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Guys,
I do this work everyday. and I own one. The only way to get rid of caster shake if you do not have any worn front end parts is to adjust caster angle. The best alignments on those trucks are done with a tape measure not a machine. Im sure alot of you also have a right hand pull with larger ties or a lift that no one can seam to make go away. To adjust your caster angle look at your lower control arms at the axle...... role those cams to where the bolts are at around 4-5 o'clock on the drivers side, and 7-8 o'clock on the passenger when looking at them from the side of the truck, you will also notice much tighter handleing too. Take a freind and a tape measure and toe the truck in 1/4" and adjust your steering wheel after that at the pitman/short tierod if needed. For those of you witht the right hand "camber" generated pull, Cross your cams..... put the drivers cam at 8 o'clock and the passenger the same when looking at them from the side of the truck..... "yes they are crossed!!!" then adjust the toe the same 1/4" in and set your wheel. and you should be good to go. Steering dampeners just band-aid the problem, it will still try to do it, you now just have a little help. I ran 37x14.50's for a year with no dampener, not even factory, I have duals now just for the look! The recalls on track bars and tie-rods is just for a strength issue that dodge dealt with that was changed on '08s and was recalled and fixed on previous models. Give my suggestions a shot, Im sure you will be pleased. Also, balljoints are funnny on these things, I have seen trucks with 20k have all 4 out and then some with 100k still good.... bizarre. Either way, worn out components will do this too, but it looked like this wasn't a worn part issue, so my suggestion should work.
Sean
A buddy of mine suggested the same thing after trying for hours do do an alignment, he called a friend that works at a dodge dealer and got this info.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ajon
air down the tires, powerwagon is stock 60psi try going lower at about 5psi at a time. its geometry problem on the PW.
Also...very good advise. Used to run 50 front and 60 rear. New tires are at 40 psi front and rear. So far so good.
Now that my ac went out this morning (TSB 24-004-02) Lack of Air at Panel Vents...I have something new to work on. Thank you domestic car manufactures! I have to drop my steering column, pull my dash and install new ac panel door and springs. Just got the parts a few minutes ago. Cranked it up this morning and got two blocks from the house and heard a LOUD crack, instantly hot ac air. I read about this bulletin when I was researching the death wobble.
There are a number of factors blamed for the death wobble, most seem to think worn ball joints or low air pressure, I upgraded my steering to the new style and have yet to experience it on my dodge, but when I was younger I had a lifted Cherokee that would turn into a death machine from 35-45 usually a pot hole or a bump in the road set it off.....Death wobbles are a scary feeling but hopefully the dealer can get it sorted out, on a side note I also upgraded my trac-bar and went with a thoren unit, that guy makes some really nice stuff for dodges and if your truck is lifted you can't go wrong with what he offers........ p.m. if you want more info from a guy that's been down this road and done all the research....
Tight Lines
Monty
Monty, I need the info on the "death wobble." I just about got in a head on collission this morning!
Monty,,,, Kevin 910-279-1556 or kcook@bakerroofing.com Need that info on "death wobble." Almost had a head on collision this morning! Dealership is ignorant!
I own a 4x4 parts company and deal with death wobble on a daily basis! Have no experience personally with the power wagon but lots of experience with jeeps. Which have the same style suspension as the dodge. Usually its due to worn parts.
Dw is a bitch.
If you need anything for the truck shoot me a pm. We have lift kits from all the major brands.. tonneau's, diesel stuff, shocks
By the way you guys might want to consider dual steering stabilizer kits. They drastically reduce if not eliminate dw in most cases. How many miles on the trucks?
Lower tire psi does help. Well balanced tires are a must. Ask the guy who balances them how close they are. Sometimes tires just need to be replaced. Alignment is of course a must, and usually the first thing to check
Sorry to hear about the blend doors. They are a chronic problem on grand cherokees with the electronic climate system. I had to replace mine recently, total pain in the ass
Wow that is scarry! after reading 3 pages of this. I own a 97 diesel
And have the dreaded 11 oclock to 1 oclock drift, after many ad ons and adjustments it is now 10 ocock to 2 o clock drift but No wobble at high speed like you guys got with your newer trucks. I have 4 w drive , 33s and a little extra ponies for towing on my 12 valve. I guess I will keep my 97 a little longer and try new tie rod ends.
I changed my steering box on mine 04 2500 and my friends 05 2500 that also had the death wobble, see previous post on here. the front end components were a little worn but not much. The steering box took all the death wobble away on both our trucks. Also have 3 other friends that had thier steering box changed with total success. I changed the steering damper and shocks 6 months ago but it didnt take it totally away. it just hid the affects of the wobble, would still happen on bad bumps.
Oh, so that's what that is! I just saw an older jacked up Jeep Cherokee in VA doing that - both front wheels shimmying back and forth like crazy. Thought it was just him....
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Monty,,,, Kevin 910-279-1556 or kcook@bakerroofing.com Need that info on "death wobble." Almost had a head on collision this morning! Dealership is ignorant!
I'll give you a call tomorrow, see what we can come up with......
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bly
And have the dreaded 11 oclock to 1 oclock drift, after many ad ons and adjustments it is now 10 ocock to 2 o clock drift but No wobble at high speed like you guys got with your newer trucks. I have 4 w drive , 33s and a little extra ponies for towing on my 12 valve. I guess I will keep my 97 a little longer and try new tie rod ends.
Bly
Try looking at the steering shaft from the column to the steering box to ensure there is no play in it, I had to replace mine as the sheer pin was wallowed out and gave the truck a horrible drifting feeling, once the shaft was replaced it was like driving a brand new truck, hope this helps....... In hind sight I didn't have to replace mine, I could have drilled the sheer pin out and put a bolt in it but being that it was steering I didn't want to shortcut it, although it would have probably been fine, I went with an aftermarket shaft....I can dig the link up for the company I got it from if your interested..........
Monty
Cure for death wobble:
~Aftermarket Tracbar: Thuren Fabrication or Carli
~Upper AND Lower Balljoints: Carli or Dynatrac
~08.5 Dodge Steering Upgrade OR Thuren HD Steering Kit (Upgrading to Thuren's HD kit when I get $$$)
~E-Load Range tires
~Correct alignment
Additional goodies to make your Dodge HD handle ALOT better:
~Aftermarket Steering Stabalizer (Bilstein, Fox or King)
~PSC or BD Steering Box Brace
~Borgeson Steering Shaft
~New U-Joints
For the record I have an 06 Power Wagon and I have an aftermarket tracbar (Thuren) , upper and lower balljoints (Carli), a PSC Steering Box Brace, 35x12.50 Toyo MT's (load range E), and my alignment is spot on. I have never had death wobble. In the future, just to improve steering feel, I will purchase Thuren's HD steering kit, a Borgeson steering shaft, a high quality steering stabalizer, and new front u-joints.