I replaced Trak bar , ball joints, shocks, and performed alignment. Death wobble still present. severe and progressively getting worse.

What was the problem you ask?

STEERING STABILIZER SHOCK.

This is so often overlooked and such a simple fix.

 

Hey Don, thanks for the good info. I am in the same boat as Idle an I also have the Hell Bent 2" leveling kit and on my way to town I hit a bumpy stretch of road and DW hit me hard , I thought I had blown a front tire but that wasn't the case. And it hit me again on the way home on the same stretch of road. It has never happend before and hasent since but I think what you said about the shock being the problem on a ruff road might be my problem. I think there might be some bilsteins in my future.

Jason

 

Replace your shocks with Rancho 9000's. That fixed mine.

 

A steering stabilizer is a band aid, all it does is mask the underlying problem.
9 chances out of 10 you need more caster.

 

Update:

Ordered Bilstein shocks 5100 Series for the truck. They will be in after the July 4th Weekend. I will post the results after test driving. (Hopefully! - hopefully?)
Thanks
IC

 

Definately replaced the tires!! I did the same thing, spent $1500+ but to no avail. Replaced the tires and haven't had a problem in over 5,000 miles!

 

An update on my death wobble situation. On my 3rd gen, with just under 40,000 miles, I developed death wobble. I would drive down the road, hit a bump, and the truck would start shaking violently back and forth. I would either put the truck on the shoulder or in the turning lane and stop completely, then start again and it would be okay for a little bit. Things gradually got worse, of course, as the parts started wearing out from the shaking. I found that my tie rod ends were all trashed, I had one bad hub assembly, and my stock track bar was gone. I put Don's track bar on first, and it helped. Then I put his steering on, and it helped even more. I finally got my Dynatrac manual hub conversion and put it on, and then the death wobble got worse! I figured I had installed something wrong so I took it apart and checked everything, and it was all fine. It turned out that my steering box had gotten beat up so badly from the previous death wobble incidents that the pitman arm had an inch of play in it. I called PSC and got them to find me a new steering box, and had them modify it for hydro assist. I put the new box on, and installed a DSS brace at the same time. I still had death wobble, but not nearly as bad. I could drive the truck for 10 or 15 miles and sometimes not feel anything. It had good days and bad days. I finally welded the hydraulic cylinder up and installed it, and now death wobble is gone. But much like a steering stabilizer, I know there is some sort of problem there... I am just using the brute force of a hydraulic cylinder to keep it from showing it's ugly head. I had an alignment done and went with as much caster as we could get, and had the toe in set as close to zero without being zero. I'm driving the truck now, and things are fine, but I know something is wrong. I've messed with air pressure in the tires, rotated them, and had them balanced twice. I am almost convinced that once I replace these BFG's with some Toyo MT's, I won't have the vibration anymore. That is the only thing I have left to try.

With all of that said, my suggestion to anybody with death wobble is to start out with the cheaper solutions first. Try a different set of wheels and tires and see if the truck will break dance in the highway for you. If you have the same problem, check the alignment and get more caster in there if you can. Then start checking front end components for wear and replace them.

And if all else fails, get a new steering stabilizer.

 

i had the same problem replaced parts,tires etc.i replaced my shocks and the dw stopped for a good while but started back after a few thousand miles.the gearbox is the only thing i havent replaced.

 

DJ, I can pm yu the place I got my mastercrafts from, 165 each shipped, 315 70 `17 , since Iput them on I have only had one real ***** of a set of bumps on rt 280 that got a wobble, & it went away on its own, never had to drop below 70 mph.......... I bought don's track bar but have yet to install it, no DW, no imediate need & besides, its too hot to lay under a truck............ so just a thought if you want to see thye tires, mind you they are not for heavy towing with only 2 plies in the sidewalls. courser at's

 

I appreciate the thought but I'm pretty set on the Toyo MT's. My BFG's are D-load tires and I want to step up to an E-load tire again. They are expensive and on back order but I think they will be worth it once I get my hands on a set.

 

Ordered Bilstein shocks 5100 Series for the truck. They will be in after the July 4th Weekend. I will post the results after test driving. (Hopefully! - hopefully?)
Thanks
IC

Shocks are in and installed. The front end picked up somewhat and the steering feels so much better ! But it did not correct the problem! Had DW again today . The truck went over quite a few with out the DW that would have before created white knuckle syndrome.
Tires are in the near future. Nitto is supposed to have a Dune Grappler out in the last part of the 3rd Quarter that is 295 70r 17 load rated E . I'm waiting to see if it's true . I'm Looking for 285 or 295 with a load range E for weight capacity.
Shocks helped but did not take care of it totaly. Of course the very last component that can be replaced under the front end will be the one that will cure the dancing on the hwy.
I will keep ya posted on the progress as it takes place.
IC

 

did you get a bit longer shock since you have the 2" level kit? some say it isn't needed, but I was wondering, and wondered who had them in stock