Sorry for the exciting title, there's a lot more to death wobble than most people think, but I've got mine quelled for now at least.

I have 305/65R/17 BFG AT's on my truck. These will promote death wobble! If you've ever seen a video of death wobble, you'll see how the front tires flex and buckle as the truck bounces and shakes. Tires make a huge difference, but they are just one component.

Dodge recommends running FULL AIR PRESSURE in the front tires no matter what your load. This is covered in TSB 22-005-06. I can tell you that with my BFG's at 50psi, my truck was un-drivable. At 70psi (65psi max tire) they were better, but the steering is still loose.

I had my caster checked and I am at 4.5* on the left and 4.6* on the right. This is greater than specs, but would help prevent death wobble not create it. My tires have 55,000 miles on them and are still going strong, I wont change caster angle.

My camber is 0* left, .1* right. Again I left that alone. Toe is .1* left and 0* right, should be .1* right, but I left it.

My ball joints are good, tie rod ends good. Track bar bushings have been ordered from Luke's Link, but originals do not seem sloppy.

The biggest change in the feel to my steering came from swapping out the stock steering stabilizer for a Rancho 5000 (#5412). Instantly better! The original stabilizer had an 1/8" of a loose spot (ram in and out) but that would disappear when I cycled the shock back and forth.

I guess the point of this post is to have you think that almost anything can cause death wobble when the suspension design is flawed, so check everything and upgrade any part you find even slightly worn. Keep air pressure way up to stiffen the tire sidewalls.

Good luck.

 

Your new stabilizer may have "fixed" your death wobble but it is, in truth, only a bandaid. In a perfectly aligned, zero spec component, perfectly round tire world, we wouldn't need a steering stabilizer.

and I'm not bashing you in one bit. I'm glad it worked for you. But I've read quite a few articles here and elsewhere where Rancho shocks are of worse quality and performance than a stocker. But I hope yours proves me wrong and last a good long time for you.

 

Lost,

You should also consider the '08 steering linkage upgrade. This removes a flex point between the wheels and has much beefier linkage. As far as I'm concerned, it's a must have item. It's Dodge's answer to the problem.

Even if everything else is perfect on the truck, balanced, round and tight, a pesky pothole or diagonal railroad track crossing can hit at just the right speed to set of the oscillation. That's when the damper is your best friend.

 

Regarding tire pressure. I understand how their is less tire flex if the tire pressure is high, which can help to minimize death wobble. However, by running the tires at a higher pressure, its like filling a basketball to the max. The basketball will bounce much higher now. I feel like in my truck when the tires are filled to the max, the truck skips over bumps instead of soaking them up. I am also still trying to figure out my death wobble, I still have only had it happen twice in the last month but I feel it can start at any time now.

I'm just posting my opinion as a different way to run pressure in the tires.

 

interesting...

I recently went through quite a battle with my front end.

To make a long story short, I knew I had some bad ball joints in the driver's side (pass lower was replaced and the upper was "ok" at that time) but I didn't have the cash and kept driving around until the fateful day finally came.

Death wobble was so bad I couldn't drive the truck.

I changed upper and lower driver's ball joints and axle u-joint (went with a precision). Death wobble was there after the first rough patch of road.

Next step was replacing the entire steering linkage. I went with the upgraded (08+) design since I had some questionable tie rod ends anyway and the new steering setup is supposed to help prevent Death Wobble. I bought the entire setup used and it came with a the Rancho shock. Death wobble was there after the first rough patch of road.

After spending some more time under the front end I noticed the track bar bushing on the driver side was completely gone. Replaced just that side with a Moog bushing.

DEATH WOBBLE GONE!!!!

I'd hate to think that a $23 bushing would have prevented me from changing all that other stuff, so I keep telling myself that I would have had to do all of that sooner or later anyway to make me feel better.

In my case I had multiple issues contributing to the Death Wobble, but right now this truck steers and handles quite well compared to the factory setup.

I'm not sure how much the Rancho shock plays in all this, but judging from many people's opinions on this and other forums, the Rancho is supposed to suck and my steering should be much better if swapped out with a factory or Bilstein.

 

I know!!! I Know!!!!

Like I said, it is a complicated issue that starts with a POOR DESIGN.

My truck checks out as okay in all regards except for the stabilizer and the tire size.

Maybe Rancho is junk, but it's an easy swap and has a lifetime warranty. I have heard too many complaints about the Bilstein stabilizers, however I am ordering Bilstein shocks.

A lot of people have spent a lot of money upgrading to the 08 front end only to STILL have death wobble.

And those high priced track bars don't look like they're worth it to me. I can appreciate the heim joints, but what's with the $400 - $1200 price tag?

My track bar is good, the bushings are the weak link in the system. I'll see if replacing those helps.