frustrating part- the dealers with their TSBs trying to apply a common fix for these issues. My drag link was swapped out twice- I was told there's a short version and a long version for the same truck? That seems odd... I still receive the vibes off/on, but I would not define it as "Death Wobble." Again, this is my opinion (we all have one!) but I'd be asking other questions in this survey; i.e., like what is your current alignment specs? We should know by now that caster has been problematic in most cases. My 2 cents...

 

We can always have a second round of questions and agree that cab type and overall wheelbase are good data points just didn't think of them...

 

I agree. Everything should be considered including which plant built it and cab configuration. Weight distribution could be a factor, who knows but I would like my DW issues resolved.This will be the 5th time into the dealer.

 

Weight distribution IS NOT A FACTOR. If it was, then every truck with that similar construction would be experiencing death wobble. That clearly is not the case. Since the majority of Ford F250 and F350 trucks DO NOT HAVE DW, THEN THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIFIC WRONG WITH ONLY THOSE TRUCKS THAT DO HAVE DW SYMPTOMS. It is absolutely incredible that a truck could be into a dealer 5 TIMES for the same exact problem and no one can resolve it?!? That is pure BS right there. Unbelievable. If I did not just read this, I would absolutely think this person had to be talking about a dodge or a chevy truck. Not a ford. Wow.

 

It wouldn't be a GM truck.

Fords have been plagued with death wobble ever since they switched to the coil front ends. The geometry is mediocre at best, and once parts start to wear even a little bit, expect to experience a good shaking.

The leaf sprung front ends weren't as bad, but weren't immune either.

 

So how many superduty trucks actually DO develop death wobble? If the front end design on the ford trucks is really that bad, it may be that a lot more research needs to be done before deciding to buy an F250.

I worked at a plant and knew a guy who had a new GM 3/4 ton 4wd diesel that had DW. He ended up trading it in on a Ford F350 4wd. I assume that truck was OK. I went to a different job after that. But honestly have not heard many stories about DW on GM trucks overall.

 

 

Yes. IFS 4wd can absolutely get it also, and even 2wd front ends have had it happen too. The cause is worn or defective parts and/or insufficient caster adjustment. I wonder what the true numbers of Ford Superduty trucks have experienced DW actually is?