What exactly does death wobble feel like? Is it like rocking the steering wheel back and forth quickly or a vibration similar to running over rumble strips on the side of the freeway?

Had a strange ride over the seams in the concrete highway the other day that i never had in my F350. Felt like someone was jumping up and down on my truck while I was driving it.

 

It is a severe shaking of the front end. Kind of a side to side movement and will only stop if you slow down. I will feel like your tires are falling off. Check your track bar and swaybar for any worn parts. Hope this helps.

 

Being that my truck is only 6 weeks old I didn't think it was death wobble, just want to get an idea of it's like should it happen later on. Thanks for the reply.

 

Trust me. If it happens, you will know it. There is no point where you think, "Was that it?"
It is more of a " HOLY ####!!!!!!" combined with lots of brakes and downshifting. Remeber, there is a reason it is called Death Wobble, if it happens at highway speed, you will figure that part out

I have never in my life gripped a steering wheel that tight that fast...

 

I agree that you will not be asking was this DW! I only had one DW incident, at 70+ on tollway with cars on both sides on a curve. Front tires started bouncing out of sinc with each other, off the ground enough to eliminate steering control for a minute. I was turning but the truck was not, just bouncing out of control almost into the mustang next to me. Mine bent both steering stabilizer link rods close to 45 degree angle. Both me, my passenger and the mustang driver needed underware change.

 

All down through automotive history, 100 years or so, it was called shimmy. Everyone knew what that was, it was a common term, happened on many vehicles under the right conditions. Now, here on DTR, it's been re-named. The new name is Death Wobble. I can't figure out why that term is better than the other one.

Wetspirit

 

I had that same thought myself, being close to that old it seems. But then the force of the Dark Side turned shimmy into DW.

Shimmy is irritating, bad on tires and suspension parts and will spill coffee, Death Wobble is dangerous.

 

I would drive with a shimmy at any speed and not worry about it. DW on the other hand is something that is hard to explain other than a loss of control due to front end bouncing. Dw was been around for a long time at least over on TDR anyway.

 

Very severe shaking, you`ll know it if it happens. I thought I had a tire blowout the first time.

We found that the tie rod ends were worn, on his & mine (39K & 52K). My Thuren trackbar & steering stabilizer showed up yesterday. My DW is a done deal.....soon.

 

Classic....

I've had "shimmy" in everything from a 64' Continental, to a K5 blazer. Shimmy is a "yeah, whoa, better grip the wheel and hit the gas" deal...

I've experienced "DEATH WOBBLE" in my Dodge, a solid axle Dakota, a 72 Bronco, and a multiple other Dodges.

I don't think you've had death wobble as you'd know the difference..

When the truck is shaking so hard you can't see straight, the cars on the freeway are locking it up to try and avoid the tire smoking shaking mess in front of them, and you have to come down to about 5mph on the shoulder, you'll know death wobble..

He probably had shimmy, but they are not the same..



edit: and it's been called death wobble before the internet existed...

 

I've never had it happen on my Dodge (fortunately) but I've had it on other vehicles. Even my parents old VW would do it sometimes when hitting the right bump at the right speed. Always makes me wonder how the tie rod ends and such can stand it. The strain on parts is awesome. I recently saw a Ford P/U do it on the road. Quite a sight. Wheels bouncing, dust flying, the driver going what the......?, steering wheel flailing. Quite a sight.


John

 

Never had it happen on my 2500 thank god.

My '67 CJ5 Jeep is another story. Once I installed a steering shock though, it took care of the DW. Try holding on to the darn wheel in the DW with standard steering. Darn near rips the skin right off your fingers. Glad that little old 4 cylinder F- Head only does about 50 mph. Skinner.

 

Nah didn't think I had the DW thing going on but after that weird sensation with the highway seams it got me thinkin..... What does it really feel like? Now I know, and I should probably alert my girlfriend about it so she doesn't stain my passenger seat should the DW ever pay me a visit. Very informative, thanks guys.

 

Have a bike? feels like when the bike starts "head shaking"

 

that`s a great analogy!