2019 F250 Steering Wheel Oscillation after leveling kit
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4wd Low
Joined: Apr 2022
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2019 F250 Steering Wheel Oscillation after leveling kit
Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and am hoping you can help me out. I have a 2019 F250 4x4 powerstorke and I recently installed a 2" Bilstein full coil and 5100 shocks leveling kit. Along with this kit, I installed a Carli Adjustable Track Bar, Carli 2 degree caster shims, sway bar drop brackets, Icon dual steering stabilizer, 35x12.5r20 tires and 20x10 XD wheels (-18 Offset). The truck drives pretty well...overall ride actually seems better, steering wheel returns to center and tracks well down the freeway, but while going down the road at low or high speeds, the steering wheel is oscillating left to right pretty constantly over bumps. This is not death wobble by any means, but wondering if this is normal or not. When the truck was stock, I don't remember the steering wheel oscillating so much. On the freeway it feels like a dead spot in the steering which is not ideal...especially when towing. Appreciate any insight as to what might be causing this and any solutions to fix it. Thanks!
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 14,266
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Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and am hoping you can help me out. I have a 2019 F250 4x4 powerstorke and I recently installed a 2" Bilstein full coil and 5100 shocks leveling kit. Along with this kit, I installed a Carli Adjustable Track Bar, Carli 2 degree caster shims, sway bar drop brackets, Icon dual steering stabilizer, 35x12.5r20 tires and 20x10 XD wheels (-18 Offset). The truck drives pretty well...overall ride actually seems better, steering wheel returns to center and tracks well down the freeway, but while going down the road at low or high speeds, the steering wheel is oscillating left to right pretty constantly over bumps. This is not death wobble by any means, but wondering if this is normal or not. When the truck was stock, I don't remember the steering wheel oscillating so much. On the freeway it feels like a dead spot in the steering which is not ideal...especially when towing. Appreciate any insight as to what might be causing this and any solutions to fix it. Thanks!
had the same problem after doing a lift....replaced my steering damper and problem fixed.
if you removed your stock damper thinking you didnt need it since you have dual stabilizers then that's the cuase of the problem.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 134
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If you haven't - get a good alignment done.
All that stuff has probably altered your scrub radius quite a bit. If thats what it is - and it could be something else - the only way you can really alter it is with different offset wheels. -18 sounds like they might be sticking out a bit?
Thats where I'd start, though.
All that stuff has probably altered your scrub radius quite a bit. If thats what it is - and it could be something else - the only way you can really alter it is with different offset wheels. -18 sounds like they might be sticking out a bit?
Thats where I'd start, though.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 2,836
Likes: 1,191
From: Southeast MO
I had this same issue on my 2017 F250 after I installed the Fox ATS stabilizer. It drove me nuts! I replaced it with a dual setup from PMF with Bilstein 5100's and it completely went away. Try taking your dampeners off and see if the problem goes away.
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4wd Low
Joined: Apr 2022
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@speakerfritz Thanks! I did remove the stock damper, but will add it back and see if it solves it.
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4wd Low
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4wd Low
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@TireFryer426 The -18 offset wheels do stick out, but not super far like the -44 wheels do. Definitely agree on getting a professional alignment done. thanks!
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Lead Driver
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@4wd6.7L Thanks. I am going to schedule an alignment in the next few weeks. Thought I could avoid it with the straight axle.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2019
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From: Southeast MO
@cpobst I added the Icon dual stabilizer (removed stock damper) to try an combat this, so it was happening before the dual stabilizer was put on. The dual stabilizer helped, but it's still noticeable.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,429
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From: North Carolina
It's you caster angle is off. Ford keeps it a little positive but close to 0. This is for easy turning of the steering wheel at low speeds. When you did the level lift you put it at 0 (or straight up and down). This causes the wheels to turn super easy at slow speeds but the faster you go the less stable it gets. Basically the higher you go with a level the more unstable it gets at freeway speeds. You will need more caster adjusted positive to get that fixed. Most alignment shops put back to ford spec. You will have to go out of spec to get it correct. Maybe take it to a specialized ford specialist shop. A typical tire shop wont fix it. Been there.
Here is the link to the cure:
Here is the other one about the alignment:
https://youtu.be/lb3bh96FVB8
Here is the link to the cure:
Here is the other one about the alignment:
https://youtu.be/lb3bh96FVB8
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4wd Low
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 14
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@Kameron Rice Thanks for this! I am going to get an alignment check today and will post the specs.