Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 05-14-2010, 08:00 PM   #41
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: San Jose Ca.
Posts: 165
Re: Quadvan Death Wobble

Wow you guy haven't experinced DW until you have driven a Unimog at 55 mph and hit a pot hole. 36 in tires combined with sitting on top of the wheel well, no power steer, and no power brakes (did I mention their is no power anything on a Unimog, including the 85 hp engine) fortunetaly I had an extra set of boxers in the back, turn out that it was low tires pressure. Still love the truck


Dave

unimogdave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2010, 05:10 PM   #42
Senior Member
 
Christopher Thwaites's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Santa Rosa CA
Posts: 638
Re: Quadvan Death Wobble

I've always been intrigued by Unimogs. Maybe not so much now! Saw one with a neat camper built on the back heading into Saline valley last April...was that you? What is the upside of ownership? Like a yacht....2 good days...the day you buy and the day you sell.
__________________
Chris/Ruth
2016 MBZ Sprinter 144" 4wd.
DIY
07 BMW 525xi wagon
Christopher Thwaites is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2010, 08:31 PM   #43
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Indy
Posts: 563
Re: Quadvan Death Wobble

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve_382
We have a 2008 Quigley with about 50,000 miles on it. I don't think what I have is any where near the "Death Wobble", but I do have some minor shimmy or wobble in the steering at certain speeds and certain road conditions. Usually starts around 45 to 55 mph and may even go away at higher speeds or maybe not. It's in the Ford shop right now getting new ball joints. The Ford dealer didn't think it was the wobble shock or the track bar bushings. Hope they are right, because it's going to be about 1,000 bucks for the ball joints and an alignment, etc. Let you know whether it helps or not. We will put about 600 miles on it this weekend. We have new tires on it, so I don't think it's a tire issue.
Just thought I would give another update. After the ball joints were done, the shimmy in the steering wheel was gone, but it still seemed to bounce around more than it should at 70 or so. Was about ready to give up, but took it back to Discount Tire again and asked them to REBALANCE the tires. The kid came back and said they were way out. Thought maybe some of the tape on weights had fallen off. (more likely, they didn't do it right the first time). Long story short, it now drives like it should at 70 mph, and the balancing was free. Question is, did I need to spend the bucks on the ball joints? Maybe not, even though they were a little loose. They probably would have gone for another 50,000 miles. Oh well........
__________________
2008 Ford E-350 Quigley 4x4 V10 - 164,000 miles
RB50, PH Top, Dual AGM Group 27 Deka, 2000 Tripplite Inv., No Propane or Water Systems
Van Weight 8,100 pounds, added one rear leaf spring, BFG AT KO LT265/70R17 E Tire press 50psi.
Steve_382 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2010, 07:49 PM   #44
Senior Member
 
Nomadcat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Greenwich Village, NYC
Posts: 568
Re: Quadvan Death Wobble



I just installed the dual dampener kit that Quadvan is selling for the E-350 - or the F-350, for that matter - and I love it.

Here's the background. I had been following this thread and was interested in the idea of dual dampeners. I had never had a problem with any kind of wobble. A couple of weeks ago, though, I was on some horrendous roads in Jersey, near Newark. I mean, these roads are harder on your vehicle than any back road in Nevada that I have ever been on, no joking. Anyway, I went through the mother of all nasty potholes at about 50 and experienced a bad wobble. It kind of freaked me out, but it stopped within a few seconds, after I had let my foot off the gas. I stopped nearby and checked the front end, but everything seemed fine. I then continued the trip, which involved about 2000 miles over five days, to Indiana and back. I hit a lot of bad bumps and other things, but never got any wobble, just as I had never gotten any in my first 18,000 miles with the van.

I chalk it up to a really bad patch of road. The Quadvan has been superb in its road manners since I got it and this was just an odd experience. Still, I remembered this thread and my interest in dual dampeners, so I called up and got John, who told me that he had kits now that he was selling. He assured me it was strictly bolt-on - which is a factor for me as I live in NYC and have to work on the street - and that it would not take long to install. It was $500. I have always liked their mechanical design work, so I went for it.

It arrived this week, well packed, the main piece, the two Bilsteins, and the end pieces, along with a bag of nuts, bolts and washers. It was easy enough to figure out, but I asked them to send me some photos and they obliged. I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to mess it up.

Sure enough, it went on like a dream, everything fit, and it took me 40 minutes with hand tools. I love the way it drives in the short time I have been testing it. I'll give it a real workout in the next few weeks, but it is super smooth. As always, John and Blaine were really helpful and generous with their time on the phone when I had questions about it.

