DEATH WOBBLE!!!
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 193
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From: Indio,California
DEATH WOBBLE!!!
ok from what i read on here i believe i got death wobble. trucks a 96 f150 2wd 6in superlift 315/75/16BFG tires. i just installed a dual steering stablizer...and its now worse. i rotated the tires today no differance. the lift wheels and tires are less than a year old. every thing in the front end is tight...suspention wise. i live in southen california in the desert so this truck has nothing rusted and looks new underneath. has never seen snow and it rains 5 times a year...lol it has almost 200k on its drivetrain but everything seems kosher. the smallest bump makes the tires shake till no tomorrow. its either drive at 25 or speed till 50 cause from 35-45 its gonna start shaking. i took it on the highway and pinned the speedo to its whopping 80mph range and drives smooth as hell. im lost on what to look at next ...
The village idiot.
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,126
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From: Southern WV
It can be a pain to get huge tires balanced sometimes. There is a powder balance you can put in the wheels but I don't remember what it's called but I've heard it works pretty good.
Also, have you checked steering box for play and the frame around it for and cracks?
Also, have you checked steering box for play and the frame around it for and cracks?
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 193
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From: Indio,California
ok trucks alignment was checked and was perfect and tires were rebalanced....still wobbles! no cracks in frame. as i said this truck looks new cause of being in southern california all its life
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,033
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From: Aurora,Colorado
I would suggest checking the toe alignment. Take the truck to a frame and alignment specialist shop.Not a tire store. Tell them what exactly is occurring and have them check it out. It sounds like it is easy to get the truck to do this DW.
I had a Grand Cherokee Jeep that did the same thing since it had 15k miles on it. It turned out to be factory alignment that was off on the toe alignment.
Caster and toe alignment is very important to prevent DW. I would also suggest placing some standard size wheels and tires on the truck temporarily to make sure that the big tires and imbalance isnt the issue
I had a Grand Cherokee Jeep that did the same thing since it had 15k miles on it. It turned out to be factory alignment that was off on the toe alignment.
Caster and toe alignment is very important to prevent DW. I would also suggest placing some standard size wheels and tires on the truck temporarily to make sure that the big tires and imbalance isnt the issue
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,033
Likes: 32
From: Aurora,Colorado
I had to take my Jeep to several alignment people-before I got a good one that knew what the alignment needs to be to offset these issues.
It isnt enough to be within the normal range of alignment-the front end guy needs to know from experience what it is going to take to stop the DW.
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Senior User
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From: Indio,California
i took it to a certiried offroad shop out here. he aligned it yo the specs of the lift. he said there was nothing off and the tires were still in balance
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,033
Likes: 32
From: Aurora,Colorado
And that you have ANOTHER alignment specialist check it out.
If you dont want to check the alignment again and you say that every possible thing has already been checked-then what are you asking for then on this forum?? If the 4x4 specialist says that the alignment is good-what does he think the actual cause of the DW is? If he cant give you an answer-how good is he?? Did he experiment with alignments outside of the normal range of alignment? Have you contacted the aftermarket manufacturer of the lift kit and asked them?? A collision/frame/front end specialist is the best place to take the truck. Not a 4x4 certified shop-believe me!!
You insist that it isnt the tires/wheels and that it isnt the alignment and that the front end is perfect and isnt worn. If really you think this and arent willing to check any of this again-good luck!
Believe me-the source of the trouble is going to be one of the above things--and just constantly stating that it cant be-isnt going to fix the trouble.
I can't tell you how many "experts" I had to go see to get my low mileage Jeep's DW finally fixed.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,033
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From: Aurora,Colorado
Again-find a shop that does nothing else but front end work and frame work.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
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From: Sand Lake, MI
You can not get a proper alignment with iffy/questionable tie rods.
However I always set the toe with nothing more then a tape measure, replacing bushings corrected the death wobble.
And no not those new fangled neoprene bushings either I tried em, they couldn't cut it, to soft and could squeeze them in by hand to start with. Had fresh OEM rubber bushings pressed in, problem solved.
Same/similar deal, took an older high mileage truck, put lift and large tires on it, those old worn bushings couldn't handle the strain.
Not saying 100% it will fix yours, just something to think about.....
However I always set the toe with nothing more then a tape measure, replacing bushings corrected the death wobble.
And no not those new fangled neoprene bushings either I tried em, they couldn't cut it, to soft and could squeeze them in by hand to start with. Had fresh OEM rubber bushings pressed in, problem solved.
Same/similar deal, took an older high mileage truck, put lift and large tires on it, those old worn bushings couldn't handle the strain.
Not saying 100% it will fix yours, just something to think about.....
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Indio,California
ok im gonna replace the tie rods and go from there. nothing rusts out here just dry rots. its 90 today in the summer it will hit 120 for days or even weeks...lol im originally from jersey so i know what rusted worn out parts look like but when you get a truck that looks factory new with 200k on it you can get lost. this truck still has the original exhaust on it....wow
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,033
Likes: 32
From: Aurora,Colorado
ok im gonna replace the tie rods and go from there. nothing rusts out here just dry rots. its 90 today in the summer it will hit 120 for days or even weeks...lol im originally from jersey so i know what rusted worn out parts look like but when you get a truck that looks factory new with 200k on it you can get lost. this truck still has the original exhaust on it....wow
I agree-it is amazing how vehicles dont rust in the West and Southwest like they do in the rust belt. I remember moving from St Louis to West Texas and seeing thirty year old vehicles in the wrecking yard with no rust at all-other than slight surface rust and sun damage.