Death Wobble
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Death Wobble
Hi guys, I have a ‘97 F250HD 4x4 with a brand new Dana 60 up front from a ‘97 F350. All bearings, ball joints, and steering are brand new, and it has a new track bar in it.
I’ve put maybe 50 miles on it since everything was done, and have re-torqued every bolt, but haven’t driven it much because it needs a lot of other work, including an alignment, and I’ve been busy.
The alignment is very far off and has a significant amount of positive camber and toe-in. While I was driving it, I hit a man hole and the truck went into pretty nasty death wobble. I haven’t been able to take time to drive it more, but I am about to get it aligned and just want to be sure this is an alignment and maybe tire issue (as the Cooper AT3’s on it are destroyed, just waiting to get it aligned before I put my new Ridge Grapplers on), and not suspension related.
it’s got Mevotech TTX ball joints all round and brand new inner/outer wheel bearings. Brand new Rare Parts steering, and PMF track bar kit. I don’t see how it could be anything but the tires and alignment because everything else is brand new and quality, I’m just afraid I’ll put $1200 in tires and lord knows how much into an alignment and STILL have the death wobble.
I’ve put maybe 50 miles on it since everything was done, and have re-torqued every bolt, but haven’t driven it much because it needs a lot of other work, including an alignment, and I’ve been busy.
The alignment is very far off and has a significant amount of positive camber and toe-in. While I was driving it, I hit a man hole and the truck went into pretty nasty death wobble. I haven’t been able to take time to drive it more, but I am about to get it aligned and just want to be sure this is an alignment and maybe tire issue (as the Cooper AT3’s on it are destroyed, just waiting to get it aligned before I put my new Ridge Grapplers on), and not suspension related.
it’s got Mevotech TTX ball joints all round and brand new inner/outer wheel bearings. Brand new Rare Parts steering, and PMF track bar kit. I don’t see how it could be anything but the tires and alignment because everything else is brand new and quality, I’m just afraid I’ll put $1200 in tires and lord knows how much into an alignment and STILL have the death wobble.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 6,815
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From: Tobyhanma, PA
Bad tores are definitely not helping. They can lead to a death wobble. The alignment being way out is also not good. The camber is pretty much set if it's a solid axle. You should be able to dial in toe pretty close by eye and measuring track width on front and rear of the front tire.
A steering stabilizer can help but you have to correct those other issues first.
Are you still using the F250 springs?
A steering stabilizer can help but you have to correct those other issues first.
Are you still using the F250 springs?
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,118
Likes: 149
From: South Dakota
If you have a BUBBLE on the face of a tire especially a front tire, it will give you a wobble more a lower speeds but tends to go away at faster speeds. This has been my experience with some older rear wheel drive cars.
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Bad tores are definitely not helping. They can lead to a death wobble. The alignment being way out is also not good. The camber is pretty much set if it's a solid axle. You should be able to dial in toe pretty close by eye and measuring track width on front and rear of the front tire.
A steering stabilizer can help but you have to correct those other issues first.
Are you still using the F250 springs?
A steering stabilizer can help but you have to correct those other issues first.
Are you still using the F250 springs?
yeah the camber bushings aren’t set right, so you can see where it’s cambered in at the bottom. I’ve done the alignment in the past on a Jeep, I just counted the threads when I put this steering on to replace the old stuff, and it turned out to be way off from where it needs to be and I haven’t had time to mess with it.
Id rather not use a steering stabilizer because as you said it will still have issues, just masked by the stabilizer.
I am using 4” rough country lift springs and shocks, which are the same SKU for F250 and F350’s, so there should be no difference there. I do want to swap to SD springs and do an RSK and shackle flip kit, just have been so busy with everything else and this thing is more of a project. Hell it needs a cab swap too, just can’t find the right cab/parts truck.
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,247
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Steering box condition.... original with a ton of miles? Shocks and the steering stabilizer condition? Steering shaft (firewall to steering box) condition? X2 on get the front end alignment ASAP. Some folks say to get the new tires put on and then go right to the alignment place. Why get a front end alignment with worn out tires?
I took a truck (Dodge diesel, FAMOUS for death wobble) in and got a front end alignment and then put NEW tires on the next day, drove like doodoo. I took it back to the front end alignment place and they said next time put the new tires on THEN get it aligned. They re did the alignment for free (great customer service move) and it drove 100 % better oddly enough.
Maybe call the place you are going to use and ask their opinion. Also check out your User CP (control panel) and then ck your visitor messages. Welcome to FTE.
I took a truck (Dodge diesel, FAMOUS for death wobble) in and got a front end alignment and then put NEW tires on the next day, drove like doodoo. I took it back to the front end alignment place and they said next time put the new tires on THEN get it aligned. They re did the alignment for free (great customer service move) and it drove 100 % better oddly enough.
Maybe call the place you are going to use and ask their opinion. Also check out your User CP (control panel) and then ck your visitor messages. Welcome to FTE.
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