stabilizer broke - big problems?
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2007
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stabilizer broke - big problems?
Hi All,
I have a 97 F-350. The truck currently has 210,000 miles and I purchased this truck with 160,000. Ever since I have owned this truck, it has had a single shock skyjacker steering stabilizer. Well, the metal bracket for the stabilizer has busted and now the truck occasionally go into a violent shuddering at medium speed. The shuddering is so violent that the first time I felt it, I thought I had a flat.
Well, I drilled a new hole and re-attached the skyjacker and the problem has stopped. My questions - What is wrong with my front end to cause this problem and how much am I looking at to fix? Oh yeah - I am also 1200 miles from home - okay to get home with the skyjacker keeping the shuddering from starting? Thanks for your help!
I have a 97 F-350. The truck currently has 210,000 miles and I purchased this truck with 160,000. Ever since I have owned this truck, it has had a single shock skyjacker steering stabilizer. Well, the metal bracket for the stabilizer has busted and now the truck occasionally go into a violent shuddering at medium speed. The shuddering is so violent that the first time I felt it, I thought I had a flat.
Well, I drilled a new hole and re-attached the skyjacker and the problem has stopped. My questions - What is wrong with my front end to cause this problem and how much am I looking at to fix? Oh yeah - I am also 1200 miles from home - okay to get home with the skyjacker keeping the shuddering from starting? Thanks for your help!
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 664
Likes: 129
From: Columbia, MD
Wheel Bearing is a possibility
One possibility... loose front wheel bearing. Steering stabilizer likely is incidental, though functioning stabilizer may have masked the problem. Since the trucks do not have stock stabilizers, stabilizer failure is not the root cause.
Had similar problem with mine, even with functioning stabilizer. Very rarely and unpredictably, hit bump at medium speed and usually in a corner, steering wheel and truck shakes dangerously. Tight grip on steering wheel, moderate brake application, no throttle, and it damps down. Shop tightened up loose front wheel bearing, and problem has never repeated.
Once or twice, I have had a decent view of this occuring to other trucks on the highway. The wobble is pretty dramatic.
Had similar problem with mine, even with functioning stabilizer. Very rarely and unpredictably, hit bump at medium speed and usually in a corner, steering wheel and truck shakes dangerously. Tight grip on steering wheel, moderate brake application, no throttle, and it damps down. Shop tightened up loose front wheel bearing, and problem has never repeated.
Once or twice, I have had a decent view of this occuring to other trucks on the highway. The wobble is pretty dramatic.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 163
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From: Thunder Bay, Canada
I had that on my 89 F350 near the end of it's service life. It never had a steering stabilizer, so that wasn't it on mine. I replaced the track bar bushings, and never had the wobble again, but then i only drove it for another 3-4k miles, so not really a good indicator.
My wobble would happen about 40 mph, but if i got on the throttle it would clear up again above 55 mph.
My wobble would happen about 40 mph, but if i got on the throttle it would clear up again above 55 mph.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,608
Likes: 13
From: Belair md
Neal!! you are the second person i have ever heard of refer to it as "death wobble" whenever i use that phrase people have no idea what i am talking about.
i too am guessing there is a lift on the truck, the stabilizer helps keep the larger tires from over stressing the steering linkage. without it you get "death wobble" if you go big enough in tire size you can still have it even with the stabilizers. having a tight front end helps but that wont stop it. i am looking at reinforcing my steering linkage to further deter the Death wobble from raising its ugly head on my truck and i am running dual steering stabilizers
i too am guessing there is a lift on the truck, the stabilizer helps keep the larger tires from over stressing the steering linkage. without it you get "death wobble" if you go big enough in tire size you can still have it even with the stabilizers. having a tight front end helps but that wont stop it. i am looking at reinforcing my steering linkage to further deter the Death wobble from raising its ugly head on my truck and i am running dual steering stabilizers
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
yank that 'stabilizer' off. all it does it mask other problems that could become severe. i ran 39" iroks on my 85 F350 with no DW nor stabilizer. i also more recently ran 37" TSL's on my 96 F350 with no DW nor stabilizer and that was after i pulled my trac bar off. i have owned trucks (before i knew any better) with stabilizers on them and found out that there was an actual problem i didnt know was there. and the problems became more costly and hard to fix (worn out box and worn out king pin springs).
DW can be caused by a host of origins mainly having to do with the steering or the moving parts on the front axle. you should be (i cannot and will not advise you one way or another, it is strictly your call. use your best judgment to make sure it is safe.) fine driving home as the stabilizer was prolly put on initially to hide the problem. check the following for the possible cause of the DW:
tire pressure/balance/alignment
steering linkages
balljoints/king pins
steering box
pitman arm (i have seen more than one lose!)
leaf spring bushings
trac bar bushings
shocks
what size tires are you running?
-cutts-
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More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 583
Likes: 46
From: Utah
Jasvid. I'm in your same boat buddy!! I actually put a stabilizer on to try and stop it because I've replaced everything else. I guess I'm going to have to tear into the axles! Let me know if you get this mystery solved!
