Cab & Front End Vibrates/Wobbles/Rocks

[chozenfew805]

I have an 05 F-250 lifted on Fabtech's 6" Lift. Every now and then when I'm on the highway the entire frontend starts to Vibrates/Wobbles/Rocks pretty violently. I have to pull over in order to stop it. Taking it to the dealer is out of the question due to the lift. I bought the truck used and have had it for about three months. I've had a couple problems with it but I still love it, so some help would be much appreciated.

[Evil Eye]

Here's a bulletin describing exactly what mine was doing and they ended up replacing the steering stabilizer. Mine was only pronounced when at highway speeds (>70 MPH) and there were many times I had to bring it down below 60 to get control back. Kudo's to Marc for supplying the original link this came from.

6.0 PowerStroke bulletins

Steering Wheel Shimmy After Riding Over Bumps/Ruts:
Some 05 and 07 F-Series trucks may exhibit an oscillation/shimmy in the steering wheel after hitting bumps or ruts in the road. Typical steering wheel movement is 5 degrees and usually smooths out after about 5 oscillations. This condition is more prevalent on 4X4 trucks with steering wheels that have radio and climate controls. The truck will need to be inspected: tire pressure checked; steering damper inspected (replace with 5C3Z-3E651-D if needed); all suspension and steering fasteners torqued; steering checked for binding; steering gear adjustment checked/adjusted. The caster may need to be reduced by 0.5-0.75 degrees. After this, trucks build prior to 10-8-04 should have the steering wheel replaced.
King Ranch tan/pebble: 5C7Z-3600-ABA
Charcoal black: 5C7Z-3600-CBA
TSB 05 22-1, 06-22-14

[kevin dent]

another part that should be checked that will cause this condition is if the front track bar mounts are worn or loose.check by supporting frame at front and have an assisstant push the font susp sideways while observing the upper mount,lower ball joint on trackbar

[chozenfew805]

I got a hold of a tech manual and narrowed it down. It wasn't the piece of junk wheel bearings or ball joints but the neglect of the person who installed the 6" lift on my truck. Thanks DENT but it was the NUT & BOLT that secures the TRACK BAR from the passenger side of the front axle to the frame on the driver side. It was barely torqued to 200ft. lbs. and noticed the play in it when steering from left to right. The tech manual torque spec is 406ft. lbs. After figuring that out I ran through the entire front suspension and torqued everything to FACTORY SPECS. GOOD BYE DEATH WOBBLE THANKS GUYS

[straycat]

Thats what happens when people dont pay attention to the torque specs when they are building a truck, causes nothing but problems down the road.

Gord.

[bigcountrysg]

It is not always the installers fault. It states right in the directions of the lift. To recheck the torq on the bolts periodically.So they may have been torqed properly when the lift was installed but never rechecked.

[straycat]

I agree BC, but I have never done a retorque on a lift job and lost 200 ft/lbs, unless there was a fit problem with the parts to begin with, and that would be fairly obvious from the start.

Gord.