2011 F-250 Death Wobble Revisited

[PFarmer]

Hi everyone, new member here.

I've combed the internet, had factory track bars laying on the garage floor and an adjustable ICON bar in then back out (made my particular problem worse) and after reading the comments in an old thread on this page, I finally felt like I was reading about my problem. I'm putting this here because I'm not sure if the people on the old thread will un-bury the issue and talk about it again. Hope this is okay. Here's what has happened and is happening.

Background:
3/2011: Purchase new 6.7 2011 F-250 4wd, crew cab, short bed.

3/2011: Installs

1) 4" Rancho Lift w/5000 shocks
2) 35" BFG TA/KO AT tires on after-market 17" rims (changed the rims size from 18')
3) Pro Comp dual shock steering stabilizer

6/2012: 45,000 miles on my truck, first encounter with "death wobble".. thought the left front wheel was coming off.

7/2012: Wobble progressively worse, tighten all lift parts and factory suspension parts. Nut on Pittman arm nearly off (I know, don't yell..) Next to no improvement.

8/2012: Wobble is now deadly out of control, nearly constant and has me too freaked out to drive it. It's just flat out dangerous. Dealer says nothing is wrong, all of them wobble a little. (good grief)

8/28/2012: Pull factory track bar, install adjustable ICON track bar. Test drive, nearly lose total control of pick-up after crossing railroad tracks. Takes two lanes and speed reduction to 10mph to recover control. Remove ICON track bar and reinstall factory bar.
Situation returns from instant death to certain death.

Call dealer again, diesel tech says the problem is the Pro Comp stabilizer. I say probably worn or damaged tie rod parts or drag link, I know squat so pretend I didn't say that. I rotate and balance tires regularly and keep them at 65 pounds. They have 45,000 miles on them and except for normal wear.. they are in "fair" shape. I'm not excited about putting tires on it if the front end is messed up.

I've owned 7 F-250's since 1994, all crew cabs, 4wd, short-beds. I've lifted the last 3, steering stabilizers on the last 2. I still have my 2005 6.0. I have never experienced anything like this before.

I'm not overly talented with a wrench and my local guys really aren't able to help, they're guessing (hence the in and out ICON track bar). I need guidance. I can't drive my pick up and I don't know where to turn next. Given my equipment, the symptoms and the situation, can you make a recommendation for me?

Thank you so much!

[layson]

Get a chance to check the alignment and check to see if castor is in check?

[PFarmer]

Originally Posted by layson

Get a chance to check the alignment and check to see if castor is in check?

I haven't done that but I sure can.

[Motomez]

Have your alignment Tech get close to 5 degrees of Positive caster that should fix the problem. Have the Tech also check your Ball joints and the Ball joint on the end of your Track bar for excessive end play. I just replaced mine after 20K .

Good Luck

[PFarmer]

Originally Posted by Motomez

Have your alignment Tech get close to 5 degrees of Positive caster that should fix the problem. Have the Tech also check your Ball joints and the Ball joint on the end of your Track bar for excessive end play. I just replaced mine after 20K .

Good Luck

Thank you so much, I'll take your recommendations with me to the alignment shop when I go on Monday. I'm afraid to hope it's not something major, lol. I forgot to mention that the ball joint on the factory track bar looked fine. No noticeable or uneven wear and no excessive end play. But I'll make sure that they check the ball joints too..pretty sure I'll want them to go through everything. Thanks!

[layson]

Might not be a bad idea to throw that icon track rod back in too.

It can be hard to tell on the factory track rod joint, sometimes it feels tight but it really has some play in it. Hard to tell by hand, it doesn't take much to make things fubar.

[Motomez]

An Easy way to check the Track Bar bushing is to have someone turn the wheel back and forth with the engine running and the their foot on the brake. You can see the Track bar move from side to side and up and down if it is worn out.

[TheRobenator]

Also look to getting an aftermarket shock absorber setup.

[Big_Smokey]

Ball joints fixed mine at 35000 miles and replaced track bar.steering shock was bad also

[PFarmer]

Originally Posted by Motomez

An Easy way to check the Track Bar bushing is to have someone turn the wheel back and forth with the engine running and the their foot on the brake. You can see the Track bar move from side to side and up and down if it is worn out.

Yes, thank you... I did that, there was no up and down play.