Ford Super Duty Death Wobble Fix
If you’re not familiar with the Death Wobble, it’s an issue related to a solid front axle when the steering wheel shakes violently due to an imbalance in the steering components.
Although experiencing the Death Wobble is scary – the solution turned out to be simple.
After talking with Jim’s Alignment, they said they see just as many RAM’s as Fords to correct the Death Wobble as it’s an issue related to all solid front axles, but it’s important to mention that RAM upgraded their steering link joints with heavy-duty parts after 2014.
The Fix:
Once you identify the joint (or joints) that have even the slightest movement, replace those parts first. In our case, it was the drag link joint, but subscribers have sent us emails saying it was the tie rod joints.
We were going to get the factory recall done first to share if that correction would work alone, but the parts were backorder and we didn’t want to wait before hitting the road again.
It was recommended to us to install a duel stabilizer kit to not only takes the force off the joints to prevent pre-mature wear again but also stop any imbalance from happening. It’s important to know that the stabilizer kit is not the solution or correction. It’s critical to identify what is triggering the imbalance and not just damper or mask it with the stabilizing kit.
After installing the stabilizing kit… something happened we were not expecting. The truck drives smoother and tighter than it did brand new!
You have probably experienced when going over a bump or rough road that the surface of the road is transferred to the steering wheel. That doesn’t happen anymore. It’s as if the rough surface stays under the truck. With two days of towing since this video was recorded, we LOVE the way the truck is handling poor road conditions.
And due to the quality of the Icon gas-charged shocks, it hasn’t added any resistance to the steering wheel. Regardless of the infamous Death Wobble, I’ll be adding a duel stabilizer to all my trucks.
2005-2020 F250 & F350 ICON Dual Steering Stabilizer Kit 36511-65000
Stage 3 Motorsports is offering all KYD subscribers 10% off the Icon Dual Stabilizer kit.
Just use KYD10 to get the discount only available through the end of February.
As mentioned in the video, they didn’t sponsor the video nor is this an affiliate link – just a savings to you!
We’ve already traveled over 1,000 miles east hitting potholes almost every hour with not only no wobble, but far less movement in the steering wheel.
We couldn’t be happier with the performance of this kit.
Stage 3 Motorsports Installation video
Summit 4X4 Company out of Prescott, AZ installed our kit and if you’re in the area, we highly recommend Summit. But if you turn your own wrenches, the install is pretty simple. Stage 3 Motorsports offers an install video that you can check out below.
Have you or anyone you have talked to experienced the “Death Wobble” in an F450? I have a new 2021, and have had zero issues, so just leaning forward here. It may be that the wide track or rather the wide track components have eliminated this condition.
I have a 2019 F450, only approx 9K miles, I do get a mild shimmy through potholes, maybe 2 or 3 mild wiggles before it damps out. I’m just monitoring it or now, nice to know Ford is extending the warranty and that there is a fix if and when I need to address it.
Ford says there is no problem
We didn’t experience it ours, but I confirmed it has happened in others. I’d suggest gettting the dual stabilizing kit and it will not only drive and steer better, but prevent the joints wearing prematurely.
I have a 2018 F450. I have searched, unsuccessfully, for a steering stabilizer kit that fits an F450. Kits say they fit F250 and F350, but do not include the F450. I suspect the F450 may have a slightly larger front axle. Also, the much improved turning radius may have an impact. Has anyone discovered a steering stabilizer kit for the F450?
My 450 just did it for the first time. 2019. Holy shit it’s scary on the highway
My 2012 F250 DIESEL just did the DEATH wobble.. SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME! Just got the Dealership to Replace brakes, calipers & etc because SPARKS was coming from under it. ONLY 108,000 miles on it! NEVER have I had to do this on Any of my F350’s! COST TO MUCH for this to happen!
I was already eyeing a dual stabilzer kit for our almost new 2020 SD – because I Never want to experience death wobble. Towing a trailer is fraught enough already. This confirms it. Thanks!
PS – KYD is the only YouTube videos We always watch as soon as they drop.
So I just experienced my 1st wobble on my 2018 F350 with only 36k miles
You flashed a real notice #, I don’t see it here, would you please post it.
