My 78 f150 4x4 has a front end problem I can't figure out. Between 30-45mph my front end will shake violently when I hit any kind of bump with the passenger side front wheel and does not stop until I come to a stop. I have jacked it up & made sure everything is tight, had it aligned... no help. An old ford guy told me it could be due to a "cut tire" so I rotated the tires and still happens. It shakes back & forth so bad it feels like i'm gonna break an axel or something. Has anyone ran into this problem before?

 

Sounds like a bad ball joint or rod end.

 

Could be one of or a number of items acting together. I would get both sides of the front end off the ground and start looking for play in everything associated with the front end/steering. Look for worn ball joint(s), Tie Rod(s) as Bullitt94 stated. Look at the inner and outer tie rods, center link, drag link, tie rod adjusting sleeve (seen the threads rust out of these causing slop), upper and lower ball joints, king pins (can't remember if these are 2WD only. Too much information crossing different brain waves), wheel bearings/shtuster bearing and shocks.

 

Ended up being worn out track arm bushings. I have learned that this is called the "Death Wobble" and is a common problem in these old f150's. I replaced 'em got another alignment and all is good. I was told that this is the main cause of this so if anyone is reading this have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth as you watch the front end and if the track arm is moving.... thats yer issue...