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With all due respect, there are a number of things that can make the problem go away for awhile, including work described in TSB 22-005-06, but trust me: it's an alignment issue; usually not enough positive caster.

I've been over this a 1000 times and people will still go ahead and buy new (insert here trackbar/balljoints/shocks/tires/whatever) and claim that the problem is "fixed". That's just not the case. No new steering damper or whatever is going to "fix" Death Wobble.....although it may not show up for awhile.

This is nothing new and the Jeep guys have been dealing with this forever. In my impromptu investigation, the vast majority of DW complaints came from guys who used the 2" front leveling kit (guess that changes the caster specs, huh!) and larger load range D tires (usually 315 BFG's) or some other lift kit.

Here's some good reading although I would suggest that some of the reasons listed aren't really the root cause, but rather the weak link (the text points that out in at least one case);


http://www.yuccaman.com/jeep/dw.html



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Dave

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Am I expecting too much

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I have to ask you what do you expect at 115,000 miles. It only gets worse from here. Not to many years ago crossing the 100,000 mile mark was an achievement. Suck it up and get it fixed.

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Am I expecting too much for a $30,000 pickup that's led an easy life to be worn out already? I already mentioned that the worthless Hemi uses oil when it pulls hard...but that's another story!

Thanks for everyones help. Most was all good advice.

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Am I expecting too much

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I have to ask you what do you expect at 115,000 miles. It only gets worse from here. Not to many years ago crossing the 100,000 mile mark was an achievement. Suck it up and get it fixed.

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My 03 Ram 2500 Quad Cab 4x4 has developed an intermittent front end shimmy that I haven't been able to find. It is getting worse to the point that it is dangerous.

Truck has 115,000 highway miles. It shouldn't be worn out by now. I thought that it might be the stabilizer shock...replaced it...still the same.

Rotated front tires to rear....still does it.

All tie rod ends and tracking bar seem to be tight. Truck does not wear tires. Steers straight down the road....you can let go of the wheel and it takes a long time to veer to the side of the road.

It usually happens when you hit a rough part of the road, and it once shook so bad that I lost both front hubcaps...You have to almost stop to get it to quit.

Has anyone else experienced this? My 97 CTD Ram drives perfect and it has 300,000 miles. Are the newer ones that much worse of a truck?

Also, while I am ranting, the 5.7 Hemi in a work truck is almost worthless. No wonder they are such a gas hog when maximum torque is in the 4,000 rpm range and the horsepower that they brag about is at 5,200rpm. This thing also uses a quart of oil every 1,000 miles when you pull it hard. Is that normal, too?
thanks

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YUP I KNOW WHAT YOUR GOING THROUGH
My 06 Ram 4x4 at 20,000 miles needed brakes, tierods and lower ball joints.I was told the parts they are putting on these trucks are too light duty!
I'm not hard on a vehicle but DAM! this is way too soon for this to be happening without warranty!

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Am I expecting too much

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I have to ask you what do you expect at 115,000 miles. It only gets worse from here. Not to many years ago crossing the 100,000 mile mark was an achievement. Suck it up and get it fixed.

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I guess that I am expecting too much. I realize that parts wear out. I also figured that a $30,000.00 Dodge should have been a better truck than my $500.00 98 Chev. Guess that I was wrong!

It appears that the problem is common with these trucks...even with a lot fewer miles than mine has. Sounds like not one individual repair is a guaranteed fix. So far, it sounds like I probably should not only replace the balljoints, but also the tracking bar, tie rod's, etc. And even then, there is no guarantee that the problem will go away! Sounds like good old Chrysler even knows about this. I wonder how many times that an unsuspecting driver has lost control when their good old Dodge decided to dance??????????

My Hemi is well maintained...pcv valve, is good. It is just that in order to get any power you have to keep the RPM's up...these engines have very little bottom end torque. They might be a great engine for a 1/2 ton pickup that hauls groceries, but it was a poor choice to pull a heavy load.

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Sometimes I think my posts are invisible or something! I only have two last things to say;

- 1) I've already told you (twice) what your problem is. Fix it and move on.

- 2) at 115,000 miles you can expect to replace (or have already replaced) virtually all front end and other wear components including ball joints, tie rods, shocks, steering stabilizers, u-Joints, etc. I currently own ten trucks including five Dodges, four Fords and one GMC and I've owned dozens more in all brands.......I think you are expecting a little much if you haven't anticipated these maintenance items to need replacing by 115,000 miles. You may have gotten lucky and had better luck with your '98 GMC but that hasn't been my experience. And yes, the Hemi is a little light on torque for heavy towing (hence all the Cummins' powered trucks in my sig)

Cheers and good luck,

Dave

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with the diagnosis but I would expect to find it has too much positive caster (forward tilt of the axle) because if it had too little it would tend to wander and follow the crown of the road.

Kevin

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The late 90's through 01 4x4 Ram's are notorious for steering wander.

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YUP I KNOW WHAT YOUR GOING THROUGH
My 06 Ram 4x4 at 20,000 miles needed brakes, tierods and lower ball joints.I was told the parts they are putting on these trucks are too light duty!
I'm not hard on a vehicle but DAM! this is way too soon for this to be happening without warranty!

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....I have customers that have gotten over 60K on original brakes on trucks like yours....and they're TOWING!! You are gettin after it pretty hard if you are eating brakes at 20k.

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Put a Rancho steering stabilizer on it and be done

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OK, OK I give up; yes DW is caused by worn out steering stabilizers: replacing it will fix the problem every time no matter what your alignment settings and condition of the rest of your front end components.


Dave

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Lefty, can the caster be adjusted in my driveway or must it go to the alignment shop? Could you walk us through how to adjust it? Thanks.

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I don't have the correct tools needed for the final wheel alignment. I leave some stuff for people I trust that have the right equipment, skills and do it all day long. I have a local guy who works from a shop in his home who does all my cars and truck. He has his garage setup with a pit and alignment rack. Lucky SOB! You can tell he know his work well as you never know what you will see when you roll up. Cool custom hot rods to moms minivan...