Death wobble anyone? Truck violently shakes when speeds of 40-70 mph after you hit a bump in the road. Not will mechanical savvy but I’m thinking it’s the cv axel or track bar. I have taken it to multiple mechanics and they cannot diagnose the issue.

any ideas on where to start?

 

Its the steering linkages and/or suspension components. Its a problem with many coil-spring lifted / big tired jeeps, but happens in un-lifted trucks too. Best bet is to find a local off-road shop and let them take a look. They are typically used to correcting death-wobble.. If the shop want to put a dampener shock on there, run! dont walk away! Thats like putting a bandade over an arterial bleed.

What is really happening is that when your tire hits a pothole or bump, that tire gets kicked inward or outward a tiny bit. With a healthy truck, both tires "bump" and then you go back to driving straight. With a problem truck, that causes the wheel to drag the truck which is now out of alignment and then it kicks back the opposite way and back/forth it goes until you crap yourself or get stopped. Once you get stopped and start driving straight again, it will almost always act normal until the next big shock. It depends on how worn the linkages and mounts are.

 

You have posted no information on your truck so anything we give you is just what we see with them in general.

It right side idler or the left side pitman arm, both or either will cause this type shake. If any of the tie rods at the center link are bad, also will give a weird wobble. Many on here are 4x4, so that is our number one vehicle we give info on. 2wd is the same on the symptoms, but they are coil spring front ends where the 4x4s are torsion bars. Ball joints can also give an uncomfortable steer.

Personally., I'd check the idler and pitman. If they are okay, jack it up and check the ball joints and steering linkage. Videos on Youtube will show you how to check the components if you aren't familiar or used to doing that particular job. Good luck.

I forgot to ask. Did any of the mechanics check the steering gear itself. Those boxes, with high miles, can also give you a wobbly feel at highway speeds. Not so much at school zone speeds.

 

There are many reasons that this could be happening but as AK said, without any information there's no where to start. Does the wobble go away over 70 mph? I can also understand a mechanic not being able to tell you what the cause is but I'd expect they could tell you some of the possible causes it isn't.

 

Also does the problem go away eventually or only go away once you've come to a complete stop?

 

thank you

 

FWIW, I can give a dozen reasons why your truck could be shaking that has nothing to do with steering linkages or the suspension. Good luck though.

 

I dont think a lot of the respondents here understand what "death wobble" is. The OP isnt talking about a shaking, or vibration, or "shimmy" just driving down the road. death-wobble feels like youve had both front tires blow out. The vehicle goes from 100% normal driving, to feeling like its about **** the entire front end of the truck all over the road. These episodes are caused by hitting holes or bumps or rocks or some other routine thing.

 

I'm well aware of what death wobble means. I also know it's a slang term usually applied to jeeps. BUT, it's a slang term for jeeps and other vehicles and applies to their solid front axle which the OP's F150 doesn't have with its independent front suspension. That means the vibration harmonic problems associated with the suspension of a front solid axle don't apply and what's going on has to be something else. If the OP's truck had a solid axle I'd be right there with you as the place to begin.

 

Yeah, we all know what death wobble is, and know what causes it on a 10th Gen. AK nailed it.... no need to elaborate.

I do believe, however, that this would be a 4WD if he says "CV Axle" and "Track Bar", which I assume he means torsion bars.

Ever seen it happen on a Super Duty? I was behind one when it happened. I was sure that thing was going in the ditch, but he got her under control. I actually think that both Ford and Fiat have lawsuits filed against them for their trucks right now.