There are two bolts on the front that you'll see. These are for aluminum covers that are not built yet, but will be sent along once their sheet metal guy gets the designs. Quadvan is good about this kind of thing. I got a Buckstop bumper from them and they promised to send along the tow hooks when they were done. I forgot about it but, three months later, a package shows up with two heavy duty tow hooks.

Anyway, the shocks have no boot for the moment, but I'll bolt on the aluminum covers once they are sent to me. It feels good when I drive it and, like I said, I'll give it more of a workout once I get some time.

I'll post photos here from the front, the side, and one from the rear, showing the main part of it bolted onto the axle with two big U-bolts.


Attached Thumbnails
1.jpg   2.jpg   3.jpg  
__________________
2009 E350 5.4 Quadvan Homebrew
One day at a time
Nomadcat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2010, 07:52 PM   #45
Senior Member
 
Nomadcat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Greenwich Village, NYC
Posts: 568
Re: Quadvan Death Wobble

Here are two other views of the Quadvan Dual Dampener kit installed. I'll be updating my interior build page soon, by the way, under "Whitey Ford," but it's a work-in-progress. I moved the fridge, built some shelves, and am about to put in some rubber tiles.

Attached Thumbnails
4.jpg   5.jpg  
__________________
2009 E350 5.4 Quadvan Homebrew
One day at a time
Nomadcat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2010, 10:50 AM   #46
Senior Member
 
Christopher Thwaites's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Santa Rosa CA
Posts: 638
Re: Quadvan Death Wobble

Nomadcat,
I just did the same install and now have zero wobble issues. The "feel" of the steering now comes close to my BMW. The Quadvan design is superior to the other high end damper kits I looked at. Also thanks for the explanation on the 2 bolts on the main bracket. John never mentioned about them.
Chris
__________________
Chris/Ruth
2016 MBZ Sprinter 144" 4wd.
DIY
07 BMW 525xi wagon
Christopher Thwaites is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2010, 04:35 PM   #47
Senior Member
 
Nomadcat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Greenwich Village, NYC
Posts: 568
Re: Quadvan Death Wobble

Chris,

I took it out for an extended run today on the Long Island Expressway. It is amazing how much smoother the steering is. I am glad I did it.

Paul
__________________
2009 E350 5.4 Quadvan Homebrew
One day at a time
Nomadcat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2010, 05:02 PM   #48
Senior Member
 
Ford_6L_E350's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
Re: Quadvan Death Wobble

Similar in concept to the Skyjacker kit I installed. Probably has better quality shocks.

Why did you mount the shocks that way? When turning the wheel, you must move the shock body instead of just moving the piston/rods. Because the steering moves slowly and the mass involved is minimal, it probably doesn't make any difference - just an observation.

The Quadvan brackets are quite involved. It looks like the mounts will hold the brackets in place while you tighten the bolts, while the Skyjacker kit is quite loose and you must hold it where you want it while you tighten the bolts - not really difficult though.




You can see the Skyjacker brackets are quite simple by comparision. Neither better nor worse, just different.

Either kit will be much better than nothing. I'm really glad I did it.

Looking at the last picture I see the F-350 steering damper is still there - so I guess I have a triple damper setup. That sounds like overkill.

Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
Ford_6L_E350 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2010, 07:27 PM   #49
Senior Member
 
Christopher Thwaites's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Santa Rosa CA
Posts: 638
Re: Quadvan Death Wobble

I left the stock damper on. After having the wobble scare me too many times I figure there may be no such thing as overkill when it comes to DW.
The Quadvan design main axel mount actually works as a skid plate. It comes up at an angle in front of the tie rod and it is really beefy...weighs 15# at least.
As for the direction of the shocks....I just mounted them that way without having any pictures or directions. Not sure what the difference would be.
__________________
Chris/Ruth
2016 MBZ Sprinter 144" 4wd.
DIY
07 BMW 525xi wagon
Christopher Thwaites is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2010, 09:55 PM   #50
Senior Member
 
Nomadcat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Greenwich Village, NYC
Posts: 568
Re: Quadvan Death Wobble

I like the skid plate aspect, as well. Any little bit of armor helps.

I mounted them that way because Quadvan sent me a photo of them mounted that way and John always, but always has a pretty good reason for doing something a particular way. I just followed the directions.
__________________
2009 E350 5.4 Quadvan Homebrew
One day at a time
Nomadcat is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:38 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.