Death Wobble
 

99 Ram 1500, when trucks gets up to 40-50 mph and I hit a pothole it wobbles-shimmys real bad. So bad that it jerks the steering wheel and I must come pretty much a dead stop for it to quit.
Several shops have checked it out with no luck, changed front shocks, aligned front end, rotated tires and all with no luck.
Searched google and heard about death wobble as it was called naming the track bar as possible problem.

Does anyone have any idea what might cause this...

Thanks

Track bar, Ball Joints, tie rod ends, BFGoodrich tires, steering gearbox, some other less likely things also.

Have you recently added a leveling kit? Caster angle can play a huge factor

As an update we changed the following:
Front and rear shocks
Front and rear brakes
Wheel Spindle
Both fron calipers
Pitman Arm

Steering wheel has lots of play in it also

Play is prolly from steering box.

Change the track bar? Still get death wobble?

you can replacing just the track bar bushing too. First thing- I would make sure that the bushing on the driver side isn't lose. I took a socket, beaker bar, and a big ole cheater bar on mine before I started throwing parts at it

I agree with all except the BGGoodrich. I am on my second ram and have had BFGoodrich on all of them with out any tire problems at all. I have had 4 sets of 315 all terrain ta ko style.

I just wish I could find a pic that nice for a stock configuration(stock parts). ;)

BFG Tires
 

Its always debated. But- on my 06, I replaced BJs, TREs, new steering stabilzers, gearbox shaft stabilizer, 08.5 steering upgrade- twice due to it kept shaking. And experimented with all the caster angles. Everything was tight, and many on cumminsforum and suspension gurus said ditch the BFGs.

So I Finally ponied up for new tires and 20k since without a single shake :D

Toyo, Nittos, and Yokohama are the best at resisting the instability :icon_beerchug:

On Edit: I could link you some external threads if you'd like :)

I appreciate the info Moochoff. I am personally not a fan of Nittos. They do not last very long for my driving style. I have had only one set and it lasted 35k. I do 50% road and 50% sand 4x4ing. My Bfgs always last 70k with nails in them and some times I actually go to discount tire and have them repaired all with no problems. I am not going to say they are the smoothest compared to the feel other brands have on road manners. For example I wouldn't use Bfgs on a car but on a 4x4 truck always. They last longer than any tire and take punctures way better. If I drove a two wheel drive I would probalby use a Michelin brand. Before I got my wife a 4x4 tundra I always put to Michelin brands on her cars and they are awesome. I have a few friends down here that always try and have me switch to the Toyos or Cumhoes or Yokies and I won't do it. When I am getting 50/50 on/off road 70k mileage out of a tire I won't change, again. I did try it once.