Community Forums

Buzzman60 · 01-17-2021, 03:50 PM

My 2015 F250 diesel scared the pants off of me. Driving 70mph, hit a bump and experienced my first death wobble. I took to dealership. They refused to acknowledge anything called death wobble. They checked it out and said front end is in great shape.

I am looking for guidance and help. This was scary and I feel like Ford is turning a blind eye.

swampdog2 · 01-17-2021, 03:54 PM

If you didnt get a copy of the work order they wrote up when you took it in to the dealer <go back and get a copy of it .You may need it later on !

JIMBO34PA · 01-17-2021, 05:19 PM

buzzman60; you neglected to give us miles ? Many issues effect the shake after hitting bump. Obviously any play in front end, inspect the steering dampener for leakage and damage, front tires (condition and balance) . I believe the steering dampener has been upgraded from your original. Most issues are tire balance related . Jim

Lanny1763 · 01-18-2021, 07:22 AM

My 2019 F250 did the same thing. There is a Ford recall (not sure how far back in model years it goes), but they took mine in and replace the steering damper and that seems to have solved the problem.

In any case, you should look up Ford F250 recalls to see if yours is covered.

Good luck

GBRG07 · 01-18-2021, 07:54 AM

Here is a link to the recall. It covers 2017-2019.
https://ford.oemdtc.com/6541/custome...x4-f-450-f-550

I also would be curious of the milage on the truck.

Buzzman60 · 01-18-2021, 06:15 PM

I have 154k miles on it. No recall with Ford for my VIN.

jacwjames · 01-18-2021, 06:34 PM

A friend of mine has a F250 Superduty, nice truck, fairly low mileage. About 4 months ago he was driving on the HWY and the truck went wild. Took it to the dealer, they said there was a recall but he's been waiting to get notice that they've got the parts. Told him he could drive it but only below 45mph.

Another friend bought a 2019 Thor toy hauler with the Ford F53 chassis. Having lots of problems, been in the shop for ~4 months waiting on parts.

Don't know how Ford is getting by with all these issues. Seems it would easier to build their products right the first time.

GBRG07 · 01-19-2021, 08:18 AM

With that milage I would think if it hasn't had any front end work it needs something.
I think you need a decent front end tech to check it over, look for someone who specializes in Alignments or suspension work.
At the dealerships I have worked at the younger guys don't seem to like front end work and tend to shy away from it.
If a second opinion says no worn parts than I would replace the steering damper.

fxdwg · 01-30-2021, 09:42 AM

There are a bunch of forums with threads of the infamous death wobble of the IFS trucks out there. The 4WD trucks tend to be worse than the 2WD, but they all can do it. All brands do it to some extent.

It typically comes down to these as a "fix":
1) track bar bushings/ball joint
2) ball joints
3) steering damper
4) tires and tire pressures
5) steering components
6) alignment
7) the rest of the suspension bushings

No one repair seems to ever have truly fixed and prevented the wobble from coming back. With my 2015, it started around 72k miles and took replacing the ball joints, track bar, steering damper, tie rod ends, and finally the tires before I got a front end that was somewhat stable.
From my experience and many others, do waste your time trying to replace the track bar bushing, just buy the factory track bar with new bushing and install it. It takes more than 400#-ft to torque the driver's side mount. The ball joint on the other end is a typical ball joint, but some loaner ball joint replacement kits do not have the right sleeves to get the job done. I had to make my own sleeve to install that joint.
Michelin has come out with the Agilis tire, possibly in response to the wobble issues. It has a MUCH stiffer sidewall, which helps deter the oscillation that occurs.
After replacing all the front end parts, my front end doesn't wobble but it does not feel really "planted". My 2000 F250 with the non-IFS 4WD front end felt better with almost 400k miles on it.
It's very disappointing that the manufacturers won't spec strong enough suspension parts for these trucks. There is absolutely zero reason that the front end should be worn out at 70k miles on a street driven 3/4 ton truck.

TXiceman · 01-30-2021, 09:57 AM

First thing is Ford will never learn to align the front end on the Super Duty trucks. Find a good independent truck front end shop and have them go over the front ens and align it properly.

Ken

fxdwg · 01-30-2021, 08:07 PM

While a good alignment helps, when you cross a large expansion joint at an angle, the suspension has just enough weakness in it to start oscillating side to side. That causes the wobble. The solid mounted trackbars should really help, but because the bushings in the radius arms are also weak, the bar still doesn’t stop the wobble. There’s too many reports of people putting a solid mount bar on and still having the wobble.

EyezOpen · 02-03-2021, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXiceman

First thing is Ford will never learn to align the front end on the Super Duty trucks. Find a good independent truck front end shop and have them go over the front ens and align it properly.

Ken

There is so much truth in that it almost hurts, it has been that way since the entry of the f100.

carl2591 · 04-11-2021, 03:27 PM

bill hewitt in atlanta, powerstrokehelp did a video on the death wobble. it has to do with the caster ford has the truck at which makes them easy to steer at low speeds but at high speeds and the right bump can cause the wheels to wobble. He and others recommend a part that allows for caster adjustment .

https://www.thoroughbreddiesel.com/2...ditButton=True