Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
Hi I am Lee from Salina Ks. I was looking for a Dodge pickup and while doing so research discovered the Power Wagon model so I stared looking for one.
I bought one in Frisco Texas some 365 miles from home. I bought it from a dealership under the false pretenses to was completely road worthy. I must say the truck is in fantastic condition on the inside and out. The problem was when driving over 45mph it would develop a sudden and severe case of the death wobble. I didn't know if any of you have driven 365 miles at 42 mph but let's just say you get to enjoy the scenery along the way. My first attempts to fix it was on the road trip home with a $70 steering stabilizer, then $50 for new track bar bushings nether was the fix.
So after my long drive home I have been working on fixing my death wobble issue. I have replaced the upper and lower control arm bushings with polyurethane bushings $118. Upper and lower Raybestos balljoints $250. New T type Mopar steering linkage $275. New piton arm $45. Yukon free spin hub conversion $1651 and new Splicer front axle shafts u-joints for $140. The steering gearbox looks like it has no play in it so it's going to stay in place for now.
Today I take to to get the front end aligned and I can hardly wait to drive it 75 Mph.
I bought one in Frisco Texas some 365 miles from home. I bought it from a dealership under the false pretenses to was completely road worthy. I must say the truck is in fantastic condition on the inside and out. The problem was when driving over 45mph it would develop a sudden and severe case of the death wobble. I didn't know if any of you have driven 365 miles at 42 mph but let's just say you get to enjoy the scenery along the way. My first attempts to fix it was on the road trip home with a $70 steering stabilizer, then $50 for new track bar bushings nether was the fix.
So after my long drive home I have been working on fixing my death wobble issue. I have replaced the upper and lower control arm bushings with polyurethane bushings $118. Upper and lower Raybestos balljoints $250. New T type Mopar steering linkage $275. New piton arm $45. Yukon free spin hub conversion $1651 and new Splicer front axle shafts u-joints for $140. The steering gearbox looks like it has no play in it so it's going to stay in place for now.
Today I take to to get the front end aligned and I can hardly wait to drive it 75 Mph.
- FirerescuePW
- 1000_Posts
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- Location: North Wales, PA
Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
Nice find, and welcome!
It looks like you hit almost everything. You didn't mention the tires. Brand? Load rating? Age?
Your caster adjustment could have alot to do with it as well. Good luck. Keep us posted.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
It looks like you hit almost everything. You didn't mention the tires. Brand? Load rating? Age?
Your caster adjustment could have alot to do with it as well. Good luck. Keep us posted.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
'05 Mineral Gray Power Wagon QC #1005
WINCH MOB PROUD!
SuperChips FlashPaq; DT ProFab Steering Brace; 08.5 Steering linkage (twice); Toyo Open Country M/T 35/12.50x17; Carli front diff guard; Rockcrusher rear diff cover; White Knuckle Offroad Rock Rails; Carli 3"coils, track bar, and High Clearance Control Arms; Carli King 2.5" Remote Resi Shocks; Reflex spray-in liner; Extang Trifecta tonneau cover; Pop Lock electric tailgate lock (OOS); Tekonsha Prodigy brake control; LEDS & Strobes & Siren; Winch TPS Bypass; Warn Wireless Remote; Dog hair, and a BIG Wish List!
WINCH MOB PROUD!
SuperChips FlashPaq; DT ProFab Steering Brace; 08.5 Steering linkage (twice); Toyo Open Country M/T 35/12.50x17; Carli front diff guard; Rockcrusher rear diff cover; White Knuckle Offroad Rock Rails; Carli 3"coils, track bar, and High Clearance Control Arms; Carli King 2.5" Remote Resi Shocks; Reflex spray-in liner; Extang Trifecta tonneau cover; Pop Lock electric tailgate lock (OOS); Tekonsha Prodigy brake control; LEDS & Strobes & Siren; Winch TPS Bypass; Warn Wireless Remote; Dog hair, and a BIG Wish List!
- Cactus Red
- Moderator
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- Joined: Sun May 20, 2012 6:43 pm
- Location: Chino Valley, AZ.
Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
Welcome to the crew!
Sounds like you covered things pretty well. Have the guys inspect the panhard/track bar too - it may show play when up on the rack. If it's worn or loose, it can cause death wobble and wandering.
Mark
Sounds like you covered things pretty well. Have the guys inspect the panhard/track bar too - it may show play when up on the rack. If it's worn or loose, it can cause death wobble and wandering.
Mark
I'm just along for the ride...
