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12-07-2011, 02:21 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8
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Ford suspension 'Death Wobble'
I have a 96 Holiday Rambler Endeavor LE, 34'. Who has info on the 'death wobble' in the front end. This home has a Ford F53 frame. The home only has 17000 miles. I've read that the 'trac-bar bushing's' are bad? It only happened twice but scared the dickens out of you. Entire front suspension feels like it is coming loose. Steering wheel shakes violently.
Happened in the 30-40 mph range. Both times. First time I think a washboard effect of pavement on slowdown might have set it off.
Any ideas?
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12-07-2011, 02:36 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Golden Village Palms, CA
Posts: 1,988
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I suspect you will get a few different opinions on this subject, but I would start with checking tires for out of round or balance issues and plan on upgrading at least the front shocks. I would not think bushings or ball joints would be bad with this low of mileage, but would not hurt to have them inspected.
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John
'98 Gulf Stream Sunsport 325, 7.5L Banks Power Pack, Koni FSD's, Air Bags, ReadyBrute Elite,
2000 Honda Accord
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12-07-2011, 02:40 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Where we park
Posts: 170
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Worn trac bar bushing is high on the list of things to check for when trying to trace down death wobble . Also tire balance and or alignment. with only 17000 miles you ball joints should be ok. (death wobble usually happens when you raise your 4 wheeler)
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Harry & Becky
2016 Winnebago Vista (2005 fleetwood traded)
2006 Liberty
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12-07-2011, 02:44 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Golden Village Palms, CA
Posts: 1,988
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A track bar would be optional equipment on the f53 chassis. It should come standard with front sway bar and separate steering dampener that looks like a single shock mounted horizontally.
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John
'98 Gulf Stream Sunsport 325, 7.5L Banks Power Pack, Koni FSD's, Air Bags, ReadyBrute Elite,
2000 Honda Accord
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12-07-2011, 02:54 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Where we park
Posts: 170
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On second thought a fellow RVer said " If a problem is speed related it is a problem with your tires ". I had a vibration last year at 45 mph had the front tires rotated to the rear and the rear to the front and balanced. All the vibration went away.
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Harry & Becky
2016 Winnebago Vista (2005 fleetwood traded)
2006 Liberty
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12-08-2011, 11:56 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: FL
Posts: 1,355
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I had a 1997 F53 chassis with much higher mileage and never experienced the wobble issue although I've heard of it. Have the front tires checked for problems like out of round. If okay, have them balanced, then have all your "joints" inspected by someone who really knows what they're doing. Even though you have low mileage, I would NOT rule out ball joints because they can wear out quickly if something is wrong in the wheel geometry. I'd probably replace the steering damper regardless. If no joint(s) need replacing, then get a 4-wheel alignment and your problem should be resolved.
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--2005 F350 Superduty Crewcab, 6.0, 4wd, short bed, 3.73 gears
--2016 Montana 3711FL, 40'
--SOLD 2014 Wildcat 327CK, 38'
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12-08-2011, 12:21 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,965
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I don't believe the Ford chassis has ball joints. All the ones I've seen have a straight axle and king pins. Given the age of the vehicle there could be wear on the king pins, especially if it hasn't been lubed correctly.
To get the grease to flow properly you need to remove some weight from the tires. It can be done by extending the leveling jacks (if you have them) or putting a jack under the axle and raising it slightly.
Be sure to check the tie rod ends, and the wheel bearings as well as the stabilizer bar bushings, tire balance, and shocks. Sometimes a vibration can be set up by an out of balance tire. If the shocks are worn to the point they no longer dampen the vibration it will get worse to the point of the "death wobble".
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Hikerdogs
2013 Adventurer 32H
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12-08-2011, 01:07 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Golden Village Palms, CA
Posts: 1,988
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hikerdogs
I don't believe the Ford chassis has ball joints. All the ones I've seen have a straight axle and king pins.
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Thanks Hikerdogs, you're right, I was thinking of my Ford P/U regarding ball joints. The F53 has king pins and on my chassis they are fine at 60K, but they have been properly maintained.
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John
'98 Gulf Stream Sunsport 325, 7.5L Banks Power Pack, Koni FSD's, Air Bags, ReadyBrute Elite,
2000 Honda Accord
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12-08-2011, 06:03 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8
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Thanks to everybody. This gives me a lot to work on. I found a Ford dealership today that has a large truck service dept. I am going to let them check out next week. Will report back then,
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01-04-2012, 05:40 AM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 11
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I have a 1999 National Tropical built on the F53 chassis. I have experienced the "death wobble" several times, BUT ONLY on the same exact stretch of road each time. It was going down a steep hill with my brakes on and the front end started to shake violently and the steering wheel shook too. Otherwise on the road, its been fine. but it does scare the hell out of you.
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01-04-2012, 06:11 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Northeast PA
Posts: 1,146
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Have you considered it might be warped rotors?
Quite often they'll get worse when the brakes are used for any length of time then straighten when they cool.
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Bob (Squidly Down Under) & Peg - 2013 Ford Focus pushing a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser 2552S
"In God we trust" to preserve our country and bring our Troops safely home.
Carry on, regardless..................
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01-04-2012, 07:30 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,636
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The "death wobble" has been known to happen on brand new solid axle Ford truck chassis. I'm sure it can be aggravated by tire balance, worn bushings, etc., but it is NOT just a poor maintenance problem.
I've experienced it on I80 (east of Youngstown, Ohio) when a "dip" on a bridge approach nearly launched my motorhome into the air. The shaking was uncontrollable until I came to a complete stop. That's not a fun thing to have happen during morning rush hour on an Interstate.
My chosen fix was to install the Steer Safe unit. There are other steering stabilizers and centering devices out there, but mine is doing just fine.
The Steer Safe is designed to prevent loss of control on a blow-out as well.
I do recommend Good shocks, tire balance, sway bar bushing replacement, etc..., but simply for safety and driving comfort. They can't cause the "Death Wobble" by themselves.
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01-04-2012, 04:50 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner Retired Fire Service RVer's
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Cold Spring , Minnesota
Posts: 261
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I brought this subject up with a Ford company representative 11 years ago and his advise was to install a Davis Tru Track front axle stabilizer bar. It took Ford another 7 or 8 years after that, before they actually installed it themselves on new F53 motor home chassis. It's a due it yourself project if you wish, but DO NOT remove the shock absorber mounted on the front axle and tie rod. The Davis Tru Track Bar does cure the death wobble.
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01-04-2012, 05:42 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,163
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DGWest
Thanks to everybody. This gives me a lot to work on. I found a Ford dealership today that has a large truck service dept. I am going to let them check out next week. Will report back then,
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Were you able to resolve your problem?
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2014 Phaeton 36gh
2008 Jeep Rubicon or 2012 Ford F150 4x4 Lariat towds
or a couple of different trailers
Retired in Apple Valley, California
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