My old truck

[G-Golly Wally]

Death Wobble is caused by a lot of things. Since the only thing you changed was the tires/rims, it has to be something to do with that. Other than tire pressure, maybe the front and back wheels are mismatched. Radial tires are very sensitive when it comes to that. Putting a back tire, that's used to just going straight, on the front, won't act right when combined with a tire that's used to going straight as well as left/right. Hope that you can figure out which tires were on the back and which were on the front on the seller's truck.

- 399

Never thought about it, but that sounds logical. I have one oddball tire on the truck three are Wrangler radials the odd ball is on the back it's a Cooper. Gonna take it to the shop in town tomorrow and have the tires balanced and check the rims. Hopefully it's a fixable problem because the rims look great on my truck, but if somethings wrong with them I can't run em. I bought them off my driller, called him and told him what was going on this morning. He told me to keep him posted on what I find out and if something is wrong with the rims he would give my money back and scrap the rims. Hopefully things get worked out because I really like the new look

 

[Alabama Buckeye]

Had myself a cherry extended cab F250 short bed. Tires weren't a month new. Beefed it up with air bag suspension and a special goose neck to 5th conversion unit, with all the fixins to make the short bed work for camper trailering Could detach the 5th wheel device in a matter of 5 minutes or less and be ready for goose necking it. Would take a few minutes to get the wrenches out.
It was, emphasis on was, a smooth and powerful 6L diesel but I wanted more torgue. The SCT Tuner was touted as producing 850# feet torque and I was having it regardless; I love me some torque.
Got the SCT installed and setup on Thursday and totalled it on Friday. Gonna love torque just the same.

Sorta misserable dreary Friday early afternoon with a damp highway and spritzing drizzle. As is usual at a cetain point on the two-lane I was crawling along at 40-45 mph and chose to get up to speed. Touched the peddle and that all she wrote; I swear I just touched it. And, don't let me forget, coincidentally, there was a curve in the highway.

Was wearing my seat belt as always but that freaking thin poly-blend shirt-tail had join the belt clasp in the presumably secured receiver. And if it weren't for that damn telephone pole.

Sometime in that 360 spin around, and my weight on the shoulder strap, the belt clasp let loose and I was ejected through the shattered driver's window. I'm sure it was the seat belt clasp that broke it.

I'd have been real pissed had I been run over by my own truck. Minor scrapes and bruises; but, a really mangled, once beautiful 2006 F250 truck; with a sellable 6L engine. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[Alabama Buckeye]

Update!! I think the 2019 rims really set the truck off compared to the original rims. But when I test drove it last night I hit a rough patch on the highway and the truck started into a DEATH WOBBLE!!!! The truck was shaking so bad my eyes couldn't even focus on the highway, by the time I got it back under control I was in the oncoming lane of traffic luckily no one else was on the road at the time. I've owned this truck since 2011 and that's the first time that's ever happened. I didn't check the air pressure before I drove it, will be checking that today! And the rest of the front end! I had the complete front end rebuilt and aligned a couple of years ago? But something has gone wrong, hopefully it's not anything to do with the new rims but since this is the first time this has ever happened I'm wondering?

Gonna have to agree with the tires and rims suspects. Numb nut son swapped tire around on the Sebring, for the wife. It's her DA son and presumable an auto mechanic. Well she experienced something of "Death Wobble" and was nearly in tears when she brought it to my attention. Lugs were all, no more than finger tight. I could tell you some stories of his DA auto rigging that would have you laughing and crying at the same time.
Hub bearings would be my 2nd guess; though they don't go out overnight. Just had the Caddy fixed for one side hub bearing issue. The symptom did crop up overnight but the wasn't anything more that a pull to the left when brakes were applied.

Then there's the tire sidewall failure, and that very well could develop overnight, even with brand new tires. Loss of controll is not terribly likely but there certainly could be some radical shaking.

 

[Smokinone]

If it were a Dodge, I would say the steering box stabilizer they have. I put one on my 2001 3500 as they tend to have some weakness in that area... Shocks may be an issue as well. Just a thought.

