I am not sure exactly the cause, but around 40-45mph the front end shakes like a sob, and it sounds like the wheels are going to come off. I believe it is the tie rods, but I have also seen posts on ball joints as well. I have already replaced the front shocks, rotors, brakes, and wheel bearings. When it happens (which is pretty much all the time now), the steering wheel shakes side to side about two to three inches and I can feel the rattle throughout the whole truck. Noise also accompanies the shaking/rattling. Most recently, it started to "pop" when I turn the wheel to the right. If there are any suggestions, please let me know. My biggest fear is losing my front end going down the highway...not a pretty sight.

The truck has almost 200,000 on it and runs great, but this is scaring the s%&t out of me.

 

sounds like the death wobble..... steering stabilizer

 

stabilizer is a bandaid, find the problem and fix it instead of wasting money and waiting for the problem to come back.

at 200k you definitely need ball joints (they usually go between 60-100k) and tie rod ends unless they've been replaced in the past few years. I'd check the panhard bar too, that and ball joints are the most common source of death wobble I've found.

 

Thanks. I figured that was the issue, just wasn't sure. I had a guy tell me it could be that the tires are unbalanced, but he was a tire salesman, so I am not that gullible. I have looked into the tie rods and to replace all of them, it is around 300. To do the ball joints as well, I found all four for an additional 120. Not too bad in my opinion, and I am almost certain they are the root cause. Thanks for the info!

 

doesn't hurt to check bushings as well

 

Is it a 4x4? Jack up the front wheels off the ground and check for play/slop in the front wheels. Could be front wheel bearing assembly or ball joints. You said you replaced the rotors? Why, did they have grooves in them, if yes it’s probably your front wheel bearing assembly are bad. Death wobble didn't start until 2005 trucks.

 

Death wobble didn't get bad untill later... (05? whenever coil springs showed up) but the earlier trucks can still get it.

Like Mr Pipe said, jack it up and check for play. Put a pry bar under the tire and try to lift it, have someone check the balljoints for play. If it's 4x4 lock the hubs and check for sloppy ujoints. (not that that will cause DW, but it's got 200k and your there)

With the vehicle on the ground, have someone move the steering wheel back and forth while you check tie rod ends and panhard bar bushing(s) and end. Might as well look over your steering box while your down there.

 

Not only that, but wasn't the "death wobble" notorious for higher speeds?
Sounds to me like you need to go through the susp/steering system before you end up with a busted axle or something.
Let us know what you find

 

bull **** the death wobble happened back in the 80's trucks too,right up through to present trucks.my 88 250 with a 7.3 had it after a alginment and had to have the front end reset.and my farther's 94 250 had it too. and i know alot of other people that have had it on the older tucks.go to the diesel stop the have all sorts of different post throught the years about death wobble.