well i was on my way home last night on the interstate going about 80 mph and hit a rather small bump,immediatly following the front end started to jump up and down at a rapid rate i had to slow down almost to a complete stop to gain control,several miles later after decreasing my speed to 65mph another small bump and it starts all over again.So today i put new shaocks on it thinking they where the problem the truck has 77k on it,not only did they not fix the problem it is now worse and is happening on surface streets at around 60mph on bumps that i have traveled over for the past year of owning the truck w/o any problems.i am very concerned for the saftey factor of this problem and need help asap,thanks in advance

 

That would be the Death Wobble. Look at tie rod ends, balljoints, wheel bearings, and the track bar. I'll bet one or all are worn out causing the DW. Also, you may try increasing your caster. With the leveling kit it is pulling out some caster and they do not come with enough factory anyways.

 

i just jacked up the front end to check the ball joints and they fell tight although i thought i had read somewhere that there is a certain way you have to preload the front end in order to fell if there is play ,what is the correct way to check them?

 

also would the steering stabilizer cause a problem if it is worn out?

 

Steering stabilizer will help but just covers up the real problem.
To check the balljoints, jack up a tire and put some sort of lever (jack handle, pry bar) and pull up to put weight into the tire. You should not see any movement in the balljoints if they are good.
While you are there, grab the wheel from the side at 12 and 6 o'clock and try to wiggle back and forth and again at 3 and 9 o'clock. Any movement at 12 and 6 will be bearings or balljoints and 3 and 9 will most likely be tie rod ends.
It is helpful to have someone help and watch because they will see easier than you when moving the wheels. Last thing to do is have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth and watch the balljoint (frame) side of the track bar. Any movement indicates it is bad.

 

I had a very simular problem on my XJ Jeep. Now I know it's a Jeep and not a CTD. But the front suspensions are of the same design. I checked out and replaced most everything under it. That's all but the steering stabilizer shock. It was less than a year old, so I figured it just had to be ok. Guess what? It had a dead spot when it would cycle, which would cause violent shaking. New stabilizer mounted and problem went away......
EDIT: Of course the above only applys if you've properly chech everything else out.

 

Yes replacing the stabilizer may "fix" the problem but if you have a properly set up front end you do not need a stabilizer.

 

thanks for the help guys,ill recheck and hopefully find the problem everything

 

Take that nylon upper pivot bushing out & examine it . . . . my 91 did that & i couldn't find the problem & neither could anyone else. The problem turned out to be worn upper pivot bushings . . . had to take them out & examine them to find the wear.

 

I would also put in at least another 5* of caster. This would be rotating the eccentric to push the axle forward. Don't be afraid of it because it is not a tire wearing angle. If you want you can be like me and just crank it all the way out.

 

buy a new trackbar!!!!!!!

 

Of course going to a good aftermarket track bar is always a good idea, if his track bar is still good it would be a waste of time and money. Also I wasn't thinking but you have an 03, the track bar on the 3rd gens doesn't have a balljoint side. You should still look for excessive play in it though.

 

He has a second Gen , They use ball joints instead of king pins with plastic bushings.

 

how do i go about doing that???

 

Ok, i didn't realize they dropped those plastic bushings . . . just assumed they were the same. Sorry for the bad advice.