HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!
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HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!
I am completely out of ideas on my '89 350 7.3L. whenever i start going about 35-40mph the front tires begin to shake left and right and the front end hops up off the ground. cannot make it go away, i have a 3" body lift and 36" hummer tires. i have changed all of the steering linkage from the rag joint, gear box, tie rods, tie rod ends, everyhting in thes steering along with tires and rims, all new. have no idea so frustrated any help would be appreciated. oh i also put on steering stabilizer and took the front driveshaft off so its not in the drive train (advice of a mechanic i know). please help me thanks
-The frustrated Jacksland
-The frustrated Jacksland
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Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Gravel Switch, KY
HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!
Its a long shot, but check to be sure your frame isn't cracked where the steering gear box bolts on. I had a 63 Chevy that did that and that was the problem.
DannyP
89 F-150 4x4 former EFI I-6 now carbed 351W, Edelbrock heads,cam,intake,carb.
MSD 6A, ZF, Sterling 10.25 with 3.55L's.
DannyP
89 F-150 4x4 former EFI I-6 now carbed 351W, Edelbrock heads,cam,intake,carb.
MSD 6A, ZF, Sterling 10.25 with 3.55L's.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Banning CA
HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!
Check and make sure that the ball joints are not worn, then check the rear bracket for the leaf springs, and make sure that the bushings are ok and that the braket is not moving on the frame. Next how are your shocks?
Dave
http://a2ztowing.homestead.com/a2ztowing.html
Dave
http://a2ztowing.homestead.com/a2ztowing.html
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HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!
This may sound off base but I had 33" tires that were SO far out of balance that I couldn't get past 30mph. I did tie rods, alignments etc. Then a tech suggested balancing the tires and sure enough that was it!
Les
Les
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HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!
The infamous death wobble. My truck does the same thing with a 6" lift and 38" swampers. I talked to a expert alignment guy and am going to get it straightened out tomorrow. My problem is mainly in my tie rods. None of them are super bad but they have a little play and it adds up. I am getting all new tie rods and ends. I added a dual steering stabilizer but it made things worse. The problem was I did not have the shocks horizontal. They were mounted too high on the frame and causing a bind. This is a fairly common problem in f350's and 450's with the solid axle. The alignment guy said it can be caused by play in the tierods, worn kingpins, or out of balance tires. I will let you know how it goes tomorrow.
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HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!
Thank you guys your responeses have been excellent but there is a slight problem. most of the stuff you guys suggested has been done, the frame is not cracked anywhere and i actually just had it straightened, the leaf spring bushings are ok too, the shocks are rancho 9000 and only 2 months old. as for the tires i put the factory stock tires on there (i think 265's) had them balanced first and the "Death Wobble" (i like that) continued, as for today i am digging into the king pins and bearings, but we will see, i dont feel anyplay in the tires so i dont think that they are the culprit but any more info would be great, thanks alot, god i love ford owners.
-not as frustrated Jacksland
-not as frustrated Jacksland
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HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!
Don't give up. You will eventually figure it out. However try to fix it ASAP because I have heard of this shaking being so violent that it can shear the pitman arm shaft off. I am working on getting mine fixed right now.
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HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!
Thanks for the links, i have not given up yet still pluggin away. thanks for the help, when i tear into the wheels i will let ya know. thanks
-Jacksland
-Jacksland
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Brett Foote
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HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!
I replace all the tie rods and ends and the problem was still there. I did notice less general shimmy while going down the road though. I took it and had it aligned after replacing the parts and it is like a whole new truck. No more death wobble and no shimmy. I would double check your tie rods. I put a new one on about three weeks ago and it was wore out already possibly due to my steering stabilizer not bein aligned correctly. I don't even have the steering stabilizer on there now and it drives perfect.
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HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!
I checked the tie rod ends and they are fine. i finnally bit the bullet today and went to the dealer. my god i hate this. so i go to the shop for ford. talk to everyone in the shop, they said they have never heard of the death wobble, and they would have to drive it. ok. so they go out to look at it, oh we cant work on that it has a 3" body lift. ok. so i call ever specialist ina 50 mile radius of my house, no one knew what i was talkin about drove it and couldnt come up with anything. they told me to go to the dealer. so i go back. talk to the shop guys again, they tell me to go to the parts dept. ok. so i go there, they dont know anything about it, run the VIN number and cant find nothing. ok. they tell me to go to the service dept. i was like i was just there and they told me to come here. i got sent in circles all day. no one can figure this thing out. not a single sole in all of upstate NY can figure this thing out. i dont know what to do, they never heard of the anti-death wobble kit or anything. my god, any more help would be appreciated. thanks
-Jacksland
-Jacksland
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Joined: Jul 1999
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HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!
Just an out on a limb guess but it sounds like that is where you are. I'd check to make sure the transmission to engine bolts are secure (I had them break on a Jeep I owned and it bounced pretty good)and I also had an adapter that helped in the transition from the trany to the drivetrain crack and that caused the truck to bounce. Might also check engine mounts. It sounds like you've done the front end stuff so I'm just guessing on where to go next.
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HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!
Well guys, my death wobble is back. I don't know what is causing it but it is not anything with the engine or transmission. The front tires shake side to side very violently. I am not talking a little bit here. It is so bad it can slap the side of your head up angainst the window. It forces you to slow down to 5 mph or so and then it goes away. It almost always occurs between 25 and 40 mph. It happens without cause just driving a long, but hitting a pothole or bump will instantly cause it. I am a loss here guys. My truck is basically useless. I can not drive around the block without being shaken to death. Any ideas?
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HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!
Well everything is tight. i am going to go deal with the dealer again god i hate doing that and them im going to check these traction bar bushings. bdog1234 i was wondering if we could do some comparing. i need to know if you have a solid front axle? and do you know where the traction bar is? this info will help me problem solve my truck. thanks
-Jacksland
-Jacksland
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HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!
I have a solid axle. The track bar connects on the passenger side rear of the axle one one end and the other end is connected to the crossmember right under the oil pan. It is about 18" long if my memory serves me correctly. I did some searching and found this on death wobble. It isn't too informative but it lets me know we are not the only ones. http://www.geocities.com/drafty_de/death-wobble-page.html
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HELP, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!!!!!
ok, now that i know you know what the traction bar is, i want to ask a favor from you. i was told that the bushings on that bar if they were bad could cause this. so i was wondering if you could inspect yours for cracks and let me know what it looks like. mine is cracked and worn and should be replaced but i just wanted to know what yours looked like. thanks
-Jacksland
-Jacksland