Greetings to all. I have been reading for several months. First post on here, so go easy, please. By the way, i love this sight. This is my first diesel, and I couldn't imagine having anything else.

As the title states, 50,000 miles, and got the death wobble driving through Louisville KY on 65 twice, on the washboard section south of Eastern pkwy exit, I think it was. The first time, it was about 85 mph. I left it in Campbellsville, and had my parents take it to our best front end shop. (I fly everywhere for work, so I drive it, maybe a weekend a month, at best.) He (tech, who has done good work for me ever since I got my license, 13 years) checked everything, (tie rod ends, etc...all) replaced the steering stabilizer that was shot, and did a front end allignment. Drove it on the same stretch of highway, same spot, this time at 70 mph, and, guess what....

Still there. The michelin stockers are still in good shape. I am having the parents take it back when i leave for dallas next week. I was just wanting some experiences on a stocker. I am going to have him tear into it if need be. i just don't want to start trying to repair by the old "replace and see what happens" method. fyi, he's a good ole' honest tech, just hoping to give him a better starting point for this particular truck.

Sorry to ramble on, but, too much is better than not enough.

Thanks in advance, guys. Hope everyone had a great Christmas, and have a fun and SAFE New Year.

 

I had a truck doin the death woble (1997 on 38s) theres only so many things it could be ball joints tie rod ends or what was wrong with my truck was the tracking arm also had a friend whos truck was very toed in and it did it also the bushings in your 4 link mite help but dout they will cause it. Also make sure your steering box is tight. Hope this helps

 

Napa has Track Bar Bushings for $13 each might want to start there.

 

This may be a stupid question, but have you checked your tire pressure lately?

 

Someone told me to Max your wheel caster, Or replace your tires even if they look good still. I had death wobble replaced my stock tires and it whent away, then came back when my ball joints were shot Replaced them and havent had any problems.

 

Thanks for all the help, guys. I will let y'all know what comes of it. I hope everyone had a good holiday season.

 

You should swap out the OEM trackbar bushings for our zero-deflection bushings.

 

Make sure he checks the play in the steering box.

 

I replaced my stock steering stabilizer with a Rancho one. Cured so far.

 

"...The first time, it was about 85 mph. "

LT tires aren't rated for more than 85 mph. The tire booklet that comes with the truck indicates that you need an additional 10psi for sustained speeds above 65 mph so empty you should be running 70 psi with stock tires at those speeds. Wobble will tend to be worse at higher speeds as there is more for the suspension to control than at lower speeds, and once it happens it starts to loosen things up pretty quickly. Wobble is a 'natural' thing, it has a 'natural frequency' that is reinforced by 'rotational frequency' of the tires and is always there, and needs to be dampened to prevent it from getting out of control so that it is noticeable. Dampers help but make sure that everything else is ok. If you look carefully at the front end you'll notice that small movements of front axle and components side to side can affect steering, so those need to be tight and dampened. Big floppy tires can make things worse as it adds weight to the axle that can't be adequately dampened with stock components.

An 1100cc bike that I had would wobble at multiples of 40 mph if I held the handlebar lightly with two fingers on the throttle as it didn't have a steering damper, but it would instantly stop even placing one hand on the handlebar so it didn't need one.

 

Drove from Knoxville to Ohio a couple of times this fall. Kentucky has some of the roughest interstate in the country. Just move and your wobble will go away.

 

Sorry for the prolonged absence. I finally got the baby in this wed. He told me the ball joints were wore. not, dangerously, but wore. He does not have the means to replace them, so the family is taking it to my dad's mechanic on monday. I am gonna have them replace the uppers and lowers with Moog's. I really hope this does the trick. their 'pooter was down when I talked to them, but they told me $275 to $300 in labor. Sounded fair to me, but, again, I'm not familiar with this work. Is there any other work I need to have them do while they are in there?

Also, I am gonna buy some shocks soon. Noone in our town carries Bilstein. I would appreciate any advice on where I can get a decent deal on the 5100's, all the way around. If I'm gonna go silver, I'm gonna go front and rear.

Again, thanks for all the advice. I see a new trac-bar in my future, just for the added protection.

by the way, this is a great site!!!

keep on truckin!

jb

 

I had a similar problem and found the steering box was the culprit. Put a steeing stabilizer on it and no more problems since. Look here http://www.solidsteel.ca/DSS.htm. We have crappy bumpy roads up here as well.

 

Thuren steering stabilizer!!!

 

I'm dealing with exactly the same thing on my '05. I spoke with Don Thuren of Thuren fabrication yesterday and he deals with this issue everyday. Long story short, there is no one fix, but he feels a steering stabilizer and track bar should do the trick. Nice guy...give him a call.