Death Wobble Survivor Poll

[Mudduck]

None in my JL but unfortunately, I experienced DW in my TJ once. It scared me so bad I couldn't remember how to get home.

Experienced DW in a Ram 3500 dually..... That was not okay. In Dallas on one of our idiotic mixmaster interchanges while going around a curve. I was picking Nylon, cotton and whatever else material sourced for Underwear made in Bangladesh, out of my crack hole for a few hours. Big ass truck shaking and bouncing like that....

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[ColoradoMike]

I'm approaching 25,000 miles on my Rubi XR: LOTS of rock crawling, zero DW. Mine is stock, at least in terms of suspension and steering. However, I AM starting to feel the steering kind of loosen up a little, recently. Like there's a smidge of play. Nothing remotely like DW. Taking it to shop next week; I suspect worn ball joints.

 

[dragoneggs]

I haven't really messed with the suspension system enough yet to experience any death wobbles. But I've seen some pretty heinous ones!

Earlier today, was driving down 75 to head to Lewisville Texas, saw a white Wrangler on the frontage road, serious death wobble. The dude hit his brakes and slowed down and it corrected it, but like for a second there I thought the dude's wheels were going to come off.

Shocker, it was a lifted JLU on at least 37's.

I know there's multiple causes of the death wobble, but I swear half the ones I see are usually because someone put a lift on there, but didn't swap out any of the other parts related to the suspension system.

I don't doubt that sub-par lift kits/installation and improper adjustment could be a culprit. In my case, I have a full Clayton 1.5in Overland+ lift installed by Northridge4x4. Have done some rock crawling so maybe I have worn the mediocre OEM BJ's.

My fear is that it does it while being towed behind my RV. I don't think that would be good.

 

[gsbrockman]

Experienced DW in a Ram 3500 dually..... That was not okay.

Same here, in a 2007.5 RAM 3500 MegaCab SRW though.

It was an earlier build with the “Y” style steering linkage. Running some 20x9 Ultra Grinders with LT305/60R20 Wrangler SR/A’s apparently was a bit too much for the steering linkage pieces, especially with the proverbial slight left hand turn whilst approaching a bridge.

I later replaced the steering linkage with the newer MoPar “T” style linkage, and never had any more issues with it.

 

[Mudduck]

Same here, in a 2007.5 RAM 3500 MegaCab SRW though.

It was an earlier build with the “Y” style steering linkage. Running some 20x9 Ultra Grinders with LT305/60R20 Wrangler SR/A’s apparently was a bit too much for the steering linkage pieces, especially with the proverbial slight left hand turn whilst approaching a bridge.

I later replaced the steering linkage with the newer MoPar “T” style linkage, and never had any more issues with it.

When those big trucks start DW, it’s not near as manageable as the jeep. It can get kinda wild.

 

[gsbrockman]

When those big trucks start DW, it’s not near as manageable as the jeep. It can get kinda wild.

A RAM with death wobble ain’t schittttt……..you should have been behind the wheel of a Ford pickup with the Twin I-Beam suspension.

My Dad had a 1974 model F-100 2WD…..it was unbelievable when it occurred.

 

[renegadecaderyn]

2020 JLUR with 60k, zero off road. I have had a shimmy after hitting a bump, but no death wobble. Front end components are tight with no play. Dealer replaced the steering stabilizer which helped significantly. Rare to experience a shimmy after hitting a bump now. I suspect my ball joints may have some wear.

 

[Mccorm67]

And a question to those that have not experienced DW... how many miles and have you off-roaded/rockcrawled much?

2022 JLU Sahara, 20k miles, no off-roading, no mods

 

[Crum44]

Stupid question, does the death wobble effect every jeep? Or does it happen with folks add larger tires? Different suspension?

Just curious I have a 22 2 door 3 pedal Willys. Completely stock from day I bought it.

Thanks in advance

 

[jc1003]

I had death wobble once so we took it to the dealer and they replaced the steering stabilizer. Decided to upgrade stabilizer with after market and also replaced the ball joints with Dynatrac and new LCA's. Never had wobble again and drives so much better than before. Money well spent on the upgrades.

 

[pamcbride]

Experienced it for the first time in December on I-45 in Houston. Scared the living bejesus out of me. Went to the dealership a few days later and they were able to replicate the problem. They said it was the steering stabilizer and the part was on back order. Fortunately for me the Jeep is still under warranty. They ordered the part 12/28 and it still hasn’t arrived. Just called to check status of the part and the service tech told me that it is a well known issue and that Jeep is re-engineering the part, so it might be awhile but at least they are working to get it right. Had just over 26k miles at the time and no off-road use, or mods, yet…

 

[swampflyer]

When I purchased my jlr I read on this forum about the problems individuals were experiencing with their jl's. So I set out to do some preventive actions to my jlr. Steersmarts, genesis, noco, Rock Krawler etc, so far no problems except radio replacement and paint corrosion on the hood taken care of by warranty.

 

[debjl2018]

I have a 2018 jl sport s, no mods, no upgrades, no off roading, about 85000 miles on it now. I got it new in Sept 2018. That first winter DW started, temp below about 40 and always going over certain bridge expansions and worse when going over them in a curve and going over 60-70 mph on the freeway and hitting a bump so I stayed off the freeway til it got fixed. And yeah, scared the ? out of me. At that point it had a few thousand miles on it. I took it back to the dealer and they put in a new stabilizer. This was before the recall came out. It drove great after. I started getting the recall notices but it was driving good so I didn’t take it back in. It drove great until it started again when it got colder this past Oct or so. I took it back in and they did the recall replacement stabilizer. It drives great again. Hope it doesn’t come back but I guess we’ll see. ??‍

 

[dragoneggs]

Okay, stopped into Northridge4x4 today and they graciously put my JLR on the rack (no appt) and checked things out. Turns out my OEM tie rod ends are shot, as well as my OEM drag link ends. They also found my Clayton track bar had a worn bushing! Only one year old.

The ball joints checked out okay but it appears I am now in the market for a new drag link and tie rod assemblies, and NR recommended a Sector Shaft Brace.

Well now since we are at it… I might as well replace the ball joints while I’m at it. NR is recommending Steer Smarts components, and Dynatrac for the BJ’s

 

[Roky]

Okay, stopped into Northridge4x4 today and they graciously put my JLR on the rack (no appt) and checked things out. Turns out my OEM tie rod ends are shot, as well as my OEM drag link ends. They also found my Clayton track bar had a worn bushing! Only one year old.

The ball joints checked out okay but it appears I am now in the market for a new drag link and tie rod assemblies, and NR recommended a Sector Shaft Brace.

Well now since we are at it… I might as well replace the ball joints while I’m at it. NR is recommending Steer Smarts components, and Dynatrac for the BJ’s

Just wanted to let you know that if you go with SS and you break an end or it wears out for whatever reason, it’s gonna cost you 200.00 for just one replacement end…. When my SS DL gave out( at 15k ) thats what sent me in a different direction….. I’m not pushing RK linkages , but it will literally cost me 20.00 to rebuild an end….so shop around, make sure the ends are serviceable and rebuild able, or if you get bars with replacement ends, make sure you don’t have to sell any organs to finance it…..? ……. Just some cents…

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