Need help Finding a reputable alignment shop
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: Chester County, PA
Need help Finding a reputable alignment shop
I am at the end of my patience with Ford trying to fix my death wobble. its beginning to cost me too much time and money taking it back repeatedly and have them guess what they think is wrong with it. I live in South East Pennsylvania, West Chester area. If anyone on here knows a reputable alignment shop to point me to so I can get this damn death wobble resolved it'd be greatly appreciated. I could google it, but I don't want my hard earned money being a test dummy for a shop that might not be very good, I'd prefer to go somewhere that others can vouch for with this same issue.
Thanks
Thanks
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,722
Likes: 12,865
From: Wyoming
I am at the end of my patience with Ford trying to fix my death wobble. its beginning to cost me too much time and money taking it back repeatedly and have them guess what they think is wrong with it. I live in South East Pennsylvania, West Chester area. If anyone on here knows a reputable alignment shop to point me to so I can get this damn death wobble resolved it'd be greatly appreciated. I could google it, but I don't want my hard earned money being a test dummy for a shop that might not be very good, I'd prefer to go somewhere that others can vouch for with this same issue.
Thanks
Thanks
Tell us what the dealership has tried and we'll suggest other options.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: Chester County, PA
The first trip they installed a new steering stabilizer. The second a new track bar and another steering stabilizer. And it did it again within 3 days of the second “repair”.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
I am in the same boat with you and opted for caster shims. I simply cannot afford to take my truck that i use for a one man business every day to the dealer over and over and lose money. They offered me a loaner I cannot tow with.... so i cannot work. It seems if you can get your caster in the high 3's almost to 4 degrees the front end becomes a lot more solid. At least this is the path i am chasing.
I also purchased new tires and a fox ats stabilizer (gets here in 2 days).
In the last week death wobble came back at 21k with my pregnant wife in the truck. Death wobble first occured at 14k and they replaced the stabilizer. I have a baby due next friday. Can't take many chances. Dealer wouldn't even look at my truck and asked me to make another "appointment". Last time i made one with them they lost my appointment info.
I also purchased new tires and a fox ats stabilizer (gets here in 2 days).
In the last week death wobble came back at 21k with my pregnant wife in the truck. Death wobble first occured at 14k and they replaced the stabilizer. I have a baby due next friday. Can't take many chances. Dealer wouldn't even look at my truck and asked me to make another "appointment". Last time i made one with them they lost my appointment info.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,722
Likes: 12,865
From: Wyoming
This is an overly general statement: It's never wrong to do an alignment.
However, finding someone that knows how a bad alignment can contribute to Death Wobble could be challenging. Some guys are reporting that to solve Death Wobble they had to have the alignment put at the extreme end of, or even outside, what the Ford spec calls for. Your normal alignment guy is probably going to shoot for somewhere in the middle of the broad range that Ford says is acceptable.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: Chester County, PA
I am in the same boat with you and opted for caster shims. I simply cannot afford to take my truck that i use for a one man business every day to the dealer over and over and lose money. They offered me a loaner I cannot tow with.... so i cannot work. It seems if you can get your caster in the high 3's almost to 4 degrees the front end becomes a lot more solid. At least this is the path i am chasing.
I also purchased new tires and a fox ats stabilizer (gets here in 2 days).
In the last week death wobble came back at 21k with my pregnant wife in the truck. Death wobble first occurred at 14k and they replaced the stabilizer. I have a baby due next Friday. Can't take many chances. Dealer wouldn't even look at my truck and asked me to make another "appointment". Last time i made one with them they lost my appointment info.
I also purchased new tires and a fox ats stabilizer (gets here in 2 days).
In the last week death wobble came back at 21k with my pregnant wife in the truck. Death wobble first occurred at 14k and they replaced the stabilizer. I have a baby due next Friday. Can't take many chances. Dealer wouldn't even look at my truck and asked me to make another "appointment". Last time i made one with them they lost my appointment info.
Is the steering stabilizer a direct replacement for the OEM one? If so I'm interested in this as my truck is 100% stock. Many of the better dampers are for lifted trucks and not a direct replacement.
I have also read of the castor which is why I wanted a good alignment shop. Carli sells 2 degree castor shims for $60. I was going to order those and then get an alignment.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: Chester County, PA
How many miles? Stock truck?
This is an overly general statement: It's never wrong to do an alignment.
However, finding someone that knows how a bad alignment can contribute to Death Wobble could be challenging. Some guys are reporting that to solve Death Wobble they had to have the alignment put at the extreme end of, or even outside, what the Ford spec calls for. Your normal alignment guy is probably going to shoot for somewhere in the middle of the broad range that Ford says is acceptable.
This is an overly general statement: It's never wrong to do an alignment.
However, finding someone that knows how a bad alignment can contribute to Death Wobble could be challenging. Some guys are reporting that to solve Death Wobble they had to have the alignment put at the extreme end of, or even outside, what the Ford spec calls for. Your normal alignment guy is probably going to shoot for somewhere in the middle of the broad range that Ford says is acceptable.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 28
Likes: 1
My dealer won't even offer a loaner. This is my only vehicle and I need something to commute to work. I used my motorcycle the last few times I had it in, but the weather is FAR to cold for that now.
Is the steering stabilizer a direct replacement for the OEM one? If so I'm interested in this as my truck is 100% stock. Many of the better dampers are for lifted trucks and not a direct replacement.
I have also read of the castor which is why I wanted a good alignment shop. Carli sells 2 degree castor shims for $60. I was going to order those and then get an alignment.
Is the steering stabilizer a direct replacement for the OEM one? If so I'm interested in this as my truck is 100% stock. Many of the better dampers are for lifted trucks and not a direct replacement.
I have also read of the castor which is why I wanted a good alignment shop. Carli sells 2 degree castor shims for $60. I was going to order those and then get an alignment.
I ordered the carli equivalent ones off of amazon for a little cheaper and they should get here tomorrow along with my stabilizer.
The problem is you replace the stabilizer and everything is good till its not, then you are right back where you started... Kind of like when you left the dealer when you first bought your truck until it was worn out enough to not mask the cause of death wobble.
I will definitely report back with my alignment info (going tomorrow to get an alignment). I am going to ask them to align it before (tomorrow) and after i install the caster shims (tomorrow evening or over the weekend) to see what my caster is with the stock setup and to also get some sort of baseline before i install them.
I will say all I've done is replace the tires with some nitto ridge grapplers and have seen a huge improvement going over bumps towing my 8k trailer and also my 14k trailer yesterday. I have not gone down the highway where i normally encounter death wobble with either so I can't say it is fixed.
My stock tires were the wranglers, not sure what you have. lasted 20k miles
Also want to include i am 100% stock. I have no plans to lift or do anything since it is a work truck.
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