2021 JL Death Wobble

[jeepscooter]

I have a 2021 JL High altitude unlimited completely stock with 45k miles on it that has the death wobble.

I have taken it to 3 different shops and nobody can seem to find the problem. The steering dampener has been replaced, everything re-torqued, and tires have been balanced and rotated. Has anyone else run into this problem or have any recommendations on what to do? I know there was a recall on the wranglers and gladiators but that only covered up to 2020 models.

I’m at my whits end on this and am going to be forced to trade it in on another vehicle if I can’t figure out something asap because it is completely unsafe to drive.

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[GATORB8]

Have you taken it to an off road shop?

 

[Aquastream]

Interesting that it’s completely stock. It had a suspension and steering inspection? Ball joints and bushings , etc?

 

[Old Dogger]

What is your Caster set at? Make sure that it is at 6°. Since yours is all stock, your will need adjustable lower control arms installed, to accomplish the 6°. Did they check the torque on the Ball Joints. This has been an issue with some Wranglers..FYI

 

[Faded glory]

Mine was completely stock when the death wobble started as well, at 38k miles. An off-road shop can probably determine where in your steering the play is, and you just replace what they recommend. My solution, I had them swap out all the oem steering components with HD steering. It was probably unnecessary but no more death wobble, bump steer... nothing. YMMV

 

[desmo2]

2021 JLU Rubicon 2-door, 20k miles, all stock, and I have developed a shudder when hitting bumps at highway speeds. I am going to set about figuring out what my issue is.

Common culprits seem to be track bar and/or ball joints. A lot of people have reported a new steering stabilizer solved the issue for them.

 

[Upnarms]

Maybe one of these 22 prior threads (not an exhaustive list) will help. It may be worth a quick search next time

1. JL Death Wobble Tips
2. DEATH WOBBLE. I'm Now a Victim.
3. Death Wobble '21 Wrangler Sport with 8500 Miles
4. Death Wobble. Again.
5. Death Wobble Cause
6. What Makes My Jeep Death Wobbles?
7. Death Wobble
8. FYI Found the Cause of My Death Wobble
9. Is the Death Wobble Still a Thing in the JL or Is It Too Soon to Tell?
10. How Common Is the Death Wobble?
11. Death Wobble Poll
12. Death Wobble Insanity - 4xe Specific
13. Death Wobble - Brand new 2022 Sahara @ 500 miles
14. How to Beat Death Wobble! (An Algorithm to Diagnose The Issue)
15. Stock 18 JL Death Wobble @ 5000 miles
16. Death Wobble on my 2022 Wrangler JL 2 door
17. Just Experienced Death Wobble on my Stock JLU at 15k Miles
18. Death Wobble - Help! (Solved)
19. Experienced my First Death Wobble
20. Finally Fixed My Death Wobble!!
21. Death Wobble Survivor Poll
22. Terrible Death Wobble…Please Help

Once again....poor horse

 

[Terrymo]

 

[Pape]

I have a 2021 JL High altitude unlimited completely stock with 45k miles on it that has the death wobble.

I have taken it to 3 different shops and nobody can seem to find the problem. The steering dampener has been replaced, everything re-torqued, and tires have been balanced and rotated. Has anyone else run into this problem or have any recommendations on what to do? I know there was a recall on the wranglers and gladiators but that only covered up to 2020 models.

I’m at my whits end on this and am going to be forced to trade it in on another vehicle if I can’t figure out something asap because it is completely unsafe to drive.

Steering component are usually victim of DW not causing it, minus the dampener that is just a band aid. From my experience fighting DW on my JK it was either ball joint, trackbar or ovaled mounting hole.

In essence DW is vibration that have no where to go and just start reverberating back and fort in your axle. So you can band aid it with a dampener and pray it will absorb it or send it down to the rest of the jeep and try to avoid steering part as transmission line.

 

[GATORB8]

Maybe one of these 22 prior threads (not an exhaustive list) will help. It may be worth a quick search next time

1. JL Death Wobble Tips
2. DEATH WOBBLE. I'm Now a Victim.
3. Death Wobble '21 Wrangler Sport with 8500 Miles
4. Death Wobble. Again.
5. Death Wobble Cause
6. What Makes My Jeep Death Wobbles?
7. Death Wobble
8. FYI Found the Cause of My Death Wobble
9. Is the Death Wobble Still a Thing in the JL or Is It Too Soon to Tell?
10. How Common Is the Death Wobble?
11. Death Wobble Poll
12. Death Wobble Insanity - 4xe Specific
13. Death Wobble - Brand new 2022 Sahara @ 500 miles
14. How to Beat Death Wobble! (An Algorithm to Diagnose The Issue)
15. Stock 18 JL Death Wobble @ 5000 miles
16. Death Wobble on my 2022 Wrangler JL 2 door
17. Just Experienced Death Wobble on my Stock JLU at 15k Miles
18. Death Wobble - Help! (Solved)
19. Experienced my First Death Wobble
20. Finally Fixed My Death Wobble!!
21. Death Wobble Survivor Poll
22. Terrible Death Wobble…Please Help

Once again....poor horse

DW is infuriating and can be a money pit if parts start getting thrown at it. OP is about to sell his jeep out of frustration and your sage advice is “search”?

OP, I’ve thrown big money at new parts hunting wobble. Find the shop with the biggest lot of muddy jeeps on 40s you can find and take it there. It will be something stupid and nothing in the long list of causes is that expensive if you don’t do 20 other things first.

 

[RetiredGeek]

I have something similar on my ride (49k miles). I took it to pep boys for a suspension check ($43). They we able to show me play in my drag link and tie rod assembly on the passenger side. I have ordered bot parts from steersmarts.com and am installing today. I'll let you know how it goes

 

[Ben-Zair Dun-Zatt]

My 2020 sport would get it. The dealer replace the steering dampener and that fixed it. Make sure if you do it yourself, bleed the dampener really good before you install it.
my personal belief, the steering dampener from the factory that’s on it is way to small and weak for the Jeep.
mine was done under warranty, so same factory dampener was put back on it. I would put a much better one if I had to replace it myself.
Keep us posted what you find.

 

[moeman]

Mine was completely stock when the death wobble started as well, at 38k miles. An off-road shop can probably determine where in your steering the play is, and you just replace what they recommend. My solution, I had them swap out all the oem steering components with HD steering. It was probably unnecessary but no more death wobble, bump steer... nothing. YMMV

Wow, you were able to get rid of bumper steer? I thought that was inherent to solid axle design.

 

[Faded glory]

Wow, you were able to get rid of bumper steer? I thought that was inherent to solid axle design.

Not sure you’re being serious but they sell track bar brackets to eliminate bump steer
https://teraflex.com/jl-jt-front-track-bar-axle-bracket-kit-2-5-3-5-lift.html

 

[wingnut60]

Anyone ever try the Roadmaster Exact Center to help?

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