I recently bought a 2005 F350 4x4, 159,xxx miles. I have experienced what I believe to be the Death Wobble. After searching this site for a couple hours, I have found some helpful information. Most talk about this problem is more than a year old.

I just dropped $600 on Lt side ball joints, problem got worse.

Has someone posted the cure and I have missed it?
Thanks

 

Check this old thread:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ml#post7615551

WC Motorsports has a cure - it's not cheap but does the trick!!!

 

Ford's official stance is to run your tires at door sticker pressure, always. In experimenting, I found I had wobble after hitting a bump is I took out 15 pounds of pressure, but not severe.

As mentioned WC Motorsport has a fix, not cheap but probably worth it.

Check out Super Duty Fix... and What WOBBLE?

Others swear the problem can be fixed with better steering stabilizers, better shocks, a Redhead steering box, or even a change in alignment.

All of this suggests strongly that there is more than one cause for the death wobble.

 

redford is 100% correct.

I went with the multi-fix scenario in my case and haven't had a hint of it sense it almost sent me to the moon the 1st and last time it happened. I didn't wait for a second time.

Bilstein 5100's, Dual stabilizers, Nittos and high caster/camber shims with pro alignment. After my 2.5" level/lift i made sure i did the track bar drop bracket as well. My track bar and drag link aren't as parrallel as the "after" pic but much better than the "before" pic.

The link redford posted "what wobble ?" kind of clarifies the SD issue. Their cost for the item i think is way off base though.

 

Thanks for everyone's input. I have now looked at the WC Motorsports fix ($825 for parts) and I have found a local guy that has developed a similar fix that has worked for my nephew and another guy. Local guy is a cheaper fix and I am going to try that first.

 

More details please... pictures, contact info, etc. - if it's significantly cheaper, a lot of us on the forum could benefit from your find! Let us know how it works out too...

 

I have said it many times. And it worked. When I changed to BILLSTEIN SHOCKS on my F-350 with a 6.0, long bed, KR the death wobble was gonzo.

Sometimes the easiest fix is the best, and sometimes not. You need to change the stabilizer also. When I did it, BILLSTEIN did not make a steering stabilizer.

 

jimd1050 - I live in central MN, Beeline Marine in St. Joseph, MN is currently working on my truck. They have fixed two others and and we'll see how mine comes out.

rmosso! - Thanks for the shock tip. I may do that as well.

 

Can someone explain the death wobble to me? What exactly is it? Does it only happen to 350's? Lifted trucks? Certain years? etc........

 

It happens typically in coil sprung front suspensions. It is very very common on jeeps. For the super duties it is 05+ issue. From a jeep back ground having the. Link arms parallel to the ground or the least amount of angle. A paralell drag link and track bar and good bushings in all the steering components and good shocks will fix the wobble.

 

PatF250 - Here is a link to a Youtube video:

YouTube - Ford F-250 "Death Wobble"

Just shows you what happens, not really an explanation of why.

 

When you get it, you will know as the steering wheel shakes out of your hands till you slow down or speed up.

 

OK, I don't know if anyone has ever tried this, but my dad had a truck that would do this years ago (a 1986 GM 4x4). Whenever this happened, it was the u-joints in the front axles that caused the problem - not a suspension issue. They had dried out, and would bind and cause this wobble (it looked and felt exactly like what you guys are describing). It would go away temporarily if he stopped, turned the wheels, and took off again. Unfortunately, it would also take out the ball joints if allowed to go on for too long.

Just something else to look at. I know you guys have had good luck with replacing suspension and steering parts, but I firmly believe that the u-joints are involved.

 

99powestrokedF250:

Honest injun. You bring up another point. BUT, thousands of problems have been diagnosed and repaired. Ford put out a bulletin to verify proper air pressure. When the coil strings replaced the front leaf springs, the problem became prevalent. AND, the RANCHERO shocks were less than adequate, IMHO.

As I said, to fix it. Put BILLSTEIN SHOCKS on and a new front stabilizer. Sometimes we try to reinvent the wheel. No need with this problem.

Now, if anyone can tell me how to fix my oil leak without removing the engine, and the cab, I will listen intentively...

 

that looks crazy from the outside..

when i first bought my truck it happend a few times.. did some research online found out whoever had the truck before put the wrong kind of tires on there.. So i swaped out the tires to E rated tires, filled up to 75psi each tire. havent gotten the death wobble since..