The Origin of Dodge Ram Death Wobble - Part 2 - The Steering Box

In this video, Dale and Clay from EMF discuss how the infamous Dodge 2500 3500 Steering Death Wobble is caused in your Steering Box. We take a look inside the box to educate you on how a Steering Box works and why it is causing your Death Wobble.
Take a look at Part 1 where we induce Death Wobble to show you other contributing factors that set off the chain reaction to a jiggly Dodge ride.
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[@brette5619]

You guys are brilliant! Putting science and mechanical understanding behind root cause analysis for this awful condition is fantastic. This is easily the most informative info on the death wobble I've come across. You're providing insight to help truck owners instead of just selling your parts. Top notch! I have a set of your balljoints in my truck too by the way. A1 fellas

[@06megatingo58]

I’ll second that question. Thanks for the time from a 2nd & 3rd gen dodge DIYer!!

[@brianb5779]

Awsome stuff guys.

[@09blackrubicon]

So when are EMF steering boxes coming out? Thanks for the video, very informative.

[@toddstephens4082]

I second that! I need one!

[@robsnodgrass915]

Why don’t you guys just put the cummins in a Ford and call it done!?

[@superflyguy218]

@@robsnodgrass915 Because ford death wobble is even worse

[@benjamenjennett6482]

I third that! When are emf boxes coming out!?

[@robstumpe681]

Wow! Thanks for doing this video, Clay

[@denverbuerge]

Great video! Very informative

[@cccgenb1]

Great video guys, thank you. Very informative.

[@cmcken1]

This is a very informative video for starters. I like the products at EMF in general so, to see you guys making an educational video is great. This video also covers a wide-range of root-failures at the gear box level which many are unaware of - myself included to be honest. I knew of quite a few root causes associated with oscillation from the ground up such as when a tie rod assy goes into oscillation thus, shortening and lengthening thus leading to rapid toe-in / toe out thus, when looking at the tie-rod assy using high-speed video, the pattern emerges that resembles the outline of a football. That's just one of many modes. Other root causes are Track-Bar lateral movements to flex, to drag-link oscillation and flex to incorrect setting of suspension component geometry. I've seen and studied those conditions to great length however, I've not once focused on the gear box itself other than checking for gross wear and / or binding conditions during trouble-shooting sticking steering conditions. This is a fantastic video guys - especially the bit showing a competing OEM manufacturing assy defect (over-tightened) such as in that sector shaft issue mentioned at 15:16 - interference due to static friction. And, if one never removes the box to investigate it, one would never be able to root it out if this wasn't part of the trouble-shooting process thus leading to swapping out components and chasing their tail so-to-speak. Greatly appreciate the effort taken here. CM

[@EMFEVO]

Thank you. There are so many things that contribute to the chain reaction of "death wobble" This is one area I've never seen addressed. Just thought it should be discussed.

[@DirectCurrent4u]

@@EMFEVO Great video! A lot of this issue has to do with lack of QC as well from the factory. Thanks for all Your time and effort with this Dodge Death wobble issue! 😎👍

[@czrhnds]

Good guys have their ball joints on my 17 ram 2500 4x4

[@larryszym7091]

This is amazing. It is exactly what I'm feeling in the steering. Wow!

[@blairpickerill19]

Best explanation!

[@julianmora7074]

Both of you are very smart people

[@philturner5374]

One Alberta to another… BRILLIANT and THANK YOU for driving this to the source of the sustained wobble. Now… how to fix that wimpy torsion rod… maybe someone with a machine shop could provide an upgraded torsion rod? 🤔😉 I’m not convinced the after market Steering boxes have addressed that issue either unless you know otherwise. Thanks again, awesome sleuthing!! 👍

[@mrajinj661]

I believe that what you're speaking about is a small part of the death wobble. My 2006 Dodge 2500 Cummins suffered severe death wobble. I found the absolute cure which is, a Carli adjustable track bar and a tough country long arm kit. I can do 125 now without any death wobble.

[@timothymroberts2949]

Thats a great explanation...very insightful. Now who builds steering gears that address this and build the box properly?

[@rodneywhitefish6525]

Great video. Can the steering gear box adjustment be accomplished with the box assembled onto truck, or should it be detached while the adjustment is made?

[@patrontequila3132]

So if my third gen has atf leaking through the break pedal would that be a steering problem with the vacuum lines or would it be something else? Thanks

[@daviddroescher]

Are there differences in the 4turn vs 3.5turn dodge boxes? I've got a 4 turn about to be replaced with a red head box ( unless you have a fix developed by now). The old box has the opposite problem. Sluggish, weak ,quits supplying pressure because the torsion spring is too soft. The passage hyper extends going into dead heading the box . Then I'm fighting the bound up box and the weight of the truck.

[@richardrobinson3049]

2014 Ram and I have having a floating feeling while driving at speeds over 10 mph. New tires new alignment no strange wear in tires. No clicking no drifting it really feels like I’m on my boat at the dock what u think?

[@axercst]

i feeling clicking in my steering wheel either way. ram 17 3500 uturns or just entering an offramp? any suggestions

[@JEEPSRTFAKE]

Just got my 13 ram. I need heims for my synergy setup. My emf balljoints are in transit. Had some on my o5 best balljoints in the world. What about a box? When can I order one? Also can you make heims for a track bar?

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

push in the clutch and turn the engine off and see if it stops. You should rig your dually so it will wobble, make it wobble and then swap in and old anual steering box and see if it still wobbles.

