Death Wobble / Bump Steer / Steering Issues / Drifting - RESOLVED

[Chewbacca2264]

Jeremyjeep,

You are thinking the same exact thing I am, my guess is there was one production line that was messed up, not only messed up welds but locations. This would throw off the geometry and explain why 2 Jeeps could handle so differently while both being "in spec". Thus far I have not added a track bar brace but after seeing the weld on the track bar/frame I may well spend $100 and pick one up from Rusty.

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[jamesj242003]

Jeremyjeep,

You are thinking the same exact thing I am, my guess is there was one production line that was messed up, not only messed up welds but locations. This would throw off the geometry and explain why 2 Jeeps could handle so differently while both being "in spec". Thus far I have not added a track bar brace but after seeing the weld on the track bar/frame I may well spend $100 and pick one up from Rusty.

Chewbacca2264 and Jeremyjeep----You may want to raise your suspicions or theory back to FCA, so they can cross reference all the problem steering/wobbling Jeep Wranglers against the production line that built those Jeeps. It may still be an ongoing scenario since we are still seeing Jeeps sold in November 2018 that are not steering straight.

 

[jeremyjeep]

Chewbacca2264 and Jeremyjeep----You may want to raise your suspicions or theory back to FCA, so they can cross reference all the problem steering/wobbling Jeep Wranglers against the production line that built those Jeeps. It may still be an ongoing scenario since we are still seeing Jeeps sold in November 2018 that are not steering straight.

I already did. Deaf ears at FCA. They deny the problem even exists. Plus, some 2019s are having steering problems as well per several posts on the JL forum.

 

[jeremyjeep]

Check this out. Very informative. Discusses the geometry on a JL.

 

[jamesj242003]

Check this out. Very informative. Discusses the geometry on a JL.

JeremyJeep---Excellent video. Thanks. It's unfortunate that FCA is not even willing to check this out so they can remedy this significant safety hazard on some of their Wranglers. Perhaps you and/or other owners of problem Jeep Wranglers can enlist the help of the gentleman on Extreme Terrain video to solicit his guidance to either confirm or refute your suspicions. FCA may very well listen to him if it can be shown that the geometry of poorly tracking stock Wranglers are different than normal functioning stock Wranglers.

 

[jeremyjeep]

JeremyJeep---Excellent video. Thanks. It's unfortunate that FCA is not even willing to check this out so they can remedy this significant safety hazard on some of their Wranglers. Perhaps you and/or other owners of problem Jeep Wranglers can enlist the help of the gentleman on Extreme Terrain video to solicit his guidance to either confirm or refute your suspicions. FCA may very well listen to him if it can be shown that the geometry of poorly tracking stock Wranglers are different than normal functioning stock Wranglers.

I had left 4 messages for him (Ryan Huck) at Extreme Terrain over 3 months ago and he has not returned my calls. Maybe someone else will have better luck. They are at 1-877-870-8556 open everyday 8:30AM EST - 11:00PM EST but he works 8-5 M-F EST.

 

[DeVoTee]

Thanks All... Dealer notified me that my wife's 19 2 door Rubicon (Christmas) came in this morning. Picked it up and drives just as the Moab does. Build date 10/10/18..... Wandering wandering!

To me, both of these jeeps feel like the track bar is loose. I'm not sure how many have centered an axle after after removing a track bar, but this is exactly (not nearly as exaggerated) how it feels.

I'm starting on the Moab (will not be lifted) and installing Rusty's track bar brace and working forward with new adjustable track bar, Rusty's lower adjustable control arms. Northridge is selling a bolt package for the JL and I will install bolts as I change out parts. Draglink and Tie Rod would be last resort. If that doesn't do it.... back towards steering box? PSC has some new products coming out for the JL.

Time to solve the puzzle.

 

[jeremyjeep]

Thanks All... Dealer notified me that my wife's 19 2 door Rubicon (Christmas) came in this morning. Picked it up and drives just as the Moab does. Build date 10/10/18..... Wandering wandering!

To me, both of these jeeps feel like the track bar is loose. I'm not sure how many have centered an axle after after removing a track bar, but this is exactly (not nearly as exaggerated) how it feels.

I'm starting on the Moab (will not be lifted) and installing Rusty's track bar brace and working forward with new adjustable track bar, Rusty's lower adjustable control arms. Northridge is selling a bolt package for the JL and I will install bolts as I change out parts. Draglink and Tie Rod would be last resort. If that doesn't do it.... back towards steering box? PSC has some new products coming out for the JL.

Time to solve the puzzle.

There are others reporting 2019 steering issues here too - https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/2019-steering.19015/ Can you post your info there as well?

 

[jeremyjeep]

Jeremyjeep,

You are thinking the same exact thing I am, my guess is there was one production line that was messed up, not only messed up welds but locations. This would throw off the geometry and explain why 2 Jeeps could handle so differently while both being "in spec". Thus far I have not added a track bar brace but after seeing the weld on the track bar/frame I may well spend $100 and pick one up from Rusty.

