This is Death wobble

[rustyshakelford]

We used our GoPro to start documenting our death wobble. Occurred 8 times in 17 miles while taking our son to school today. I’ve decided to park it until I can get replacement parts.

Specs are 19 JLUR built date late 11/2018
3.5 MC GC Rocksport
MC belly, rear diff, fad skids
MC front drive shaft
Cooper 37/12.5 at 26 psi
Mopar sim beadlocks

Here’s the video. Only happens between 30-55. Smooths outs at 60

Brett

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[cjaama]

Yup, that's DW not bump steer. Best of luck fixing it.
Awesome user name.

 

[Trail seeker]

Hello,

You and I have almost the same setup (I have 35 on a 2.5 GC MC). I had the same issue and they replaced the dampener - lasted 2,000 miles! I upgraded to the Yeti Steersmart steering kit (and will install the MC stabilizer soon) and now it feels better than ever (feels reliable and solid!). I still have to drive it without the stabilizer to see how it behaves!

 

[rustyshakelford]

Here’s a front side view.



Brett

 

[rustyshakelford]

Hello,

You and I have almost the same setup (I have 35 on a 2.5 GC MC). I had the same issue and they replaced the dampener - lasted 2,000 miles! I upgraded to the Yeti Steersmart steering kit (and will install the MC stabilizer soon) and now it feels better than ever (feels reliable and solid!). I still have to drive it without the stabilizer to see how it behaves!

I think that’s the road I’m going to have to go down. I don’t mind upgrading but it’s chaps my butt having to do this on a brand new vehicle and wish I had know prior so I could’ve done it all at once. I specifically said I want everything needed when I placed my MC order.

Brett

 

[LunchBoxFab]

I think that’s the road I’m going to have to go down. I don’t mind upgrading but it’s chaps my butt having to do this on a brand new vehicle and wish I had know prior so I could’ve done it all at once. I specifically said I want everything needed when I placed my MC order.

Brett

have you engaged MC with the issue yet? they seem to be responsive? also, who installed the lift, they might have a few opinons on where the vibration is originating from.

 

[GreyFox]

@MORTON stumbled upon this theory, but has any 2 door experienced DW? I only hear about the 4 doors. Just curious.

 

[rustyshakelford]

have you engaged MC with the issue yet? they seem to be responsive? also, who installed the lift, they might have a few opinons on where the vibration is originating from.

I have talked to them and have sent them videos. They are having their engineers look at it. They are thinking drag link and the video I just posted should help rule that the case or rule it out.

I own a Jeep shop and installed it ourselves. We’ve been thru everything twice and took it to our good friend that owns addictive autoworks for an unbiased assessment. If you don’t know that shop, look them up. Without a doubt the best builds in the state and a great guy to know. He couldn’t find anything either that would be causing it definitively. We are considering buying the steer smart complete system but I was wanting more fun stuff first. However, this is a necessity and if it cures the problem will be selling their products and trying to help as many people as I can.

Brett

 

[LunchBoxFab]

the video isn't very conclusive, but id agree, the shimmy seems to start in the steering then propagate to the suspension.

 

[Rasdanko]

I have 2dr sport and this has been happening to me. Happens to me at 60mph-70mph when i hit a bump a certain way. Stock sport tires 36psi. I have had 2 wheel balances. From reading the forums, doesn’t look like changing the stabilizer is a permanent fix so I’m waiting to see some options.

 

[Leights7]

I have talked to them and have sent them videos. They are having their engineers look at it. They are thinking drag link and the video I just posted should help rule that the case or rule it out.

I own a Jeep shop and installed it ourselves. We’ve been thru everything twice and took it to our good friend that owns addictive autoworks for an unbiased assessment. If you don’t know that shop, look them up. Without a doubt the best builds in the state and a great guy to know. He couldn’t find anything either that would be causing it definitively. We are considering buying the steer smart complete system but I was wanting more fun stuff first. However, this is a necessity and if it cures the problem will be selling their products and trying to help as many people as I can.

Brett

Thanks for this. How, in any way, does this relate to the OEM steering stabilizer, which FCA has deemed faulty? Many have installed aftermarket stabilzers and have reported that shimmy and WB are now gone.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Thanks for this. How, in any way, does this relate to the OEM steering stabilizer, which FCA has deemed faulty? Many have installed aftermarket stabilzers and have reported that shimmy and WB are now gone.

You should be able to drive your Jeep without the stabilizer and not have any issues. The steering stabilizer or dampener should just be for driver comfort. Consider the SS as a bandaid to a cut. It covers it up but doesn’t heal it. An aggressive SS just absorbs more bumps that lead to DW.

From the research I’ve done and I’m talking to some of the best in the business is that Jeep in their infinite wisdom weakened the factory steering components possibly in a bid to save weight. I am ordering the full steer smart kit tomorrow.

However, tonight I’m going to swap out my MC track bar and swap it with the stock one. If it’s fixed, I’ll know what my next step will be.

Brett

 

[Indio]

Thanks for sharing the videos. I don't understand how this could be occurring on a modern engineered vehicle. Especially considering Jeep has been using a solid axle the entire run since the beginning of time. Jeep should have all the geometry and requirements down already. How come my CJ7 didn't have this issue driving around for decades at all speeds and various conditions, and without a front steering shock absorbed? I don't care about red tow hooks or screen sizes etc, but this sort of base functionality does concern me.

I wonder if this issue is due to frame engineering. The only time I ever had this sort of thing, was when driving around in my CJ5 with front bumper removed. When encountering a bump in the road in a certain way at certain speeds, an oscillation would occur even worse than in the video, requiring me to come to nearly a stop, and then proceed no problem.

For the few weeks the bumper was removed, I got used to the feel of an oscillation building, and learned to back off the throttle or steer as needed to prevent the oscillation. Once the front bumper was reinstalled and tightened down good, that must have provided a certain level of stiffness to the frame that got rid of the oscillation issue.

In the case of the JL, it might be that the frame is "tuned" in a way that contributes to an oscillation (death wobble) under certain conditions. That was certainly the cause on my CJ5. The death wobble was 100% cured by the front bumper tightening because it change the tuning of the frame and how the individual frame rails responded to bumps in terms of helping to build an oscillation.

 

[Indio]

You should be able to drive your Jeep without the stabilizer and not have any issues. The steering stabilizer or dampener should just be for driver comfort. Consider the SS as a bandaid to a cut. It covers it up but doesn’t heal it. An aggressive SS just absorbs more bumps that lead to DW.

From the research I’ve done and I’m talking to some of the best in the business is that Jeep in their infinite wisdom weakened the factory steering components possibly in a bid to save weight. I am ordering the full steer smart kit tomorrow.

However, tonight I’m going to swap out my MC track bar and swap it with the stock one. If it’s fixed, I’ll know what my next step will be.

Brett

Agreed the stabilizer seems like a bandaid fix for a problem that should not occur in the first place. Other than steering components which you mention, I was thinking since the electric steering box is new in terms of JL application, maybe there is some issue with the feedback and how it responds to bumps in certain situations.

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