Thank You
Andy Poplawski
Andy,
I recall getting a notice in the mail but my wife and I can not fid it. Have you been able to find a copy of the notice? I have a 2018 F250 with 38k miles and we just experienced the death wobble.
My F350 just had a death wobble while hauling my horse, just missed hitting a semi! So scary! Did you install The stabilizer on your F350?
I’m assuming there is no recall on this issue
Just wondering, did they leave the original steering damper on or did they remove it went they installed the dual steering stabilizer kit? TIA!!
I left my factory one installed and added a dual.
Can you share why you chose the ICON solution over other single and dual stabilizer setups? Just wondering if there was something about this setup that made it better, in your opinion. I recently picked up a 2017 F350 that I will be using to tow a camper later this year when we head out on the road. It has death wobble. I am having all of the steering linkage checked out and I want to upgrade the stabilizer. Glad to hear you are happy with this one.
I would also like to know why you chose the Icon over Fox or Kelderman dual steering setups. Thanks for making the video, very informative. I have a 2018 F350 and am looking to do this upgrade.
Thanks for the video and looking forward to the update on how your solution works out.
I have a 2019 F-250 and with only around 5,000 miles on it hit a pot hole going about 50 mph in West Virginia last year and experienced the wobble.
When we got home from camping received the Ford letter on their solution.
When I go into have my truck serviced this spring I’ll have them check all the joints.
With that few of miles on it that should not happen.
I thought their solution wasn’t much of a fix.
I do love my Ford also.
Love the channel.
I love how you say that none of this was sponsored expect for the actual part which cost $600 and you got it for free. I think I might just go to the dealer and have it corrected under warranty work.
I was having jumpy steering over bumps in the road; it wasn’t the death wobble. I replaced the stock steering dampener with a King dampener, and it cured it. I have not noticed any extra steering effort either.
Hi Marc, Can you tell if they added a spacer between the front bump stops and it’s mount? The directions say it will be necessary for stock ride height trucks to prevent the bracket from contacting the frame under the engine under full suspension travel. Also did you leave the stock steering stabilizer on?
Do you guys hear how crazy this is? You spend 60 to 100K on a truck and still have to spend money to make it drivable. Why isn’t Ford fixing this. Who in their right mind thinks this is normal. There will be no more Fords in my driveway.
I’m with you I have a f350 took it back for ware try until they got sick off seeing it. Told me there was nothing else they could do. So I put on special shocks dual stabilizer tipped the front end got it drive way better but it still doesn’t drive as good as my dodge ore my Chevy Ford will have a hard time selling me another truck after the way they treated me on this one
Ok that was no fun. I just experienced the death wobble in my 2019 F250 with 17562 miles. I was on an expressway doing 60 mph. Hit a pot hole and the front in went crazy. Knowing about the death wobble from Marc and Trish’s video it was worse than I expected. And lasted until I was able to slow down on the expressway. I have an appointment at Ford in morning to have it checked out.
Anyone have experience with the Mercedes Sprinter front ends. I’m running at max GVRW and looking to beef up front suspension and rear suspension to reduce the wear and tear the extra weight causes.
Thanks/ I just took a road trip to precott from Bakersfield to have summit do install- very happy- head back to Bakersfield to hitch up and go to fresno for next job (travel nurse)
I have a 2019 F450 with 21k miles. I’ve not had a violent wobble, only a couple Suttle events around 45-50mph that lasted less than a couple seconds. I’ll try Ford’s “free fix” first. I doubt the 450 uses the same kit as the 350. Can you confirm?
Any way to convince Stage3 to extend discount into March? Barely missed it! Looking to purchase the steering stabilizer solution!
Is your truck stock height? I have recently run into this issue. I tow heavy equipment daily with my 19 F350. Looking at the kits if you have a stock height truck you need the 2″ rubber stop spacer to keep clearance. If your truck is stock height did they install the spacer? Has it effected front end ride quality?
Experienced it today towing a 2016 Airstream Classic with our 2016 F250 at about 70mph on an 8 lane highway (I-10). Scared the crap out of me. Was more severe and lasted longer than I expected. 18 wheelers behind slowed and blocked traffic until I got our rig under control. I love Super Duty trucks, but this is ridiculous.
