Has anyone had problems with the death wobble on third gens after installing a leveling kit? I am looking at putting one on my truck. What brands do you guys suggest? "keep in mind cost and ease of installation."
Thanks for any input, Nick

 

Nick, if you try a search in 3rd gen engine and drivetrain by typing in death wobble, you'll probably find what you're looking for.

Here's one:
https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...t=death+wobble

 

I installed a leveling kit on my 2004, two inch spacer with stock shocks! No wobble but I gotta watch the big bumps,or I will top out the stockers. I'm going to change out the shocks!

 

It has happened to me 3 times. Seem like the conditions have to be just right...75-80+ mph, bumpy freeway, slight right curve in the road. It is scary when it happens. Im gonna try an alignment and new shocks.

 

If you get a leveling kit...replace the shocks too...Cutting corners always leads to problems..I have a tuff country leveling kit with new shocks to accomadate for the 2" increase....absolutely zero problems or wobble..

 

Check the link...Youwill see it happens with new shocks too. Come out and drive some of these LA area freeways and you'll see what I mean.

 

Here is a link to a thread that I had on this topic. My case was diagnosed as a very specific set of curcumstances, but still always in the back of my mind. Do it right. When I have the money I will replace the leveling spacer and Ranchos with a complete high quality Leveling Kit.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...5&pagenumber=2

 

I had roughly 8,000-8,500 miles on my leveling kit and over 20k on my tires before I experienced the wobble. Was headed to a ranch in south Texas when just outside of San Antonio it happened, between then and my arrival at the ranch 100-120 miles, it happened 5 more times and seven more on the trip home 2 days later. That was August and since then it has only happened once. Definitely got a vette off my tail, I don't know who was more scared.
Scott
PS- Only happened when the speedo was reading between 70 and 75mph uncorrected.

 

I put on a revtek front end level spacer kit and new trailmaster ssv shocks and had a sloppy front end that i guess you could say i had the "death wooble" but then i got back under the truck and found the trailing arm was loose. so i used some thread compound and tightend it back to factoy specs, now the truck drives great and that was over 10k miles ago. You have to realise that if you put new taller tires on they will have more sidewall flex and your steering won't feel as tight as with factory tires.

 

tourqamata, aaahhh I don't think you had the death wobble, you would know it if you did. There is no guessing about it.

 

Just installed my spacers last night and got to try it out today. I couldn't tell any differences on the freeway at all. I've had spacers on my '98 1/2 ton and my '01 3/4 ton neither of them gave me any problems. This is my first go round with a one ton.

 

JamesP, you couldn't be more right! Tourqamata, there would be no doubt in your mind if you had experienced the DW. It was very scarry and very unexpected the first time it happened to me. You will pucker your rear tighter than a frogs butt when it happens. My brother has the revtek on his too and he experienced it about a week and a half before I did, even though I had my springs on three months before him. I'm not a superstitious man, but i'd bet his mentioning it had something to do with my truck doing it.

 

Save yourself a hassle,leave the truck stock....Had the 315's leveling kit and the Death Wobble several times. Took all the crap off and put the stock tires back on, and it drives like it should. It may look nice with that stuff on, but the wobble sucks....

 

Death Wobble? It looks to me that 95% are long wheel base trucks. Let me explain. I have a dump truck (chevy) that was extented 18" longer than stock. It's a K-30 ( 4-wheel drive) and it did'nt have this prior to lengthening. Of course the front axle went from a dana to a spicer during the over-haul. The wobble occurs after hitting bumps that are not paraelle(oops) with the front axle. I've seen this before in a 1979 suburban. The guy changed out many things , all to his dismay. I have a 2003 2500 swb quad cummins . no death wobble, 26000 and stock!
Just some facts,thanks
Randy

 

My 03 Quad Cab.Long Box did it after I went to a 18x9.5"rim with 285X 60 tire,I put the stock rim and tire back on and it went away.It would only do it when you were over 90 mph and hit the right type of bump And when it happened it was scary.This is a different a death wobble than the trac bar induced ones on the older trucks.We have couple at work that do it and they can go in to it at 15 mph.