- verdesardog
- 500_Posts
- Posts: 989
- Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 11:24 am
- Model Year: 2006
Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
Good looking truck! I was looking at trucks online several years ago, TX had a lot of clean looking turcks for a reasonable price but futher looking found shady practices from the dealers online. So I just found one locally.
2006 Big Horn 2500 Ram CTD. IMAGINE ALL THE PEOPLE LIVING LIFE IN PEACE
Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
Tires are not the stock tires however they the E rated Bfg just like the truck came from the factory with. The track bar was one of the first items I looked at on the way home. I have never had a brand new power wagon however this truck will now run down the highway at 75 - 80 with not even the slightest of a wiggle. I think it will make the perfect tow rig for my Tj.
I was trailering my Jeep behind a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee it also had a Hemi motor. It pulled it fine however a panic stop was just that a PANIC!
I am betting this Power Wagon will tow it a lot better then the little Jeep did, time will tell.
I was trailering my Jeep behind a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee it also had a Hemi motor. It pulled it fine however a panic stop was just that a PANIC!
I am betting this Power Wagon will tow it a lot better then the little Jeep did, time will tell.
Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
That's a nice pw....hope alls well
- 05PWrockcrawler
- 1000_Posts
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- Joined: Sat Mar 30, 2013 10:56 pm
Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
- Cactus Red
- Moderator
- Posts: 1862
- Joined: Sun May 20, 2012 6:43 pm
- Location: Chino Valley, AZ.
Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
Gotta love a red PW...
Sent via gigawatt laser...
Sent via gigawatt laser...
I'm just along for the ride...
- FirerescuePW
- 1000_Posts
- Posts: 1661
- Joined: Sun May 20, 2012 12:51 pm
- Location: North Wales, PA
Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
an '05 red PW, no less! Welcome, and I hope you enjoy your truck as much as we do ours.Cactus Red wrote:Gotta love a red PW...
Sent via gigawatt laser...
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
'05 Mineral Gray Power Wagon QC #1005
WINCH MOB PROUD!
SuperChips FlashPaq; DT ProFab Steering Brace; 08.5 Steering linkage (twice); Toyo Open Country M/T 35/12.50x17; Carli front diff guard; Rockcrusher rear diff cover; White Knuckle Offroad Rock Rails; Carli 3"coils, track bar, and High Clearance Control Arms; Carli King 2.5" Remote Resi Shocks; Reflex spray-in liner; Extang Trifecta tonneau cover; Pop Lock electric tailgate lock (OOS); Tekonsha Prodigy brake control; LEDS & Strobes & Siren; Winch TPS Bypass; Warn Wireless Remote; Dog hair, and a BIG Wish List!
WINCH MOB PROUD!
SuperChips FlashPaq; DT ProFab Steering Brace; 08.5 Steering linkage (twice); Toyo Open Country M/T 35/12.50x17; Carli front diff guard; Rockcrusher rear diff cover; White Knuckle Offroad Rock Rails; Carli 3"coils, track bar, and High Clearance Control Arms; Carli King 2.5" Remote Resi Shocks; Reflex spray-in liner; Extang Trifecta tonneau cover; Pop Lock electric tailgate lock (OOS); Tekonsha Prodigy brake control; LEDS & Strobes & Siren; Winch TPS Bypass; Warn Wireless Remote; Dog hair, and a BIG Wish List!
- Mr.Smith
- 1000_Posts
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- Model Year: 2009
- Location: Fort Collins, CO.
Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
Awesome Power Wagon! 2005(the best year for any Ram in my opinion) & RED to boot! The free-spin with cut-out wheel covers are great, good job!
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Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
How hard was the free spin hub conversion to do? Was that the dynatrac kit?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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if guns kill people
pencils mispell words
cars make people drive drunk
and spoons made rosie o'donnel fat
"The one thing you realize when you aquire your trade standard is you realistically don't know Anything"
pencils mispell words
cars make people drive drunk
and spoons made rosie o'donnel fat
"The one thing you realize when you aquire your trade standard is you realistically don't know Anything"
-
- 2000_Posts
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- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:55 pm
- Location: ontario canada
Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
Haha ya got to love dodge front ends!!if guns kill people
pencils mispell words
cars make people drive drunk
and spoons made rosie o'donnel fat
"The one thing you realize when you aquire your trade standard is you realistically don't know Anything"
pencils mispell words
cars make people drive drunk
and spoons made rosie o'donnel fat
"The one thing you realize when you aquire your trade standard is you realistically don't know Anything"
Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
It was very simple. My truck has zero rust so the hub bearing came right out of the knuckle with little effort. From what I have read that was the step that most have the trouble with. The replacement of the front axle ujoints was a task and the lug studs were a limitless difficult to press in. Overall I would put it a 5 on a scale of 0 being easy and 10 a huge pain in the a**!2wagons1driveway wrote:How hard was the free spin hub conversion to do? Was that the dynatrac kit?