 

[Smokinone]

2017-2020 Ford Powerstroke Death Wobble Kit

If you didn't already know, the 2005+ Ford Powerstroke Super Duty could experience what is known as "Death Wobble." Death Wobble is an uncontrollable shaking of the front end of your truck under certain circumstances. Death Wobble is frightening when it occurs, but can also prematurely wear out...

texascompletediesel.com

In addition, the California Consumer Attorney highlights that Ford was aware of the components within the 2005-2019 F250 and F350 suspension systems being prone to failure. However, the manufacturer failed to address the issue properly or tell their customers about it.

Ford Death Wobble - Fix, Kit, Recall - for F250 and F350 • Road Sumo

The death wobble is a defect in many Ford F250 and Ford F350 Super Duty trucks. It occurs when the front end of these trucks loses traction.

roadsumo.com

 

[G-Golly Wally]

I

2017-2020 Ford Powerstroke Death Wobble Kit

If you didn't already know, the 2005+ Ford Powerstroke Super Duty could experience what is known as "Death Wobble." Death Wobble is an uncontrollable shaking of the front end of your truck under certain circumstances. Death Wobble is frightening when it occurs, but can also prematurely wear out...

texascompletediesel.com

In addition, the California Consumer Attorney highlights that Ford was aware of the components within the 2005-2019 F250 and F350 suspension systems being prone to failure. However, the manufacturer failed to address the issue properly or tell their customers about it.

Ford Death Wobble - Fix, Kit, Recall - for F250 and F350 • Road Sumo

The death wobble is a defect in many Ford F250 and Ford F350 Super Duty trucks. It occurs when the front end of these trucks loses traction.

roadsumo.com

Yeah, I've read that. And also recently read the 2006 f250 is one to avoid, Lol, both my f150 and f250 are trucks to avoid, go figure. My shocks are only a couple of years old but that means nothing especially with Oklahoma roads I may have a damaged one. My front end only has 30k on it but you mentioned the steering box. That has crossed my mind it's about the only thing that wasn't touched when the front end was re-done

 

[Smokinone]

I

Yeah, I've read that. And also recently read the 2006 f250 is one to avoid, Lol, both my f150 and f250 are trucks to avoid, go figure. My shocks are only a couple of years old but that means nothing especially with Oklahoma roads I may have a damaged one. My front end only has 30k on it but you mentioned the steering box. That has crossed my mind it's about the only thing that wasn't touched when the front end was re-done

I see your luck runs like mine. Out of a lot full of vehicles, I can usually pick and drive away with the dud.
I'm thinking there are companies that repair and straighten wheels as well if it comes to that.
I put a set of brand new Maxim tires on my Dodge and it always seemed to have a shake or vibration afterwards. It got gradually worse as the tires hardened, and I thought I was having drive line or rear-end issues. After one came apart on me and a new set of Yokohama tires were installed, I though I was driving a Cadillac...well almost, but it was a dramatic difference.
Not really related but Good luck anyway.

 

[G-Golly Wally]

Took the truck to the tire shop here in town and had them balance my tires. They were badly out of balance Big Red the owner/operater of the shop said it almost as if someone took a guess at it and just slapped some weights on them. He asked if they were taken off the other truck and put straight on to mine, and I told him yes. He then asked if the previous owner had issues with them and I said not to my noledge but he did have a lot of other issues. He said I can't see how he didn't as bad out of wack as they were. Anyways I haven't gotten to give them a good test run ,but what little driving I did tonight I didn't have any problems. Hopefully this will take care of my problem.

 

[nomadradio]

he did have a lot of other issues

Sure reminds me of the old observation: "More issues than National Geographic".

73

 

[Handy Andy]

Death Wobble?!?

Oh lord...means the dampening that should happen, is not.

That means a myriad of things - and the sad part about this is when you "jack it up" to look underneath, the parts become fully extended under the suspension and spring pressures, where everything looks tight. and seems tight. The tensions on all the parts "push and pull and pressures from it makes everything look proper. Unless you have "Hulk" arms and can shake and twist the tires to check for bearing and brake Freeplay - the only way this loose shim or arm, or even a link - shows up, is when the truck is at rest on its suspension.

Only when you put it back to its resting state - do the problems come up.

