New member here. Bought a 1992 W250 about 1 year ago. Really like it! Drove my friend's 1997 W250 today and hated the front end feel. Of course the second gen death wobble horror stories are legendary - some people say a rebuild is due ever 30K. Are the 1st gens prone to the death wobble as well or is that a second gen specialty?

By the way, I like this site for CTD.

 

The first gen has leaves up front. Nice and simple with nothing to cause the death wobble. The second gen has the trailing arms and coil springs, which make a track bar necessary. The track bar ends going bad is what causes the death wobble.

 

I have experienced death wobble in a 1st gen. But it is not common. This one was just completely wore out.

 

First gen Dana 60F's have king pins....the 2nd gen (and later) 60F's all run ball joints. The King pin design is MUCH better.

The later Dana 60F's also don't hold up well to snow plows...the ball joints don't handle the weight as well.

 

On the 1st gens, death wobble is usually due to weak springs and worn bushings in the kingpins.

I'vehad death-wobble on GM and Ford trucks with kingpin D60's also. Ford balljoint D60's for that matter too.

 

1st gen is way better.