Truck is a 95 F-250, regular cab, long bed 4WD.

When I step on the brakes, at pretty much any speed except for really slow, the front end starts to basically bounce up and down.

Never really heard of this problem before so I'm not really sure what to check. I've thinking about swapping the front and rear wheels and see if the problem goes away (or shifts to the back).
I've heard of death wobble on lifted jeeps, but that is usually when driving, not braking, and sometimes can be due to poorly balanced tires.

Any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

thanks
Bruce

 

You need new shocks.

 

Sounds like a combination of warped rotor or rotors and bad shocks. Does the brake seem to grab and release really quickly under light pedal? That is classic symptom of warped rotor.
good luck Frank

 

It does not feel like warped rotors.
The rotors only have a few thousand miles on them, though I know they still could be warped, but it doesn't feel like warped rotors to myself nor my brother.

I'll have to look into the shocks. I'm guessing it is just 2 bolts per side to change them, or is there some 'gotcha' that makes it not such an easy task?

Any recommendation on shocks? It is stock, no lift, though I may be putting a winch on the front this weekend if the mount will work on my truck). Not looking to break the bank on shocks, just something that is decent quality, not garbage.

thanks!

 

I'm heading outside in a few minutes to put new front shocks on my '90 4x4. I'll let you know if I run into anything that is especialy challenging. I did the rear a few days ago. From changing the rear I can suggest penetrating oil,( PB Blaster best around) and an impact wrench. Had to change the lower mounting bolt due to rust and wear. Used grade 8 bolt and nut from O'Reileys
After a lot of reasearch, I choose Monroe Sensatrak for a controled but softer ride. I don't go offroad, and live in the pothole capital of Indiana.

I spent long time price shopping. Cheapest I could find the front ones was from Amazon with free shipping. Amazon shipping was free, but 10-15 days slow.
Found the rear at Rock Auto. Ordered at 9:30 Friday morning and at 2PM Saturday I received them. Cancelled the Amazon order and reordered front ones from Rock Auto. Got those the next day too. Difference in price was about $8 for a pair. Would have been less if I had ordered both sets from Rock Auto. Live and learn.

I can tell a small difference in the ride with only the rears changed. Hit a pothole and the front slams around while the back goes THUD. Hope the front makes a much bigger difference in the ride.

 

thanks fmr9, once you get the front ones changed, can you comment on the ride quality difference with the new front shocks? I'll check Rock auto for pricing. $4 a shock isn't bad if the shipping is quick!

 

Got the Monroe shocks on. Nothing difficult. The PB Blaster did its job well, and an impact cranked the bottom mount bolts out with ease. Box end rachet made quick work of the top mount, but open end would do the job. Pulled the wheels to make easier access. Hardest part was getting lug nuts broke loose. Last time tires were balanced they must have used a BIG impact to tighten them. I had to use 4ft pipe on my star wrench to break them loose.

test drove it about 5 miles. Much Much better ride. Thud Thud when hitting pot holes instead of the tremendous crash I had. The shocks I took off were Gabriels, but I have no idea how old they were. Probably well over 50,000 miles.
It doesn't ride like my Grand Marqui, but it does ride decent for an old 4x4 with 180,000 on it.

 

thanks. I'll call around to some local stores and check pricing. Wouldn't mind replacing them this weekend, which probably wouldn't happen else I paid for 2 day shippig from Rock. Rock has several monroe's and the KYB GR-2. I'm checking the mfg sites to see if one seems better than the other. I'll have to serach the site to see if anyone else has shock recommendations.

I've got PB Blaster, air tools and racheting wrenches, so I don't think I should have much of a problem

 

Picked up some new shocks tonight and should be able to get them on this weekend....hopefully that'll fix my problem!

Do the factory front shocks have a plastic 'cover' over the upper part of the shock body? Kinda hard to get a look at the shocks with the tires in the way so I'm not sure if they are factory, but I did notice the plastic cover, which I haven't ever seen on any other vehicle before.

thanks
Bruce