I've got the death wobble
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: yellowknife nt canada
I've got the death wobble
I swapped in a dana 60 out of a 90 f-350 into my 86 f-150. Did the shackle reversal and using stock f-350 leaf springs. Everything seemed fine with the stock tires, not so good with the 42 inch Iroks. The steering wheel violently shakes back and forth at about 50 kph the truck becomes impossible to control. I thought I could get away without a trac bar by doing the shackle reversal but even at slower speeds the front end feels really sloppy. Does anyone have a picture or an illustration of the trac bar mount on the frame so I can see how it looks. I stiil have the trac bar but when I scrapped my f-350 parts truck the mount went with it. If this doesn't work I'll try the kingpin spring shim thing. I also have a stabilizer on order but i'd like to get it as good as I can before I install it
thanks, Trevor
thanks, Trevor
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
Originally Posted by DT 466Man
you will need a trac bar. thats why they were on the 350's.
you need to shim the kingpin spring (like you already mentioned). get 4 or 5 bumper washers and start with that. if that doesnt do the trick put one or 2 more in until it is gone. i had a BAD case of it when i first put mine in and i ended up putting 5 washers and never had another problem!
-cutts-
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
Originally Posted by fishmanndotcom
NOPE, dont need a trac bar after doing a shackle reversal
Originally Posted by fishmanndotcom
you need to shim the kingpin spring
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
ford had a brain fart when they designed the front suspension. to mount leaf springs it is critical you mount one end solidly to the frame. the other end then must somehow move just a little, most often with a shackle. when designed correctly (like the superduy's) they ride great and dont require needed parts for correct operation. what ford did was instead of solidly mounting the front of the leaf springs (like all rear leaf springs) they decided to utilize a shackle in the front and mount the rear of the leaf spring to the frame. while driving down the road WITHOUT a track bar the leaf springs want to separate and go their own way b/c naturally the shackle create a small amount of slop.
now if you were to reverse the shackle to the rear (which is recommended) you are not only matching the front susepension to the rear so they move in unison, the springs are not trying to separate and there is no need for a track bar b/c the axle isnt moving side to side
-cutts-
now if you were to reverse the shackle to the rear (which is recommended) you are not only matching the front susepension to the rear so they move in unison, the springs are not trying to separate and there is no need for a track bar b/c the axle isnt moving side to side
-cutts-
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,454
Likes: 1
From: Adams TN
o o i got what you mean. i never thought about it like that. i was thinkingshackle flip also.
i wa slike how does that change anything haha
but thanks for explaining it to me.
DT
i wa slike how does that change anything haha
but thanks for explaining it to me.
DT
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: yellowknife nt canada
My stabilizer came in today so I put it in and it made a huge difference. It's still a little wobbly but it doesn't start until I'm at a much higher speed and it's not near as bad. I'm still going to shim the kingpin springs. Do I need to remove the tire and take the weight off the kingpin or can I take the cap off as is? I guess the sloppy feeling in the front end is from the tires being bias ply and really big 
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
about a day after i read this thread when it first started, i noticed that i too had death wobble. i just had a camber kit installed on my 97 f350 to correct negative camber, and ever since i had the work done, at 50mph, my steering wheel starts to shake pretty bad. everything in the front end is stock. no bigger tires, no nothing. we had a family friend do the work at his ford dealership and he says it could be that i lost a wheel weight. i kinda dont believe that, since it just started after the work was done. they said they aligned it, and it still pulls really bad to the right. do i also have to shim the kingpin spring? or is something else wrong? thanks.
sorry if i hijacked.
sorry if i hijacked.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
I thought the '97's were still balljoint?
Mx, you don't need to take the weight off the kingpin, just take the cap off. I'd also advise not going too crazy with the shims, add a few at a time and see if that fixes it. You don't want to overly compress the spring.
Mx, you don't need to take the weight off the kingpin, just take the cap off. I'd also advise not going too crazy with the shims, add a few at a time and see if that fixes it. You don't want to overly compress the spring.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
Originally Posted by proeliator
I thought the '97's were still balljoint?
-cutts-
Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 385
Likes: 0
the mechanic i spoke to after the problem started occurring said its not ball joints at all, but most likely a wheel weight had fallen off. i dont really believe that garbage. i have had more problems going to dertified ford mechanics then ive had at my buddies small shop.