Death Wobble

[WaldorfJL]

Never heard of DW until I became a jeep owner....but, in the motorcycle side, it's the dreaded tank slap. Never experienced that either. I can say that I love my jeep. I'm not a big off roader though. Sandy rivers, pull my bass boat, occasional icy snowy roads. If this is a normal occurrence that appears over and over,I will go back to Subaru. After learning about it, and all the components that can could be, might be, could possibly might be....etc...it doesn't sound like something I'm interested in hanging on to. Not having the ability to poop money on command, I like to keep vehicles for quite awhile...of all my vehicles....this has never been a concern....hit a bump and it shales itself apart.

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[John C]

Can you provide details on the (several) lawsuits with awards, because I don't believe you.

google it

 

[Bob Burd]

If there had been a class action suit that was awarded, all JL owners would have been notified. Sorry, didn't happen.

 

[txj2go]

Death wobble isn't a design defect

I don't know if I think it is a defect but I think the design could be done to resist it better. I say that because I once owned a Grand Cherokee WJ Limited. We put 150k miles on it including lots of trails with no DW and I had never heard of DW until I bought a JLU. If the straight axle design of the WJ is more resistant to DW then that implies that the JL design could be better.

Also this is kind of off the subject but the straight axle design of the WJ allowed much better highway stability than the JL.

 

[azwjowner]

I don't know if I think it is a defect but I think the design could be done to resist it better. I say that because I once owned a Grand Cherokee WJ Limited. We put 150k miles on it including lots of trails with no DW and I had never heard of DW until I bought a JLU. If the straight axle design of the WJ is more resistant to DW then that implies that the JL design could be better.

Also this is kind of off the subject but the straight axle design of the WJ allowed much better highway stability than the JL.

WJ talk is never off subject (just look at my username). Actually my 2 door JL handles much better than my WJ did on the highway. It might have been the 3 inch lift on the WJ raising the roll center, or maybe my control arm bushings were worn out after 165k miles.

 

[J.Ferreira]

Just hit 23,000 miles on my 21 JLUR and encountered DW today for the first time.

Was driving 55mph and outside temp was 32 degrees, crossed an intersection and hit a bump and the front end shook until I slowed down. I crawled underneath and found some play in the track-bar, so assuming bushings are worn.

Still under warranty so I made an appointment at the dealer who told me that they would take a look and then see if it qualified as a warranty item. If not, they will charge me a $150 service fee (really jeep?).

If they deny, which they shouldn’t because my steering, suspension, and tires are all stock, my plan is to go with a synergy track bar replacement and a fox steering stabilizer.

Any other recommendations?

They won't deny it, the suspension is part of the warranty, but they're obligated to tell you that as a just in case.

 

[J.Ferreira]

I don't know if I think it is a defect but I think the design could be done to resist it better. I say that because I once owned a Grand Cherokee WJ Limited. We put 150k miles on it including lots of trails with no DW and I had never heard of DW until I bought a JLU. If the straight axle design of the WJ is more resistant to DW then that implies that the JL design could be better.

Also this is kind of off the subject but the straight axle design of the WJ allowed much better highway stability than the JL.

You...I...
umm

You're just certifying the same point but trying to make it a rebuttal. Solid Axles will inherently have more issues if you don't stay on top of them. IFS vehicles will not.

 

[Bulletbill]

You...I...
umm

You're just certifying the same point but trying to make it a rebuttal. Solid Axles will inherently have more issues if you don't stay on top of them. IFS vehicles will not.

Subjective, I mean IFS won’t get death wobble, but it requires you to take spare tie rods on the trail. Every vehicle comes with a tradeoff.

 

[J.Ferreira]

Subjective, I mean IFS won’t get death wobble, but it requires you to take spare tie rods on the trail. Every vehicle comes with a tradeoff.

Oh, but of course.
But I was replying about wobbly front ends.

 

[txj2go]

Oh, but of course.
But I was replying about wobbly front ends.

Just to be sure we're all on the same page in the discussion- the WJ has straight front axle with upper and lower control arms similar to the JL, the newer WK Grand Cherokee has IFS.

My father was in the garage business for a long time. I've seen RWD cars have death wobble in the front end when certain components became worn so it doesn't require a solid axle.

 

[J.Ferreira]

Just to be sure we're all on the same page in the discussion- the WJ has straight front axle with upper and lower control arms similar to the JL, the newer WK Grand Cherokee has IFS.

My father was in the garage business for a long time. I've seen RWD cars have death wobble in the front end when certain components became worn so it doesn't require a solid axle.

I stand corrected, sorry.
I don't know all my Cherokee designations.

 

[WaldorfJL]

After a quick visit at the dealer, they will replace my steering damper under an issued TSB. There is also an update or two as well, but due to the strike, it will be 7-10 days for the part to arrive ...till then, I drive cautiously.

 

[WaldorfJL]

Longest 7-10 days....? I called the service department to check up on the part ... apparently Jeep doesn't monitor silly things like shipping, so they have no way of knowing when they will get the part. LOL.

 

[VJT]

After my 22 JLU was diagnose for DW, the dealership ordered steering stabilizer; four weeks later, still waiting for part. WTF. If there has been a problem for years and continuers to be, where's the Jeep recall?

 

[WaldorfJL]

I may end up just replacing it myself....apparently they are readily available everywhere except through the dealership. Just chaps my @$$ that I've already paid for it with the extended warranty....

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