Death wobble

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BlownGP

BlownGP

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I had a feeling it would do that. It worked on my home computer but trying on my work now and it doesn't work.

This is the second video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J5WSkokN1M

The first video was on a 3rd gen ram. Looks like this has been going on for years.
 
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Jmhm17

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I thought that only happened with trucks with Pittman arm type set up. I assume the HD trucks dont get the same power steering unit we get. This could be related to the recall however its pretty typical with that setup and is not uncommon. It can be fixed or helped with a damper. That was not a 1500
 

RR7_905RAM

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Nice Chevy add to start the vid lol

Ummm yeah wouldn't you want to pull over if this happened? This would be pretty damn scary doing higher speeds yikes!
 

Jmhm17

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You cant steer.. all you can do is slow down and wait for it to stop. Its "random" for the most part, it is triggered by bumps tho, and some times just speed alone does it.
 

gassersarentdead

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Stopping was the only thing i could do in my lifted '79 chevy. It was vicious.
 

R/T_Fire

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We've had alot of Rams on the ranch, by alot I mean 11-12 3rd gens. only 2 had this issue. One was due to a worn out track bar, the other front end was completely rebuilt and once tires changed solved the wobble.

The one with the tires would shake so bad you couldn't even hold the steering wheel, broke a guys thumb one day..

I think the problem comes from the geometry of the steering to the Pitman arm. There is a dead spot when the steering wheel is in the "neutral" position
and I think bump steer or the result of it is what sends it into the death wobble dance.
MAybe one day they will fix it but I doubt it. they did a fix to the steering and now only sell 2010+ part# for the steering as a updrade for the 2009- models
 
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BlownGP

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MAybe one day they will fix it but I doubt it. they did a fix to the steering and now only sell 2010+ part# for the steering as a updrade for the 2009- models

That's interesting. What part are you talking about it?

Wonder if I should change it in my 09?
 

R/T_Fire

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That's interesting. What part are you talking about it?

Wonder if I should change it in my 09?
You have a solid axle truck too?

I had something all typed up explaining the upgrade and hit the wrong button and closed the internet window... so here is the readers digest version

You have a solid axle truck too? The upgrade is for the cross over steering on the solid axles. they changed how the link to the pitman arm connects to the link from knuckle knuckle. they also upped the tube size and steering stablizer mount. its

Anyone with a lifted solid axle I'd recommend a steering upgrade to a aftermarket set up.... makes a world of difference with a 35" tire or bigger.
 

Cowboy Stevo

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My truck has started doing this 'Death Wobble' just this summer. I have a 2013 3500 dually 30k miles with no modifications. Did it once back in June on the interstate doing around 65 after hitting a bump (horse trailer attached), and again last Friday - twice within 10 minutes again on the interstate doing 65-70 after hitting rough road. It is a goin' into the shop on Wed for a fuel filter and oil change. They are going to look into it then. Already ruled out the tires... so hopefully they will just skip over that possible cause lol.
 

Broke pilot

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Death wobble is caused by worn out tie rod ends and ball joints. The steering links have nothing to do with it. The only way to stop DW is to use a drag link with heim joints at the knuckles instead of tierod ends.
Death wobble is basically upsetting the gyroscopic force that the wheels create when they spin. (Hence why slowing down is the only way to stop it). What happens is you upset one force and it's tied to the other side with the drag link which upsets the other side, unfortunately the new forces don't match. The end up 90-180* off because the tierod end allows the knuckles just enough slack to wobble independently. Then it goes back and forth until starts moving enough to throw the steering wheel around.( of course this all feels instantaneous cus it happens so quick). That's why no steering damper, steering brace etc on the market will stop it, no matter how they advertise it.
On top of that, if you run aftermarket wheels with less offset/backspace you've lengthened the lever on the knuckle making it that much easier for one side to get upset.
(This is all assuming the rest of your suspension is in good shape too, if the trac bar is worn, shocks, those are also potential reasons the front end can get upset)
This was a huge problem on 2nd gen Rams. My '00 and '01 cummins would do it from time to time, usually pulling a trailer because now you've lightened the load on the font tires and the scrub radius effect can't help keep the fire pointed straight as much.
So again, the only true fix is to use a drag link with heim joints so that the knuckles cannot have any slack side to side and start fighting each other.

Look up a DW on a motorcycle, it's the same thing, just one tire, and it's because you've upset the gyroscopic force of the wheel.
 
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