Severe Violent Vibration
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 235
Likes: 2
I am wondering if these trucks that have/getting death wobble were properly checked for loose steering components before the sale, a PDI. If this is something checked during a PDI, maybe they didn't get checked. Loose front end components fine at first but get worse and worse as time goes on until the death wobble hits. Maybe our trucks were properly checked/torqued during our PDI's.
Just a thought... 🤔
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10,150
Likes: 1,369
From: Chaz
At 35k see if they can do the steering stabilizer and track bar (or bushings) under warranty. Check the alignment. Check your tire air pressure before you go in, last thing you want is them to blame that and send you out. At minimum change the stabilizer.
Change the front tires or use your spare if possible. At least rotate and balance. Change the shocks to good aftermarket units because at 35k they are probably due unless you babied it, and even then the stock ones are marginal.
Thats pretty much all the mystery points on these.
Change the front tires or use your spare if possible. At least rotate and balance. Change the shocks to good aftermarket units because at 35k they are probably due unless you babied it, and even then the stock ones are marginal.
Thats pretty much all the mystery points on these.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,666
Likes: 4
From: Sunny tourist infested FL
Had my 17 F-250 in today for quick lane service.
I told the service writer I was having an issue with vibration in the front end at 65 and over. Never had the true death wobble.
He asked if I had a bad vibration under heavy braking at highway speed. I told him the truck does that.
I said I thought it was a tire balance issue. He told me nope, it’s a form of death wobble.
So they put the truck on the rack and sure enough, the steering stabilizer is shot. My truck only has 18,000 on it.
The parts are on order and and will be in Monday. The truck goes in Tuesday for the TSB fix.
This is the first time anyone has every said the the death wobble can take a different form then just hitting a bump. I did have bump steer, but that mostly went away when I lowered the tire pressure to 55 all around from 60 front and 65 rear.
But because of the vibration I went back to stock pressures. It helped with the vibration but there was still an issue.
I told the service writer I was having an issue with vibration in the front end at 65 and over. Never had the true death wobble.
He asked if I had a bad vibration under heavy braking at highway speed. I told him the truck does that.
I said I thought it was a tire balance issue. He told me nope, it’s a form of death wobble.
So they put the truck on the rack and sure enough, the steering stabilizer is shot. My truck only has 18,000 on it.
The parts are on order and and will be in Monday. The truck goes in Tuesday for the TSB fix.
This is the first time anyone has every said the the death wobble can take a different form then just hitting a bump. I did have bump steer, but that mostly went away when I lowered the tire pressure to 55 all around from 60 front and 65 rear.
But because of the vibration I went back to stock pressures. It helped with the vibration but there was still an issue.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,666
Likes: 4
From: Sunny tourist infested FL
Last edited by Y2KW57; Dec 4, 2019 at 09:33 PM. Reason: FTE Guidline #2
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 407
Likes: 6
No. it's narrowed down to a marginal front end design that wears out relatively quickly and is very intolerant to any little thing being imperfect.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2019
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From: Southeast MO
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 10,150
Likes: 1,369
From: Chaz
Solid front axles are difficult because trailing arms are inherently difficult. If you have continual problems GM offers IFS.
Ram and Ford have some issues because of this and they take more maintenance as you said. But most go on forever without issues.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 2,830
Likes: 1,187
From: Southeast MO
IFS vehicles suffer from DW just the same.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 2,830
Likes: 1,187
From: Southeast MO
May I suggest a quick google search? I promise you it's not just solid front axles that experience this. Every forum out there for any truck made today will have multiple posts about this.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 407
Likes: 6
