Tire confusion (death wobble)

[08RamLaramie]

I was all ready to get a set of Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 in 33's when I started reading that people are having the "death wobble" problem with BFG tires. Is this true? What should I get? HELP

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2008 Dodge Ram Laramie, MC, SRW, 6.7l Cummins Diesel, 6 speed manual
EV2 Boost & EGT, Firestone airbags w/compressor, V-HID all around, Line-X, S&B CAI, XRT w/stage 2 delete, SBC DD 3250, Caltracs Traction bars, 305/65 BFG M/T KM2

[Halycon]

I've had mine (in the same size) now for about 10,000 miles are they're doing fine... Never had any issues. Death wobble is almost always caused by steering components, not tires.

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- Mike -

'01.5 2500 CTD. Adrenaline w/ Pulse on the way, 4" TBE, Offroad Crankcase Breather Mod, AMSOIL Nanofiber, 33" BFG M/T KM2s

[RepsolRoss]

A buddy of mine has had them on his 07 for 60k miles now. He had never even heard of death wobble till I told him about it last week! I don't think it's the BFGs.

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2009 RAM2500/QCSB/4x4/SLT/Auto - 6" BDS lift, 20" Helo Maxx 8, 37" Mud Grapplers, tint, sidesteps, muffler eliminator, Onki 5" SS Tip

[stupid_productions]

Death wobble is typically caused by the track bar being shot/worn... bigger problem on the 2nd gens than the rest. 3rd gens had the issue too, but I think by now they'd have it mostly figured out.
Bigger tires would just emphasize the wobble when it happened, but you should be fine.

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'98 2500, C/C, S/B, 12v, 5spd, 4x4, CAI, TST #12/BoostElbow, 4kGSK, BD Exhaust Manifold, AutoMeter Gauges, Bullydog 4" TB Straight Pipe, AR Outlaw IIs with Nitto Terra Grapplers.
'04 Sterling Acterra 3-ton, Picker/toolboxes/deck truck
'79 Chevy C10 (Big 10) Scottsdale, R/C, L/B, 350-4bbl, 3spd auto
www.stupidproductions.ca

[08RamLaramie]

OUTSTANDING, thanks for your help.

__________________
2008 Dodge Ram Laramie, MC, SRW, 6.7l Cummins Diesel, 6 speed manual
EV2 Boost & EGT, Firestone airbags w/compressor, V-HID all around, Line-X, S&B CAI, XRT w/stage 2 delete, SBC DD 3250, Caltracs Traction bars, 305/65 BFG M/T KM2

[tclappcummins]

Originally Posted by Halycon

I've had mine (in the same size) now for about 10,000 miles are they're doing fine... Never had any issues. Death wobble is almost always caused by steering components, not tires.

I strongly disagree... I had death wobble and could NOT fix it what so ever... I completely replaced my front end... still no fix, so I got different rims and tires and problem fixed

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Travis 06 2500 Megacab 4x4 gets a bath twice a week

[Halycon]

Originally Posted by tclappcummins

I strongly disagree... I had death wobble and could NOT fix it what so ever... I completely replaced my front end... still no fix, so I got different rims and tires and problem fixed

That's why I said almost always. Tires can cause it, but more often than not it's an alignment/steering issue.

__________________

- Mike -

'01.5 2500 CTD. Adrenaline w/ Pulse on the way, 4" TBE, Offroad Crankcase Breather Mod, AMSOIL Nanofiber, 33" BFG M/T KM2s

[Algae Eater]

Originally Posted by tclappcummins

I strongly disagree... I had death wobble and could NOT fix it what so ever... I completely replaced my front end... still no fix, so I got different rims and tires and problem fixed

That's pretty vague. I'm still not convinced it was your rims/tires... or if it was your rims or tires, it wasn't exactly what people call "death wobble" - could've been a balancing problem or a bad tire.

What kinda tires were the "bad" ones?

Many times, the death wobble comes from a levelling kit or lift changing the geometric relationship of your control arms / shocks. Plus, if you level your truck up, it always shifts the front axle toward the driver's side an inch or more. Then you NEED an adjustable trackbar (like a DT or Skyjacker) so you can center the front axle again.

Was your "death wobble" before or after you levelled your front-end?

Another cause of death wobble is steering box flex. An SBS (steering box support) kit removes all the problematic flex. BD makes one.. the original one was the Windecker Machine kit if I'm not mistaken. I need one of those BAD!!

I am getting the BFG M/T KM2's and a Skyjacker adjustable trackbar installed today (w/ an alignment)... hopefully that will at least partially solve my front-end woes.

