FRONT END SHAKING
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4wd High
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
FRONT END SHAKING
I have a 1948 F-1 with the original front suspension. Today for the first time the front wheels shook when I hit a bump. I checked all of the suspension parts and they appear to be tight. Any idea as to what caused this?
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,017
Likes: 9,975
From: Rio Rancho, NM
You havent done anything crazy lately like noticing the steering arm hanging down and jacking it back up into place with a floor jack have you? If so, you might have changed the "toe-in" settings and that could contribute to "death wobble"
Don't ask me how I know....LOL
Don't ask me how I know....LOL
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,835
Likes: 467
From: Mason City, Iowa
Last edited by hooler1; Dec 24, 2025 at 06:35 PM.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 114
Likes: 41
From: Fort Collins, CO
Check your shock absorbers also. They usually wear out in the range of the highest use wheel travel range, and begin to provide almost no dampening in that 1/4" - 1/2" of wheel travel. Once oscillation sets in you almost have to stop.😵💫
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 173
Likes: 49
From: Louisville, KY
What speed were you traveling when you noticed it?
All I know for my truck, is that after I changed my rear end that a wobble/shimmy started around 70 mph. An old timer said I needed to toe my wheels in a little.
Ford52F2
All I know for my truck, is that after I changed my rear end that a wobble/shimmy started around 70 mph. An old timer said I needed to toe my wheels in a little.
Ford52F2
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Brett Foote
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 188
Likes: 80
you mentioned "the front wheels shook when I hit a bump".... are you implying a constant shimmy as in a wheel bent or out of balance from hitting the bump? or the infamous death wobble where you have to slow down or even come to a stop to get the wobble to stop?
My '51 had a very bad case of the death wobble. It would shake the truck so violently (if I hit a bump just right and at the right speed) that it felt like the front wheels were jumping off the ground! The only way to stop it was to slam on the brakes and come to a stop. A complete front suspension and steering box rebuild cured my death wobble.
please note: suspension parts can appear tight with the truck's weight resting on it... just saying. good luck on it
My '51 had a very bad case of the death wobble. It would shake the truck so violently (if I hit a bump just right and at the right speed) that it felt like the front wheels were jumping off the ground! The only way to stop it was to slam on the brakes and come to a stop. A complete front suspension and steering box rebuild cured my death wobble.
please note: suspension parts can appear tight with the truck's weight resting on it... just saying. good luck on it
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,017
Likes: 9,975
From: Rio Rancho, NM
...also....
have you changed the rake of the truck at all? lowered the front or anything? if so then you might have to add a couple of degrees of caster (caster shims between axle and springs) to compensate for
I would start by checking the toe.
have you changed the rake of the truck at all? lowered the front or anything? if so then you might have to add a couple of degrees of caster (caster shims between axle and springs) to compensate for
I would start by checking the toe.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,888
Likes: 3,133
From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
Check to make sure your steering box mounting bolts are tight to the frame. A friend of mine had the same problem on his F-3 turned out his was loose. After he tighented them up no more problems. Also I had the death wobble issue on mine one time. Turned out my front end toe was off especially on one side. It wore the tire down on the inside. New tires and a front end alignment eliminated it and made it drive night and day better.
Roast em' if you got 'em
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 22,017
Likes: 9,975
From: Rio Rancho, NM
I caused it myself on my truck years ago.
I was working on it and I noticed the drag link was bent down. It hung lower than the axle. So, being the rocket genius that I am I grabbed my floor jack and "jacked" it back into place. Job well done.
A week or so later driving the truck, at about 35 MPH I hit a small bump and BAM!!! death wobble. Front end shaking all over the place.
I checked for loose parts. I replaced steering shaft rod ends and cups, spring bushings, etc. Nothing helped. Finally, after much internet searching and reading I checked the "toe-in". Sure enough, it was way off.
When I straightened the drag link by jacking it back into place it changed the toe-in. I rest the toe-in and have had smooth driving ever since
I was working on it and I noticed the drag link was bent down. It hung lower than the axle. So, being the rocket genius that I am I grabbed my floor jack and "jacked" it back into place. Job well done.
A week or so later driving the truck, at about 35 MPH I hit a small bump and BAM!!! death wobble. Front end shaking all over the place.
I checked for loose parts. I replaced steering shaft rod ends and cups, spring bushings, etc. Nothing helped. Finally, after much internet searching and reading I checked the "toe-in". Sure enough, it was way off.
When I straightened the drag link by jacking it back into place it changed the toe-in. I rest the toe-in and have had smooth driving ever since
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,299
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
This idea might sound stupid to some but it happened to me about 15 years ago. Truck drove fine until one day I hit an imperfection in the road and the front end started to violently shake. OK, I thought, something in the road. It did it again the next time I drove the trucks. Got home and raised the truck and looked over all the steering parts but as I was about to get out from under the truck I noticed the box bolts looked loose. Sure enough they worked loose. Bought all new hardened hardware and bolted everything back together. No problem since.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,888
Likes: 3,133
From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
Edit: well I guess I did
Last edited by bobj49f2; Dec 29, 2025 at 03:40 PM.
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