[@noahwoodland59]

Can you guys do a video on how to properly adjust your steering box iv been wanting to do mine but too worried about messing it up Iv got a 14 ram 2500

[@EMFEVO]

Sure. I'll book Dale for a weekend and we'll do a video.

[@noahwoodland59]

@@EMFEVO Thanks!!

[@mudslutmusic9052]

Mine is bad...so new gear box?

[@wheelieking71]

Stiff ball-joints: "It'll wear in" Dynatrac bullshit! I learned that lesson the hard (expensive) way!

[@jrspen1900]

Where you guys located at? I got that problem

[@larrymandel3582]

Fixed mine by changing track bar bushings

[@ericpatton1349]

Aloha, you need to tell me what is the Maple Syrup Challenge

[@donleamon8653]

Ok, hero of the stupid question, how do you best check the condition of the ball joints on a truck? Loaded or unloaded (axle weight)? With or without tie rod connect?

[@EMFEVO]

Jack the truck up, support with stands. Put a bar under the tire and pry up and down for vertical play. Grab the tire top and bottom for horizonal play. If you suspect a sticky joint or for checking for a seized u-joint, separate the tie rod from the knuckle and steer by hand to feel the resistance.

[@donleamon8653]

So, I guess my question is what is the pre-load we can put on the 4th gen sector gear adjustment? At 80k (miles) my '16 Power Wagon is getting noticeable steering wheel 'lash' feel at 11 and 1:00 wheel positions while in a big left or right sweeper at say 50 mph. You can feel a 'click' in the wheel as the tires find their way left or right in the turn. Pretty sure it is slop in the box. I put your upper intermediate shaft bushing in about 10k ago, and they certainly helped. That lower intermediate shaft u-joint is a questionable link too IMHO.

[@EMFEVO]

my first question is have you touched the intermediate shaft? 11 to 1 is commonly mistaken for box lash. The intermediate shaft is the fastest cheapest point to start. Borgsen fixes it or a quick cheap collar install.

[@EMFEVO]

Okay I didnt answer it .I just read you have the collars. I'm going to take the night to think of a proper answer.

[@EMFEVO]

A clicking. Is it coming out of the column? Mine makes a clunk sound where it tilts now. Ever since we spent that day creating death wobble.

[@kelso1337]

Holy shit, Aha moment - I can't believe that torison bar acts like a spring when there's a snap on steering like that. That's crazy, nice work guys. Side note: Does anyone know of seal part numbers for a mopar big box on a 2008 ram 3500, my input shaft is leaking bad.

[@EMFEVO]

Thanks ! I don't know the seal number but I need one as well after doing the video

[@17madracki17]

Loose the power steering hoses to the box and go for a death drive see if it is. My 2011 has done it acouple times. And with 37s it wasn't bad compared to now with stock new Firestone tires. Maybe shocks again or balljoints or the shaft bushing. Hahah anyone wanna buy a 2011 3500 BD diesel trac bar and box brace

[@gunfreak565]

You guys talked to Don Thuren about this? I’m not saying your wrong but the steering box has never been a cause of death wobble in any of his info posted to his tech section. Just like to know his opinion on this. Death wobble has always been an issue of caster forces. Ball joints, track rod, wheel bearings, and such mostly track rod.

[@EMFEVO]

Those are all fuses to setting off hydraulic flutter. They all cause the initial shake. So he's right.Once that shake happens it engages the hydraulic hammering. However if you watch the first video we came across the hump in the curve of the road on the throttle at higher rpms/higher pressure. We engaged the violent wobble. We didn't adjust or do anything to trac bars tie rods tires etc. We came back across the same hump in the curve let off the throttle dropped the rpms/pressure and we didn't get and wobble. We got shake which I could feel in the wheel from the bad rim and tires and loose drag link. But no violent hammering. I guess what I'm saying is everything leads up to the violent hammering. And all are cures to prevent it. But the hammering is hydraulics.

[@robsnodgrass915]

Massive problem? Or profitable situation? You judge

[@christiant7641]

What’s the cure

[@mrajinj661]

Get a Carli adjustable track bar, and a tough country long arm kit. Death wobble cured! But you do have to make sure you don't have slop in your steering also.

[@czrhnds]

The reason for death wobble is the steering box sector shaft. Look up EMF, on KZbin. These guys from Canada are suspension experts. The topic is death wobble, and these big heavy trucks that steer like an luxury car. To many and to close together valve spaces on a very narrow sector shaft. Tie rods, ball joints,shocks all of it misleading so the sushi on dealers can sell products. Sad but true. Judge for yourself. Peace, 2017 ram 2500 Laramie 4x4 , Carli 2.5, Carli sway, EMF rebuildable ball joints( highly recommended) synergy track,synergy drag, Carli adjustable track bar. Rolling on Black rhino arsenal cooper 35 x 12.5 35

[@czrhnds]

20”s

[@rodneywhitefish6525]

I failed to mention, my truck is second gen diesel.

[@daviddroescher]

Proof it takes a computer to truly screw things up. I'll be it a hydraulic computer that has gone nonbinary._.

[@randyzimmerman8365]

Also if Any Dodge guys need Affordable Re-Placement Steering Gear Box instead of some Mechanic telling you , you should Upgrade to 5500 Gear Box, DONT !!! Contact CANCRAFT out of British Columbia, builds Steering Gear Boxes Amazing, plus with Dales/Steering Shaft Shim, you will be Amazed !!!!!