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- 2000_Posts
- Posts: 2970
- Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2013 6:55 pm
- Location: ontario canada
Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
if guns kill people
pencils mispell words
cars make people drive drunk
and spoons made rosie o'donnel fat
"The one thing you realize when you aquire your trade standard is you realistically don't know Anything"
pencils mispell words
cars make people drive drunk
and spoons made rosie o'donnel fat
"The one thing you realize when you aquire your trade standard is you realistically don't know Anything"
- coder
- 1000_Posts
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- Joined: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:18 pm
- Model Year: 2007
- Location: Trabuco Canyon, CA
Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
Hello Beafire, I see your truck came with a set of the elusive original PW rock rails, very nice!
Vehicle: 2007 Power Wagon Quad Cab - Factory Options (Inferno Red, Premium Cloth Bench Seat, Light Group, Automatic Transmission, Leather Steering Wheel)
Suspension: Carli 3" Hemi Coils, Carli Control Arms, Carli King 2.5 Pin-Tops, Carli Stainless Steering Stabilizer, Carli Trackbar | Synergy 1" Rear Shackle
Performance: Magnaflow Muffler | Magnaflow Y-Pipe
Wheels/Tires: Yokohama X-A/T 35x12.5x17
Steering/Drivetrain/Axles: Carli Front Diff Guard | Dynatrac Ball Joints | Mopar HD Steering Gear
Miscellaneous: Line-X Bedliner | Locker Bypass Switch | Mopar Rock Rails | Odyssey Extreme 65-PC1750T | Performance Friction Brake Pads | Weathertech Digital Fit Mats | Winch Thermal Protection Bypass
Suspension: Carli 3" Hemi Coils, Carli Control Arms, Carli King 2.5 Pin-Tops, Carli Stainless Steering Stabilizer, Carli Trackbar | Synergy 1" Rear Shackle
Performance: Magnaflow Muffler | Magnaflow Y-Pipe
Wheels/Tires: Yokohama X-A/T 35x12.5x17
Steering/Drivetrain/Axles: Carli Front Diff Guard | Dynatrac Ball Joints | Mopar HD Steering Gear
Miscellaneous: Line-X Bedliner | Locker Bypass Switch | Mopar Rock Rails | Odyssey Extreme 65-PC1750T | Performance Friction Brake Pads | Weathertech Digital Fit Mats | Winch Thermal Protection Bypass
Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
Thanks, they are for sale on this forum, I got tired of jumping out of the truck every time I stopped so I took them off and replaced them with a set of Bestop powerboard nx. It may not have been the Power Wagon thing to do but I personally like them very much you can't even tell that they are on the truck until the door opens and then ka-pow! There they are.coder wrote:Hello Beafire, I see your truck came with a set of the elusive original PW rock rails, very nice!
- stamm20
- 50_Posts
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- Model Year: 2007
- Location: Greenville, NC
Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
do you like the raybestos ball joints? I am in dire need of some and have been looking around for some also which ones did you go with I see they have a few different choices?
07 Brilliant Black Power Wagon
Current Mods: 35x12.50x17 Kelly Fierce Attitude M/T, DiabloSport Predator tuner, 3in Super 40 with 3in dump, TPS bypass, Pioneer touch screen Nav System with ipod hookup, Carli front diff gaurd, Fox adjustable steering stabilizer, Mopar steering box upgrade weathertec floor mats, Fox 2.0 performance shocks, hardwired lockers, evo swaybar disconnect
Yea Though I wheel through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: For thou lockers are with me;
Thy lift and thy tires, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a spotter before me in the presence of mine obstacles
Current Mods: 35x12.50x17 Kelly Fierce Attitude M/T, DiabloSport Predator tuner, 3in Super 40 with 3in dump, TPS bypass, Pioneer touch screen Nav System with ipod hookup, Carli front diff gaurd, Fox adjustable steering stabilizer, Mopar steering box upgrade weathertec floor mats, Fox 2.0 performance shocks, hardwired lockers, evo swaybar disconnect
Yea Though I wheel through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: For thou lockers are with me;
Thy lift and thy tires, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a spotter before me in the presence of mine obstacles
-
- 50_Posts
- Posts: 137
- Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2014 9:26 pm
Re: Noob 2005 death wobble story and fix.
I actually almost bought this exact PW!!! They said someone had gotten to it first!! Guess I found the guy lol
2005 Dark Gray PW K&N air filter, straight piped, Bilstien 5100