"Death Wobble"
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
"Death Wobble"
I drive a 2007 F350 powerstroked superduty 4X4. When I hit a small bump like a bridge expansion joint the truck's front end will sometimes start shimmying. The shimmy get extreme very quickly and makes the steering wheel almost impossible to hold on to. The whole truck starts a violent shake and does not stop until you pull off the road and stop. I've had this happen to me twice now. The dealership tells me there is nothing wrong with the truck. Has anyone else had this happen to them? Is there a fix for this problem?
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
WELCOME to FTE!
There a few HUGE threads on this subject here in the SD forum. First, is the truck under warranty? If so, there is a TSB for the issue. Which, if the dealer hasn't gone through, they are just brushing you off.
If you want to try something relatively inexpensive, there was a member here who posted that a steering stabilizer installed on the passenger-side of the front axle will help a lot with this issue. According to him, the stock stabilizer is very close to the steering box which is a bad place (I wouldn't know, I don't have a 2005-2007 SD).
There a few HUGE threads on this subject here in the SD forum. First, is the truck under warranty? If so, there is a TSB for the issue. Which, if the dealer hasn't gone through, they are just brushing you off.
If you want to try something relatively inexpensive, there was a member here who posted that a steering stabilizer installed on the passenger-side of the front axle will help a lot with this issue. According to him, the stock stabilizer is very close to the steering box which is a bad place (I wouldn't know, I don't have a 2005-2007 SD).
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
First, never let your dealer's service department tell you what is normal with your truck. Take it back and tell them to fix it under the TSB.
Check your tire pressure. I can induce the wobble by lowering my pressure 10 PSI from the door sticker recommendation. 20 PSI makes it almost as bad as you are experiencing.
The TSB will direct the technician to check the tire pressure before doing anything else. The TSB is TSB 06-22-14 . Full text is here:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/tsb/full...p?tsb=06-22-14
Thread showing my tire pressure results here:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...pressure.html?
Check your tire pressure. I can induce the wobble by lowering my pressure 10 PSI from the door sticker recommendation. 20 PSI makes it almost as bad as you are experiencing.
The TSB will direct the technician to check the tire pressure before doing anything else. The TSB is TSB 06-22-14 . Full text is here:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/tsb/full...p?tsb=06-22-14
Thread showing my tire pressure results here:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...pressure.html?
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 0
From: MACON, GA
Just a couple questions: Is your truck a dually? How many miles? 6 1/2 bed or 8' bed? This will help. Answers will be just as short, and GOD bless that TSB above, but you will capably spend a week in the dealership, in and out.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Non dually, 11K miles with an 8ft utility bed. The truck weighs in at 9,700lbs. 4,700 on the front axle. I checked the tire pressure when I got back and it was 65psi instead of the 80psi on the door sticker. I increased the tire pressure to 80psi.
Jäger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,491
Likes: 5
From: Northern Arizona
What coil springs are on the truck? I ordered my truck with the Heavy Service suspension, came with +1 coils, one step down from snow plow coils. It would almost skitter out of control once the death wobble began! I changed out the Rancho badged FX-4 shocks to Rancho 9000x adjustables and it made absolutely no difference, no matter the setting. Installed a Rancho steering stabilizer (still on the truck) and it made no difference.
In July I installed a Bilstein 2.25" leveling kit with Bilstein 5100 shocks all around, had the front end aligned and..... no more death wobble!
A tech named Bowtiehtr gave me the specs for the alignment caster and if I can find that I'll post that figure as well.
In July I installed a Bilstein 2.25" leveling kit with Bilstein 5100 shocks all around, had the front end aligned and..... no more death wobble!
A tech named Bowtiehtr gave me the specs for the alignment caster and if I can find that I'll post that figure as well.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 0
From: MACON, GA
Originally Posted by gmweber59
Non dually, 11K miles with an 8ft utility bed. The truck weighs in at 9,700lbs. 4,700 on the front axle. I checked the tire pressure when I got back and it was 65psi instead of the 80psi on the door sticker. I increased the tire pressure to 80psi.
Trending Topics
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Had the same issue but I skidded right off the highway at 65 mph anyhow the dealer had it for ten days it is an 06 250 4x4. They said they changed the stabilizer and a fiew other small parts but would not elaborate on what, I got the truck back and has performed excellent for the last 15k miles no more wobble at all.It is very important to keep the air pressure at rated pressure, softer=more wobble.Take it back to the dealer, mine happened this June and the truck is night and day from before they fixed it.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
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
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
Likes: 1,678
From: Stephensville WI
Originally Posted by gmweber59
I checked the tire pressure when I got back and it was 65psi instead of the 80psi on the door sticker. I increased the tire pressure to 80psi.
New User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
My 06 F-250 started wobbling @ 8k miles, it went to 2 different dealers 6 times,they tried the tsb,tire pressure and new tires.Ford bought the truck back @ 50k miles,I have video with the ford tech in the truck with it wobbling on the test drive after the last fix.I also have 1 other 2006 F-250 and an 2006 F-350 that have had no problems.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 0
From: MACON, GA
I realize this is an an old thread resurrected, but I still contend the stabilizer that was placed on Super Duty trucks after the switch to front coil springs fails prematurely. In retrospect, I would first change the stabilizer shock and then the front shocks, which most readers of this forum know solves the death wobble, well plus correct air pressure in front tires.
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 0
From: MACON, GA
Originally Posted by krewat
The stabilizer on my '01 was dead in 6 months 
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by rmosso1
Was it replaced under warranty? Did the second one go out in six more months? It just seems like this problem is not addressed.