"Death Wobble"
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 812
Likes: 3
From: Mad River Valley
I had my original stabilizer replaced by the dealer. From what I was told the replacement was a heavy duty one compared to the original one. It has held up in the 6 months that I have had it.
I also added Bilsteins too. That helped out as well.
Both the stabilizer and quality shocks make a difference but I don't consider them to be a solution, just a band aid. A truck shouldn't violently shake if the tire pressure is a little low or if the castor adjustments are slightly off, etc. It is a truck afterall.
I also added Bilsteins too. That helped out as well.
Both the stabilizer and quality shocks make a difference but I don't consider them to be a solution, just a band aid. A truck shouldn't violently shake if the tire pressure is a little low or if the castor adjustments are slightly off, etc. It is a truck afterall.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 0
From: MACON, GA
I agree, it shouldn't, but it does, and it will. Read some of the posts in this forum. Much written about this common problem. On my 2005, F-350 it quit when I replaced stablilzer and four billsteins.
Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 812
Likes: 3
From: Mad River Valley
I've probably read all of the posts here about it and talked to a few dealers.
Like I said, replacing the stabilizer and shocks will mask the problem, not solve it.
I think its pathetic that Ford doesn't have a solution to the issue. Customers are basically forced to spend $300+ on new shocks to mask their problem because they refuse to deal with it. And the dealerships will only do what is listed in the TSB to 'solve' the problem.
Like I said, replacing the stabilizer and shocks will mask the problem, not solve it.
I think its pathetic that Ford doesn't have a solution to the issue. Customers are basically forced to spend $300+ on new shocks to mask their problem because they refuse to deal with it. And the dealerships will only do what is listed in the TSB to 'solve' the problem.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 0
From: MACON, GA
And I agree again. But much like your quotation above, "They speak of my drinking...", I can only say, you can take a horse to water and you cannot make him drink. Ford will not voluntarily make the recall. On my 2008, the stabilizer seems much heavier. I'll check part numbers in the future.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 0
From: MACON, GA
Nope, not I captain! I replaced original stabilizer with monroe because Billstein does not make the replacement stabilizer. I am a new fangled type mechanic. I just replace parts. I don't try to re engineer. While I might lambaste FORD engineers, for the most part, that are far smarter than I.
Last edited by rmosso1; Dec 18, 2007 at 07:10 PM.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
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Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 71
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From: Leesburg, VA
It can happen to almost any front end. It's most prevalent on solid-axle 4x4s, though. I had an '85 GMC K3500 that did it...scared the hell outta me the first time I experienced it! Dodges had a big problem with it too, but now that they use IFS (blech!) they may not be as bad.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 421
From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by rmosso1
Nope, not I captain! I replaced original stabilizer with monroe because Billstein does not make the replacement stabilizer. I am a new fangled type mechanic. I just replace parts. I don't try to re engineer. While I might lambaste FORD engineers, for the most part, that are far smarter than I.
His point was that the factory stabilizer is too close to the steering box. Putting an aftermarket stabilizer on the passenger-side was a huge improvement.
The idea was that the factory stabilizer, being too close to the steering box let the passenger side of the steering flop around and resonate back into the steering box. The box than pushes back on the resonance, adding to the action.
In other words, hit the steering system with just the right amount of force, and the hydraulics fights the force too much, and back and forth it goes until some outside force stops it.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 274
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Originally Posted by bad4dr
It can happen to almost any front end. It's most prevalent on solid-axle 4x4s, though. I had an '85 GMC K3500 that did it...scared the hell outta me the first time I experienced it! Dodges had a big problem with it too, but now that they use IFS (blech!) they may not be as bad.
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 522
Likes: 2
I've started to get the wobble from 65-75 about 6k miles ago. Slight wobble. 56k now and never did it before. I thought it was the tires wearing out and they were worn, new tires, same wobble. Rebalance tires, same wobble. New Rancho's, same wobble. Nowhere near enough to be dangerous, just annoying and everyone tells me I have a tire out of balance. PITA! I'm going to try a new stabalizer. My 05 4x2 has one from the factory, I'll see who has replacements. I've ALWAYS kept my tire pressures iaw the door sticker. Better milage that way...
If the stab doesn't fix it, I'll have Ford check it over.
Some say that Ford's TSP is a band aid, I'm not arguing but here is a line from
the movie Fight Club. It's probably not that far off the mark.
If the stab doesn't fix it, I'll have Ford check it over.
Some say that Ford's TSP is a band aid, I'm not arguing but here is a line from
the movie Fight Club. It's probably not that far off the mark.
Originally Posted by Fight Club
Narrator: A new car built by my company leaves somewhere traveling at 60 mph. The rear differential locks up. The car crashes and burns with everyone trapped inside. Now, should we initiate a recall? Take the number of vehicles in the field, A, multiply by the probable rate of failure, B, multiply by the average out-of-court settlement, C. A times B times C equals X. If X is less than the cost of a recall, we don't do one.
Business woman on plane: Are there a lot of these kinds of accidents?
Narrator: You wouldn't believe.
Business woman on plane: Which car company do you work for?
Narrator: A major one.
Business woman on plane: Are there a lot of these kinds of accidents?
Narrator: You wouldn't believe.
Business woman on plane: Which car company do you work for?
Narrator: A major one.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 421
From: Long Island USA
GT4point6, I didn't think the 4x2 was susceptible to the death wobble, was it? The wobble you get, is it only when you hit a bump in the road? If so, I bet changing the stabilizer fixes it.
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 522
Likes: 2
I must have missed the 4x4 part or maybe it's assumed in a lot of the threads. Good to know, THANKS!
Looking for a new stabilizer, looks like Ford or Monroe. No one else makes one. The Rancho is only for the 4x4 according to there catalog. A few others make the replacement for the 4x4, very limited for the 4x2.
Anyone got a pic on how the 4x4 stabilizer is attached? Maybe I could use a 4x4 replacement shock......
Looking for a new stabilizer, looks like Ford or Monroe. No one else makes one. The Rancho is only for the 4x4 according to there catalog. A few others make the replacement for the 4x4, very limited for the 4x2.
Anyone got a pic on how the 4x4 stabilizer is attached? Maybe I could use a 4x4 replacement shock......