Death Wobble Service & Repair in Cloverdale
“Our goal is to offer a 5-star experience on a consistent basis”
We have many clients come in for service from all over the Lower Mainland and Greater Vancouver area.
We have specialized in steering and suspension for over 30+ years.
Diagnosing and repairing “death wobble” is a very common service we provide and our suspension techs are very experienced with it.
What is Death Wobble?
First of all you have to understand the dynamics involved before you can fix this issue.
“Death Wobble”
Is a phrase used to describe a quick oscillation of primarily just the steerable wheel(s) of a vehicle.
Vehicles that can experience this oscillation include motorcycles and bicycles, skateboards, and in theory any vehicle with a single steering pivot point.
However, coil-sprung vehicles with a track bar setup such as the Dodge Ram 2500/3500 pick-ups, Jeep WJ, XJ, ZJ, TJ, and JK.
With both stock and after-market suspension lifts may also have this problem.
More INFO
Caster Flutter
One major disadvantage of casters is flutter.
A common example of caster flutter is on a supermarket shopping cart, when one caster rapidly swings side-to-side.
The speed at which caster flutter occurs is based on the weight borne by the caster and the distance between the wheel axle and steering axis.
Flutter occurs when the caster is not in full contact with the ground and therefore its orientation is uncontrollable.
As the caster regains full contact with the ground, it can be in any orientation.
This can cause the vehicle to suddenly move in the direction that the caster is pointed.
Increasing trailing distance can increase stability at higher speeds for wheelchair racing, but may create flutter at lower speeds for everyday use.
Caster flutter can be controlled by adding dampers or increasing the friction of the swivel joints.
This can be accomplished by adding washers to the swivel joint.
The friction increases as the weight on the front of the chair increases.
Anytime the caster begins to flutter, it slows the chair and shifts weight to the front wheels.
Most Common Vehicle Brands Affected
This is a very common issues that are very common to a few automotive brands out there.
The two most common are Dodge 2500/3500 trucks and Jeep WJ, XJ, ZJ, TJ, and JK.
These vehicles have very similar suspension systems that tend to be more prone to this condition.
Even in stock trim(tires, suspension) the “death wobble” symptoms can happen.
Now if you add larger tires and suspension modifications to the mix the chances of death wobble happening increases.
It can be something as simple as the front tires being out of balance or to high air pressure coupled to a worn steering damper.
We have a process in place to diagnose the issues and to repair at a cost effective rate.
We see many manufacturers offer their “fix” to the problem and many times their part will help but 9/10 it is a combination of parts, wheel alignment etc. that will correct the issue.
If you have had the dreaded “death wobble” experience and you do not feel confident driving your vehicle.
Additional Services we offer:
Steering Damper
THE DAMPER (OR STABILIZER, AS IT’S SOMETIMES CALLED) AT THE SAME TIME AS WHATEVER WORN COMPONENTS THAT YOU FIND UNDER THE FRONT END, AS THIS “COMBINATION PUNCH” IS VERY OFTEN MORE EFFECTIVE THAN THE CHANGE CAUSED BY EACH OF THE PARTS ALONE.
DEATH WOBBLE SHAKES EVERYTHING, AND LOOSENS UP OTHER COMPONENTS AT THE SAME TIME.
REPLACING THE DAMPER BY ITSELF OFTEN TIMES DOESN’T ELIMINATE DODGE WOBBLE DIRECTLY, BUT THAT IT OFTEN HELPS WITH SOME OTHER POOR HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS. WHICH CAUSE THE ONSET OF DODGE WOBBLE AND RAM DEATH WOBBLE (SUCH AS WANDERING, FOR INSTANCE) AND A NEW ONE SEEMS TO TIGHTEN UP THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM
Trackbar/Braces
Adjustable Trackbar- HERE
An adjustable track bar is a must for any lifted
- Dodge 2500/3500/ 4×4
- Ford F-250/350/450
- Jeep Wrangler
Dodge for example
This kit is intended for trucks with up to 3″ lift to ensure proper suspension geometry by centering the axle side to side. This will give your Dodge a more stable feel and will help reduce excessive wear on your suspension components.
Built from 1-3/8″ solid steel stock
Center turnbuckle adjustment w/ pinch bolt locking
Greasable, high-durometer poly bushing (frame end)
Heavy duty ball joint pre-installed (axle end)
Can be used with a wide range of lift heights
Compatible with stock and track bar drop brackets
Will work with most other lift kits on the market
Designed to be adjustable between 0-4″ of lift, or used in combination with a track bar bracket for larger lift kits
Steering Brace- HERE
Stabilize the steering gearbox as the factory doesn’t provide enough stabilization for the amount of leverage applied to the box.
This will cause the sector shaft to oscillate when worn rather than rotate; thus causing play and destroying the gearbox.
Many aftermarket manufacturers make a brace that uses the sway bar mounting locations to brace the sector shaft on the outermost leverage point to combat steering wander and death wobble.
There are several manufacturers that make these braces.
Steering Linkage
There are two types of steering linkage factory installed on the front ends of these vehicles; these are most commonly referred to as: “Y” and “T” style. These can be identified by the following picture:
“Y” style was factory installed on 94-2008 Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks. In some 1998-1999 trucks, there was an option for the “T” style steering but it is mainly found on the 2008.5+ vehicles; thus it’s often referred to as the “08.5+ steering upgrade.” Mopar no longer manufactures or supports the “Y” style steering so the logical upgrade path would be to purchase the “T”. We find the Y-style has better geometry and less bump steer while the T style is stronger but more susceptible to bump steer in all circumstances. Given the strength increase of the 08.5+ linkage, we recommend upgrading to the T style as any strength upgrade is welcomed in the Ram’s front end.
Balljoints
Another common cause of death wobble in the 2003+ HD Dodges/Jeep/Ford is worn ball joints. Stock joints normally last anywhere from 20,000-60,000 miles but we’ve seen both extremes from sets lasting 5,000 to 100,000 miles.
Due to this inconsistency, it is imperative to check your ball joints for play often.
Death Wobble Inquiry
Domestic
Whether you have a Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, or any other domestic vehicle, we have the expertise and experience to provide top-notch service for your vehicle.
Transparent communication with our customers is #1 so we will always explain any repairs or services needed in clear and understandable terms.
From routine maintenance to complex repairs, we are committed to providing exceptional service that exceeds your expectations.
Import
Japanese imports are known for their quality, reliability, and innovation, and we strive to uphold those standards with every service we provide.
Our team of technicians is equipped with specialized tools and the latest diagnostic equipment to ensure accurate and efficient repairs and maintenance.
European
Understanding that European cars are sophisticated machines that require specialized knowledge and expertise to properly service and maintain.
That’s why European cars are one of our primary focuses. We employ highly trained technicians who have extensive experience working with European vehicles.
Being equipped with the latest technologies to ensure that your vehicle is repaired and maintained to the highest standards.
Who are Dale's Auto Service
Over the last 40+ years in business, our commitment to quality has helped us maintain the highest level of customer service and technical excellence.
You, the customer, are the most important component of our business. Our team is consistently trying to meet and exceed the demands and needs of our customers.