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2007
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Thanks for all the replies - I didn't get the normal email alerting me that I had a response to my post, so I figured nobody was interested. Thanks for all the replies.
A couple of answers...
- no lift on the truck
- when I got the truck (60,000 miles ago) there were oversized tires on the truck.
I checked the pressure, felt for loose bearings, and then just drove the truck home. It made it without incident.
Today, I had the truck up on my mechanic's lift and he looked it over. The tie-rod on the passengers side was extremely loose and he pronounced that the problem. It did seem very loose and I could imagine that without the stabilizer, the wobble would start and then just get out of control.
I mostly use this truck for highway trailer pulling, but for each job it does go off-road, sometimes doing things as bumpy as pulling a trailer across a frozen farmers field after the farmer has chisel plowed....that is an extremely rough ride! My mechanic recomended I replace the stabilizer - he seems to think it can't hurt.
I would be interested in any feedback from you all. This site really rocks!
Thanks again and sorry for the delay in replying!
Jason
A couple of answers...
- no lift on the truck
- when I got the truck (60,000 miles ago) there were oversized tires on the truck.
I checked the pressure, felt for loose bearings, and then just drove the truck home. It made it without incident.
Today, I had the truck up on my mechanic's lift and he looked it over. The tie-rod on the passengers side was extremely loose and he pronounced that the problem. It did seem very loose and I could imagine that without the stabilizer, the wobble would start and then just get out of control.
I mostly use this truck for highway trailer pulling, but for each job it does go off-road, sometimes doing things as bumpy as pulling a trailer across a frozen farmers field after the farmer has chisel plowed....that is an extremely rough ride! My mechanic recomended I replace the stabilizer - he seems to think it can't hurt.
I would be interested in any feedback from you all. This site really rocks!
Thanks again and sorry for the delay in replying!
Jason
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,608
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From: Belair md
loose steering components are a HUGE factor. in my case it is the tires. i have a super nice tight front end with a perfect alignment, all bushings are brand new polyurethane and i still get the death wobble. the bias ply tires are balanced at 0 but have alot of road force variation that i cant 0 out. i only get the wobble when the tires are "cold" and at speeds of 30-40 mph and the left front tire hits a hole. right front is unaffected. in my research i have found this to be the case and i feel it is because the left steering linkage on 250's is subpar. it is less then have the diameter of the right side and flexes very easy. i am currently picking my brain at a way to reinforce teh left front linkage to eleviate the concern
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 583
Likes: 46
From: Utah
I was also told that it was my tie rods. Replaced them figured problem solved. Then it happened again. Then the mechanic just said must need a steering stabilizer with the 35" tires. Put one of them on. Still have the shakes!
Trailering
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
I had that death wobble problem with a '78 F150 years ago. Changing out the ball joints and tie rod ends didn't fix it. I replaced all the rubber bushings (they were shot, you could tell by looking at them) in the front end with cheap polyurethane bushings from J.C. Whitney, and the problem never came back.
That truck had coil springs, and rubber bushings on the back of the swing arms that stabilized the front axle. There were also some rubber bushings on a cross-link bar, connecting frame to axle (I think that's what it did; this was a long time ago). My dad was the first owner, so I know it was all stock.
That truck had coil springs, and rubber bushings on the back of the swing arms that stabilized the front axle. There were also some rubber bushings on a cross-link bar, connecting frame to axle (I think that's what it did; this was a long time ago). My dad was the first owner, so I know it was all stock.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,158
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From: West Texas
How big are your tires on it? Unless they are big flotation tires then I'd recommend using the air pressure on your drivers door sticker. Filling the fronts to max pressure on the sidewall will cause this problem real easy.
The other things I've seen cause it are track bar bushings, and worn out shocks. Those are just the most common.
Most f350s came stock with a stabilizer shock. If you have sway bars front and rear then that thing was factory and you should leave it there. There are much better brands than skyjacker too. The factory or monroe are nice, Rancho is good too.
Also make sure your alignment is right. If you have caster adjustment bushings on the top ball joints then that could very well be your problem. Those should almost never be installed. Too many shops who are just after your money use them to adjust caster when the problem is a bad spring bushing or shackle. That will cause the death wobble in a heartbeat.
Have it checked by a shop that cares about their work.
The other things I've seen cause it are track bar bushings, and worn out shocks. Those are just the most common.
Most f350s came stock with a stabilizer shock. If you have sway bars front and rear then that thing was factory and you should leave it there. There are much better brands than skyjacker too. The factory or monroe are nice, Rancho is good too.
Also make sure your alignment is right. If you have caster adjustment bushings on the top ball joints then that could very well be your problem. Those should almost never be installed. Too many shops who are just after your money use them to adjust caster when the problem is a bad spring bushing or shackle. That will cause the death wobble in a heartbeat.
Have it checked by a shop that cares about their work.
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