__________________
98 12valve QC LB 4WD w/ 170K [new Goerend 47re, DDP fuel plate, AFE ProGuard7, MBRP 4" TB w/ 5" tip, Thuren trackbar, Bilstein 5100's, 2.5" Revtek level kit, BFG Mud KM2 33x11's, AWC 16x8 rims, Amsoil, silencer ring gone, KDP tabbed (THANKS Nitrous340!)

[Halycon]

Originally Posted by Algae Eater

That's pretty vague. I'm still not convinced it was your rims/tires... or if it was your rims or tires, it wasn't exactly what people call "death wobble" - could've been a balancing problem or a bad tire.

Yeah, you're right. tclapp, I'm not saying you didn't experience death wobble, but I think a lot of people THINK they have death wobble but don't. Like Algae said, they just had a tire that's not balanced properly, has a broken band, etc... Death wobble is one of those things that scares you ****less the first time it happens. It sounds and feels like your whole truck is going to fall apart if it's bad.

__________________

- Mike -

'01.5 2500 CTD. Adrenaline w/ Pulse on the way, 4" TBE, Offroad Crankcase Breather Mod, AMSOIL Nanofiber, 33" BFG M/T KM2s

[Algae Eater]

Originally Posted by Halycon

Death wobble is one of those things that scares you ****less the first time it happens. It sounds and feels like your whole truck is going to fall apart if it's bad.

Yeah, I've never had it... mine just wanders and tracks the road too much. True deathwobble (like in poorly lifted Jeeps w/ big tires) makes your whole steering wheel jump from stop to stop very fast. It will be fine until you hit a pothole (or some other one-tire bump) at speed and then it starts the deathwobble happening.. if it's really bad, you can't even hang on to the steering wheel or it'll break something in your hand!

If you lift a vehicle and increase tire sizes, you are GOING TO have to do something else to make it ride well and not wobble - like longer control arms, better/longer/adj. trackbar, better steering damper etc...
The bigger the lift/tires, the more parts you'll have to modify.

These stock Dodge front ends (my 2nd gen especially) are pretty crappy and require all kinds of upgrades to make them what I call "wife-driveable"... not like a rodeo bull.

Along with my upcoming SBS (steering box support) installation, I'll probably need to invest in a Kore offroad suspension system and some sort of big brake kit (slotted/drilled rotors, nice pads & stainless lines) before my wife will feel safe driving my truck! Anyway, that's MY excuse (to her) for spending the money.

__________________
98 12valve QC LB 4WD w/ 170K [new Goerend 47re, DDP fuel plate, AFE ProGuard7, MBRP 4" TB w/ 5" tip, Thuren trackbar, Bilstein 5100's, 2.5" Revtek level kit, BFG Mud KM2 33x11's, AWC 16x8 rims, Amsoil, silencer ring gone, KDP tabbed (THANKS Nitrous340!)

[vlancaster]

subscribed, i got the same problem

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04.5 HO edge jammer turbo, magnasuck muffler, homemade 4" intake w/ amsoil filter. PPE programemr

[tclappcummins]

Originally Posted by Algae Eater

That's pretty vague. I'm still not convinced it was your rims/tires... or if it was your rims or tires, it wasn't exactly what people call "death wobble" - could've been a balancing problem or a bad tire.

What kinda tires were the "bad" ones?

Many times, the death wobble comes from a levelling kit or lift changing the geometric relationship of your control arms / shocks. Plus, if you level your truck up, it always shifts the front axle toward the driver's side an inch or more. Then you NEED an adjustable trackbar (like a DT or Skyjacker) so you can center the front axle again.

Was your "death wobble" before or after you levelled your front-end?

Another cause of death wobble is steering box flex. An SBS (steering box support) kit removes all the problematic flex. BD makes one.. the original one was the Windecker Machine kit if I'm not mistaken. I need one of those BAD!!

I am getting the BFG M/T KM2's and a Skyjacker adjustable trackbar installed today (w/ an alignment)... hopefully that will at least partially solve my front-end woes.

Originally Posted by Halycon

Yeah, you're right. tclapp, I'm not saying you didn't experience death wobble, but I think a lot of people THINK they have death wobble but don't. Like Algae said, they just had a tire that's not balanced properly, has a broken band, etc... Death wobble is one of those things that scares you ****less the first time it happens. It sounds and feels like your whole truck is going to fall apart if it's bad.

If I didnt have death wobble then I'd like for you to explain to me why my front end was literally bouncing off of the ground uncontrollably had ABSOLUTELY no control over the truck what so ever the truck was shaking so violently stuff from the back seat of the truck bounced up into the windshield of the truck hit me and the girl in my passenger sit... how the truck was shaking so violently you couldn't hold onto the steering wheel.

__________________
Travis 06 2500 Megacab 4x4 gets a bath twice a week