Dodge Ram death wobble

[torredcuda]

I experienced what I now know as death wobble for the second time the other day!I posted this on a couple truck boards-

This is not vibration or shake from an alignment or balance issue but a very violent shake from hitting a pot hole or rough section of road at anything over 60 mph.I have checked and or replaced-wheel bearings,ball joints,tie rods,shocks-good HD Monroes,steering stabilizer,sway bar end links,tires are good and brakes are new in front and fine in back.Truck was inspected last week and was gone over thoroughly and passed.I have been in trucks that bounce or chatter-buddys ranger- and shocks cured the problem.This is 10x worse than any shake I have ever felt and I and other motorists can visbly see the truck shaking up and down 2-3" side to side and dosen`t stop till I pull over and slow down below 35 mph.Truck has 95,000 miles,short bed,extra cab,tow and plow prep packages,runs and drives fine otherwise.What could be causing this?Where/what else can I check or replace?I am now afarid to drive the truck on the highway again!

Most guys point to a possible worn track bar as I have pretty much replaced everything else.Someone recommended a Thuren track bar which is supposedly much better than stock but almost $300.I guess it`s worth it to eleminate the death wobble which scares the crap out of you when it happens in rush hour traffic.Do a search for Dodge Ram death wobble and you`ll have lots of reading to keep you busy.

[Challenger6pak]

What year is the truck.  90's??

[chevyconvert]

oh boy...never heard of the "death wobble" (DT for short).Now I'm a semi-expert

 Just Google: Dodge Death Wobble..... and read on for hours   

Does anyone know if this is still an issue on the '07's?

[tactransman]

Torred,worn track bar is the number one problem for the "Death Wobble" I am interested in the Thuren bar as well. My '99 truck has 88.000 miles on it and the track bar was worn out.  
Here is some more info on these trucks steering problems:
 http://www.rocksolidramtrucksteering.com/
http://bulletproofsteering.com/main.html

 

[67vertman]

Wow, I never knew the term for it until now.  "Death Wobble" 

I had this happen to my 1998 Ram 1500 at 44,000 miles.  luckly for me, my truck was still under warranty.  The dealer replaced the steering shaft.  It would have cost me $1200 if not for the warranty.

I hope this isn't your probablem as well.

[JH27N0B]

What is the "track bar"?  I had the exact same symptoms over 20 years ago with my old '79 Bronco, I didn't call it a "death wobble", I called it a PITA when I would have to pull over on the shoulder and stop for a second to make it stop.  Replacing the worn out drag link took care of that problem.
I just looked at my '95 Ram 4X4 and it has a front end component that looks sort of like a drag link? Is that called a track bar now?

[tactransman]

What is the "track bar"?

OEM on top,better after market on the bottom.

[RUSTY Cuda]

Not an expert here but my son had that happen to our 99 short bed ram, it's 4 wheel drive & pretty sure it was a universal joint in the right front, hasn't happened since that was replaced Rich.

[71bigblock]

My '94 has 143000 on it, I have driven it for over 10k, I have never experienced it, but I've heard a lot about it before. 

I hope I never do.   

[Rare_T_A]

I have heard of the problem before. My guess in the track bar also. My 98 has now got 150K on it and thank god I have never had this problem and the factory bar is still on the truck.

[Chryco Psycho]

The stabilizer & wheel brgs are the usual suspects , the track bars are also a piece of crap too

[Aussie Challenger]

  As an Aussie I am not experienced with the Dodge Ram ( I would like to own one though ), however I have experienced similar problems on a few local vehicles. The fix was either to install a damper or horizontally mounted shock absorber or there was a problem with the steering box being worn inside or loose on the chassis rail.   
  Just a couple of suggestions. 

[torredcuda]

Truck is a `97 with tow and plow prep package,Dana 60`s front and rear,all stock suspension.Since I`ve chewcked or replaced pretty much everything else the track bar is the most likely problem.DT seems to happen mainly to coil spring front ends as the only thing really holding the axle in place side to side is the track bar.I just need to decide which track bar to get-Moog replacement,ThurenDT profab or Solid Steel `02 bar retro fit.

[71fish]

replaced the trackbar in mine (96 Ram 4x4).. death wobble went away for now. But if your shock are worn.. that may be the 1st culprit.

71fish

[torredcuda]

Shocks are only a month or so old-Monroe HD gas.