I called about the Rusty bracket. They said it won't affect how it drives, just avoids the weld from breaking. I had an additional theory about the tie rod. If you put your hand on the tie rod through the passenger's side front wheel well and pull up on it (turn the wheel way over so you can get to it better), notice it rocks back and forth. I checked out some other JLs and some rock back and forth and some don't. Then, I accidentally saw this same thing mentioned in the video below at 5 minutes 30 seconds. Transcript "…so you don’t get any of the rock in your tie rod. And what that will cause is, it has to take up the slack before you can turn and that is where you get your twitchy steering that people hear about with hydraulic assist.”

 

[Mike21163]

I think that we all can agree by now that FCA let us down on this issue. But I’m personally grateful that company’s like Steer Smarts and TerraFlex are all over these issues, and have offered reasonably priced fixes. By now we all know the stock trackbar is complete garbage. The stabilizer is also inadequate for the new JL. I think many of us would of paid Steer Smarts twice the price for their beefy trackbar. Shame on FCA, but thank goodness there are reputable companies with quality products. The aftermarket companies have helped keep me in the Jeep community. Without them I would of just traded this broken unsafe Jeep in and moved on to something else. But Thanks to Joes Jeep Jungle, Steer Smarts, and TerraFlex, I absolutely love my Jeep and feel my opinion will remain that way for many many years. I’m also comforted to see that many other JL owners are successfully fixing their steering issues. I’ve enjoyed reading all of the success stories on this forum! Keep sharing your success stories.

Happy Holidays to all!

 

[NFRs2000NYC]

Most of those fixes aren't actual fixes. The FIRST thing I would do (and I did with both JKUS with over 6 years combined of maintenance free no wobbles) is to change the bolts to shouldered bolts. They fit tighter and even if the nut becomes untorqued, the shoulder of the bolt prevents the excess play.

 

[Solidaxle]

I highly recommend everyone check their upper and lower ball joints! I was just installing the spidertrax on my 2019 and the ball joints were finger tight. I was skeptical of others finding the loose ball joints but I really couldn’t believe how loose they were.
Note the factory Cotter pins are stainless steal mine were pretty twisted up I put in new coated steel ones but I’m gonna try to find stainless or straighten the ones that I took off.

 

[jeremyjeep]

I highly recommend everyone check their upper and lower ball joints! I was just installing the spidertrax on my 2019 and the ball joints were finger tight. I was skeptical of others finding the loose ball joints but I really couldn’t believe how loose they were. Note the factory Cotter pins are stainless steal mine were pretty twisted up I put in new coated steel ones but I’m gonna try to find stainless or straighten the ones that I took off.

Should check ALL steering and suspension related bolts, nuts, etc. Not only were the ball joints finger tight on mine, the drag link, tie rod, track bar weren't torqued to spec either. And don't just torque them, loosen them first, then torque. When I had to remove one side of the track bar to install an aftermarket steering stabilizer, the entire Jeep "settled". Looks like the factory tightened the track bar bolt in the air. Even the rear control arms weren't torqued to spec. C'mon Man (c) MNFL. https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...rangler-jl-steering-related-components.18510/

 

[Paul Hess]

I highly recommend everyone check their upper and lower ball joints! I was just installing the spidertrax on my 2019 and the ball joints were finger tight. I was skeptical of others finding the loose ball joints but I really couldn’t believe how loose they were.
Note the factory Cotter pins are stainless steal mine were pretty twisted up I put in new coated steel ones but I’m gonna try to find stainless or straighten the ones that I took off.

Definitely check your ball joints. I checked mine and two were finger tight. I took it to the dealer and they said all of them were tight. They even retorqued them to the specs and put in new cotter pins. They told me they didn't move with the exception of one that had to be tighter than spec to get the cotter pin in. I checked them again after having it at the dealer and two of them are loose again. I'm guessing that the dealer is tightening them after he lifts it up and I am checking them on the ground with all the weight on the wheels. Sounds weird but I'm going to have them tighten them on the ground the next time. Still has not fixed the wandering problem.

 

[Wightmn]

I haven't seen much discussion on the drag link and tie rod. Anybody upgrade as part of the death wobble fix?

My JL won't be here for a month or so, but 4 x 4 Land in Topeka already has my lift, shocks and steering components on the shelf. Initially, we were only doing Metal Cloak Game Changer lift with Falcon shocks. But, they are seeing issues with lifted jeeps and oem drag link and tie rod. The JL link and tie rod use thin tubes, crimped knuckles and smaller ball joints. Great for stock suspension but not so bueno on lifted jeeps with bigger tires. We upgraded to the Steer Smarts drag link and tie rod. Everything that touches the front axle will be upgraded.

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