2002 F-350 "Death Wabble"

[BANDAID]

On occassion my F-350 two wheel drive vehicle will go into a very severe jerking motion at arround 35 miles per hour after making a turn or for no reason at all driving stright down the road. I have had front end people look it over and have had tie rod ends replaced twice. I can make it do it on occassions by just lightly turning the steeing wheel back and forth quickly several times.

The vehicle has 80,000 miles on it.

Anyone else experience this.

 

[flareside_thunder]

When they looked it over have they checked the alignment, tightness of bolts/fasteners and condition of ALL bushings? Most of the time when I hear about death wobble, it's on a 4wd truck. The only time I've experienced this on a 2wd, there were loose fasteners.

 

[m78]

What type of wheels , tires and any suspension mods ?

 

[BANDAID]

It has all season tires, nothing special. Standard Ford wheels. There has been no modifications to suspension. Does have stainless steel wheel covers.

Last week the front-end guy replaced the "drag link". I suppose you guys may know what that is, I didn't.

 

[blacksnapon]

Proper pressures are very critical. I fixed one once by just installing the correct size tires.

 

[95F350XL]

Worn out steering stabilizer if it has one.

 

[rambler]

what size engine? also have you rotated the tires? could be a few different things,,, ball joings, tie rod, bad tire,, even a stuck caliper,,, ( which I doubt is that )

 

[BANDAID]

This has a 7.3 engine. It is a Type I ambulance. The problem has existed for over six years. It will occur once and then go away for months. Each time it has happened we have taken it to front end shops and they have replaced tie rods, ball joints and now drag link.

It seems to occur when the vehicle has been driven at 60/70 mph and then slowed down to 25 or 30 mph and making a turn at an intersection either to the right or left.

We have rotated tires even replaced tires.

I have been able to make it happen once. Within an hour of it happening with one of our operators, I was driving it about 35mph and shook the stearing wheel about an inch left and right a couple of time. It set up a vibration so bad I had to stop the vehicle to make it stop shakeing.

It has never occured at high speed, but we are concerned about what might happen if it should. We might take it to a automotive springs specialist next to see if there could be some problem with the front springs.

I know you guys have seen it all and we are willing to try anything to eliminate this problem We want to sell it but not if it is dangerous to others.