I have a 2006 f-450 lariate with 120k miles. It just started with the death woble and it’s really bad. I used to run tires a bit low as the 110lb is such a stiff ride. Inflating my tires made the ride stiffer but fixed the wobble for a few months. I need to do something fast as I am getting ready to drive to key west with my 16 years old daughter to fix for 3 days and spend some time in key west doing some fun things. I have looked at this video which is the best found so far but like others said I don’t see f-450 in their discriptions
I have a 2008 F250 (151,000 miles) that has a nasty death wobble. It happens almost every time I drive. It’s mostly annoying little shimmy that smooths out after a couple miles. However last week, I got the s#!t scared out of me. I was rolling down a state highway, no pot holes, just mild bumps. When all of a sudden the truck veered toward a trash can, and when I tried to correct it. It veered violently into the oncoming traffic. It’s NEVER done that before! After I got home and changed my pants🤓. I parked the beast, and haven’t driven it since. Since I just watched your video. I’ll be taking the truck and your video over to my garage and have him watch what your talking about. People around here don’t seem to want to try to “fix” the issue. They want to throw parts at it, and hope for the best.
I know this was an older video but I was looking at upgrading the steering stabilizer on my 20’ Ford F-350 when I came across this video. Do you have a lift or leveling kit on your F-250? Icon’s website says that this kit is designed for trucks with lifts or leveling kit. My truck is at stick height, just wanted to make sure this is the right kit for me. Thanks in advance.
We got the death wobble on 2014 F250 SD after about 90k. Cost over 4k to fix. Ditching the F250 and leery of Ford for a while.
Thanks for the video. 2019 F350DRW All of a sudden at 31k, any bump triggers the death wobble, it will not stop until under 30mph. Tons of fun on the interstate highway. I love the truck but this remains a real safety issue.
My 2017 f250 3/4 ton 4wd stock, developed the wobble on vacation from Houston TX to Pagosa Springs.
Occurred again on trip back. I purchased a “kit” and never installed it. Ford warrantied the replacement dampener? as a recall then. Just took the truck in for its 100K maintenance and the recall part showed signs of “wear” so they are now replacing that one as well. My usage shows that this will happen about every 40K -50K miles. I just dug out the “kit” from, still new in box! Will put this one on asap, PMF Suspension out of Tucson, AZ
forgot to put any dates. First occurrence in 12/31/2019. Ford replacing the recall dampener put in on January 2020 and now again in September of 2022,
The fix seems like a puzzle – pinpoint the wiggly joint and swap it out. But the plot thickens with the duel stabilizer kit, which sounds like an extra from a sci-fi flick. It’s like putting a comfy pillow under the truck – no more rough road transfers? Sign me up! And that smoother-than-new driving experience? Total plot twist! Thanks to the author for this riveting tale of truck taming.
It’s been several months since this was posted. Are there any updates? Any more repairs needed? How do it all work out?
My 2017 Chevy Express 2500 van has a very severe death wobble that is becoming more frequent. I’ve had it in the Chevy dealer several times, new tires all around and alignments, but no actual repairs. Thank you for this information!! I love the detail you provide in your information blogs/vids. Having this knowledge will help me as I find a local repair shop to actually fix my van.
I’ve had this happen 3 times on my 2011 F250. The last time, I had just gotten it fixed; I was told it was the ball joints. I’ve only driven it about 200 miles, and it just happened again. I’m glad to find this post, but unhappy to have to throw more money into this truck 🙁
HAVE TWO FORD F-450 TOW TRUCKS WE REPLACE THE FRONT ENDS EVERY 4-6 MONTHS THE TRACK BAR IN THE FRONT STILL GET THE DEATH WOBBLE TALKED TO FORD SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL NO SOLUTIONS THEY KEEP SAYING IT’S BECAUSE OF THE WRECKER BODY I HAVE CARBON FIBER BODYS WHICH ARE LIGHT AND HAVE ADDED WEIGHT TO THE FRONT OF BOTH OF THEM DOES ANYONE HAVE A NY SOLUTIONS BEFORE I TRADE THEM BOTH IN