So that wobble can mean many things - one from the stock suspension and one of the tower mounts is bad or not absorbing impact onto the control arms having a bad bushing even a popped off alignment shim and just needs replacement - you won't see that until you place a dolly under the tire when it's jacked up and then settle the tires (fronts) on the dolly's to see if they pivot off to one side or another or even rotate - there's the condition - a bad bushing or shim.

• (Level surface of course, and engine off and parked with chocks on the rear wheel to prevent a runaway condition)

It's the "poor mans" way of doing things, but when the truck needs service, the best way to get the best service is to know what to expect before you arrive to the shop - that way all parties just need to negotiate a price to finish the repair.

That way they are not tearing apart the truck to find out it was a loose bolt that handles the toe-in-toe-out (Mount bushing/Arm/Link) and camber/caster of a wheel (Shim).

 

[G-Golly Wally]

Thank you Andy! That is a wealth of information. I'm going to take the truck to the rough spot again and see if it happens, if it does the stock rims and tires go back on and back to the rough spot. If it's still happening with the stock tires and rims the trucks going over the mountain to Wister to see the Michael C, he's considered the best powerstroke specialist around this area. He ain't cheap but he's good. And from your reply it seems you're experienced with this death wobble problem. You should change your name to VERY HANDY ANDY. Thank you for you input!

 

[Handy Andy]

I know of the "wobble" as personal experience that petrified both my ex and I one day as we traveled to a lake to enjoy a day at the beach - all it took was a really bad pothole and whumph - the steering wheel shook and fortunately the wheels had been recently balanced as it let the shimmy fade as I wandered back into the lane, I was in.

Took it to a shop and found several spacer shims fell off onto the frame just under that left front shock tower and upper arm - the bushing was worn so it was the reason the spacer shims even got loose in the first place - so the story has a good ending just not a fun trip when you can't get back on the highway - you have to take back roads and less than 40MPH to make it home - just makes it a longer day.

 

[Handy Andy]

While you have the time, might want to get to a on-line site that lets you look at the parts of suspension for your Lariat - so you can get an idea of the call-outs - or names of the parts.

For Control Arm, it's a universal phrase for many types of anti-sway and pivot arms for suspension components - but in Ford-speak will be called Track Arm.

Shims might be called Camber bushings and Camber Bearing kits.

Track Arms are more known but Radial Arms - make it sound like a guy that has a medical condition because his job is that he throws tires for a living.

So, parts are interchangeable but not sayable in Ford Language

 

[G-Golly Wally]

While you have the time, might want to get to a on-line site that lets you look at the parts of suspension for your Lariat - so you can get an idea of the call-outs - or names of the parts.

For Control Arm, it's a universal phrase for many types of anti-sway and pivot arms for suspension components - but in Ford-speak will be called Track Arm.

Shims might be called Camber bushings and Camber Bearing kits.

Track Arms are more known but Radial Arms - make it sound like a guy that has a medical condition because his job is that he throws tires for a living.

So, parts are interchangeable but not sayable in

Well Andy I finally got a chance to test drive the truck over the same rough spot on the road, same wobble. So I parked it in the shop and crawled under the front end and when I grabbed the track bar and yanked on it pretty hard I've got some play in it and I can actually hear it make a slight clanking sound. So I'm thinking that's part of my problem. So I'll be getting a hold of the super duty specialist at Wister and see when he can work on the truck. I know this is over my head so I'm going to let a professional fix it. Because honestly I don't know what I'm looking at and I'm not comfortable work on something my life will be depending on.Thanks for all you advice and suggestions, it's greatly appreciated.

 

[G-Golly Wally]

I still haven't made the call to see about putting my truck in the shop, but meanwhile the chrome on my grill has bubbled up and looks bad so I'm pulling it off by hand. I ordered some billit grill inserts, and I'm going to repaint the grill apoxy black then put the chrome billit inserts in. I'm thinking of getting some stainless steel bolts and drill evenly spaced holes around the grill so the heads of the bolts exposed for a more rugged look . I'm not sure how it will turn out, but in the vision in my head it looks good, if it doesn't turn out like I hope then I'll just replace the entire grill.

This is where I got the idea for the stainless steel bolts, I thought I could mimic the rivet look, not 100 % sure I will attempt it, but seriously considering giving it a try.