yes, never experienced it, but I hear it generates laundry......


The people that claim to have fixed it, seem to all say track bar bushings.

I can not believe that nobody has mentioned Volkwagon Beetle! Why back in the 1900's there was a Beetle that had a fifth wheel hitch in the roof with a custom fifth wheel trailer. It was cool because the Beetle could turn around under the fifth wheel. I have never seen one in person but it would be cool to find one and get it back on the road.

Now back to your discussion on more pertinent information.

Brian

My truck was covered under Customer Satisfaction Program 20N04 for what Ford calls sustained steering wheel oscillation. The fix is claimed to be a redesigned steering linkage damper. (I'm parroting what I'm reading.) No doubt Cate&Rob could probably expound on this issue (though we may be getting OT)?

I did look underneath after my dealer installed the new part. All I did was express concern about the issue and they didn't even question it--they replaced the part. (I've never actually experienced an issue.)

They didn't do anything/ check the track bar? The bar with the white tape on it.... for some reason?
I've always thought the dampener helps mask the symptoms, but not fix the cause. But I'm not a mechanic.

Well the op should know something about death wobble now....

Thanks everyone! Death wobble looks very bad. I don't mod my truck or do any off-roading to cause undue stress and wear, but some of you said it can occur with stock trucks. I now have one more thing to worry about!

I noticed the Ram pucks are spaced pretty wide and the Ford & GM look to have a similar spacing. Maybe there is a standard developing.

I appreciate everyone chiming in! This is a great forum.

The “death wobble” is exciting the natural frequency of an entire system with one or more loose connections. This is why fixing the loose connection, be it ball joints, track bar or whatever, usually solves the problem. The other way to do this is to dampen this natural frequency. Like with the damper (looks like a “shock absorber”) on the entire steering system. What Howard is indicating in post 33.

Rob

Yes, the ram pucks are spaced far apart. Bigger footprint is probably stronger... but.... my b&w companion hitch for the ram pucks is too heavy for me to safely load alone. Just another thing to think about. I hear the Ford hitch is lighter.

The first GM Puck system and the Ram puck used the same or very close puck spacing for a while. The New GM's run a smaller spacing similar or the same as the Ford's.

Is one better than the other? Personally I would think wider is better, but you sacrifice weight of the hitch. There is a demising return on width also. At a certain point, you start loosing vertical strength with increasing horizontal strength.

I have owned Fords since the 80's all with 4x4 systems, bot solid and independent front suspensions and have never had the death wobble in any situation - however I did maintain my vehicles alignment and suspension components. Maybe I had a good dealers.

Rob - the GM /interior on the 2024 HD is changing to a better look and higher comfort. We have one (a Chevy 3500 HD) on order.

Jim @MidwestCamper (not on the forum any longer ?) is a retired GM Engineer who has been most helpful in learning about the big 3 strengths and challenges. Certainly there is some allegiance to GM as a former employer and long time "GM guy" but Jim has been most helpful. I too am a long term GM guy while also owning a number of big 3 vehicles over the years along with VW and Acura.

Believe Jim and Brian Country Campers are friends as well where Jim has helped Brian with this process as well.

By the way, our current Duramax has been very reliable owning for nearly 9 years. We have had 4 glow plugs replaced over the years (all under extended warranty most recently a year ago.) Only other item was the fuel gauge sensor replacement at our cost.

Dan

Canyonlight I'm a bit of a GM fan myself. I'm currently on my 4th Dmax.

04-K2500 still in the fleet. I damaged the trans and had it upgraded at my cost. Hydrolocked the motor and changed the bent rod myself. Currently north of 180k miles on the clock
05-C2500 Charged air cooler upgrade, air box, and exhaust upgrades. Stock otherwise. Purchased with 86k traded at over 200k. Front hubs only
17-K2500 bone stock traded at 26k
18-K2500 DPF back exhaust tube change (recently) currently 102K on the clock.

In the 400K miles on DMax, I can say most of the issues are self inflicted.

Glow plugs are like spark plugs in my opinion. Occasionally they need to be changed. Only difference is GP can be single were SP are usually done in sets.

GF's BIL was a powerstroke guy and their 04 spent several weeks in the shop to get it right. The next one was OK, caught a rock in the intercooler radiator, death wobble, and a few other things I forget. The last one before he passed, again several issue with the steering and general problems.

Nephew is / was a Ram guy. After his sister bought her current one and his company 3500 with the Aisin trans, he said no and is looking for a Dmax. The Aisin is not cracked up for what they claim it to be when loaded heavy in his opinion.

Thanks, Joseph......appreciate and value your feedback as always !

Dan

I'm a cummins fan...... Haven't been able to go through four. They last a lot longer than dirtymax I guess....

Scott'n'Wendy I still have my 1st, the 2nd was purchased used with the intention of keeping it until it paid for itself then replacing. The 3rd went through Harvey waters driving and 3 months of reconstruction (did not want to keep it after driving it through 1' of water) and lots of miles.

Last longer, there are several well documented Dmax out there with over 700k on the clock and one with over a million. The million miler one was used as a camper delivery TV, so we can say about 1/2 of those were towing.

https://pickuptrucktalk.com/2020/01/...two-gm-trucks/

Just to be clear.......I was just tossing out a little humour Joseph. I'm sure there are long lasting duramax out there.
As to your bil having his 04 Ford being in the shop several weeks. My 04 Ford was virtually never out of the shop. Never went more than two weeks without some kind of issue. I was afraid to leave town with it. The Ford dealer recommended I get rid of it. So I did. It's what gave me my bias against Ford. I know the trucks are different now, but I can't bring myself to buy a Ford truck again.