Death Wobble

[Mr. Tahiti]

My experience with death wobble.
Fairly new 21 2dr - got progressively worse and was able to re-create, dealer replaced steering stabilizer and symptom vanished. A while later (maybe six months) a milder version of symptom returned, dealer replaced with updated SS and symptom vanished again. I have since lifted Jeep (1.5 JKS) and replaced SS with a Fox - death wobble has not returned and hopefully never will.
The death wobble experience was scarier than any of the trails I have been on.

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[gek]

My experience with death wobble.
Fairly new 21 2dr - got progressively worse and was able to re-create, dealer replaced steering stabilizer and symptom vanished. A while later (maybe six months) a milder version of symptom returned, dealer replaced with updated SS and symptom vanished again. I have since lifted Jeep (1.5 JKS) and replaced SS with a Fox - death wobble has not returned and hopefully never will.
The death wobble experience was scarier than any of the trails I have been on.

Yup, should replace the band aid every so often or you run the risk of infection.

 

[shagles]

Ball joints are more of a press in thing than a bolt on thing. Teraflex, Dynatrac, Metalcloak, Synergy, there are many brands out there. In my experience it is likely the Ball joints or your track bar. I had to tighten my trackbar more than recommended torque at the frame side to get it to not move around. But even if it is your trackbar, if you have stock ball joints, they are probably bad.

Northridge has a good video about the different options.

MIne was both. Torquing the trackbar to the Clayton spec instead of the Mopar spec made a big difference too.

 

[Boatbuilder88]

As most of us suspected, the dealer just replaced the steering damper. Ugh.

Anyone know of a shop in central Jersey that can help me diagnose the root cause?

 

[CloakedWillys]

As most of us suspected, the dealer just replaced the steering damper. Ugh.

Anyone know of a shop in central Jersey that can help me diagnose the root cause?

Globex will get you right.

 

[yokramer]

As most of us suspected, the dealer just replaced the steering damper. Ugh.

Anyone know of a shop in central Jersey that can help me diagnose the root cause?

How did they take it when you told them you wouldnt take the Jeep back until they fixed the actual cause of the problems?

 

[brconflict]

I had death wobble with my 2023 High Altitude JL. And this is with 20" rims/street tires. Here's a few things I found and will be doing myself:

1. Older Mopar stabilizer is known to be "a fault", and dealers will replace this without even looking at the part # on the one you have. Even if your Wrangler has the new/updated stabilizer, they'll toss it and replace it with the exact same part. That's what my dealer did.
2. Replacing the stabilizer with a Through-shaft FOX stabilizer did not solve the problem (actually made it worse). So, I wasted money there, but I still have the stabilizer I'd happily sell for $120+shipping to the continental U.S. if anyone wants to try it. I'm sure it's a fine part, it just didn't fix this problem for me.
3. tires should be at a reasonably high pressure (at least 35 lbs for factory wheels on the High-Altitude; You situation may be different) while on the highway.
4. Replacing the stock stabilizer with a newer MOPAR part seems to have fixed the problem for me.
5. Replace the stabilizer every 50-60k miles.

That lat bit is interesting, because just as any other shocks will loosen over time, the stabilizer is no exception. It gets a workout, too.

 

[Remorseless]

I had death wobble with my 2023 High Altitude JL. And this is with 20" rims/street tires. Here's a few things I found and will be doing myself:

1. Older Mopar stabilizer is known to be "a fault", and dealers will replace this without even looking at the part # on the one you have. Even if your Wrangler has the new/updated stabilizer, they'll toss it and replace it with the exact same part. That's what my dealer did.
2. Replacing the stabilizer with a Through-shaft FOX stabilizer did not solve the problem (actually made it worse). So, I wasted money there, but I still have the stabilizer I'd happily sell for $120+shipping to the continental U.S. if anyone wants to try it. I'm sure it's a fine part, it just didn't fix this problem for me.
3. tires should be at a reasonably high pressure (at least 35 lbs for factory wheels on the High-Altitude; You situation may be different) while on the highway.
4. Replacing the stock stabilizer with a newer MOPAR part seems to have fixed the problem for me.
5. Replace the stabilizer every 50-60k miles.

That lat bit is interesting, because just as any other shocks will loosen over time, the stabilizer is no exception. It gets a workout, too.

So you could say that the situation is stabilized

 

[yokramer]

I had death wobble with my 2023 High Altitude JL. And this is with 20" rims/street tires. Here's a few things I found and will be doing myself:

1. Older Mopar stabilizer is known to be "a fault", and dealers will replace this without even looking at the part # on the one you have. Even if your Wrangler has the new/updated stabilizer, they'll toss it and replace it with the exact same part. That's what my dealer did.
2. Replacing the stabilizer with a Through-shaft FOX stabilizer did not solve the problem (actually made it worse). So, I wasted money there, but I still have the stabilizer I'd happily sell for $120+shipping to the continental U.S. if anyone wants to try it. I'm sure it's a fine part, it just didn't fix this problem for me.
3. tires should be at a reasonably high pressure (at least 35 lbs for factory wheels on the High-Altitude; You situation may be different) while on the highway.
4. Replacing the stock stabilizer with a newer MOPAR part seems to have fixed the problem for me.
5. Replace the stabilizer every 50-60k miles.

That lat bit is interesting, because just as any other shocks will loosen over time, the stabilizer is no exception. It gets a workout, too.

 

[gek]

I had death wobble with my 2023 High Altitude JL. And this is with 20" rims/street tires. Here's a few things I found and will be doing myself:

1. Older Mopar stabilizer is known to be "a fault", and dealers will replace this without even looking at the part # on the one you have. Even if your Wrangler has the new/updated stabilizer, they'll toss it and replace it with the exact same part. That's what my dealer did.
2. Replacing the stabilizer with a Through-shaft FOX stabilizer did not solve the problem (actually made it worse). So, I wasted money there, but I still have the stabilizer I'd happily sell for $120+shipping to the continental U.S. if anyone wants to try it. I'm sure it's a fine part, it just didn't fix this problem for me.
3. tires should be at a reasonably high pressure (at least 35 lbs for factory wheels on the High-Altitude; You situation may be different) while on the highway.
4. Replacing the stock stabilizer with a newer MOPAR part seems to have fixed the problem for me.
5. Replace the stabilizer every 50-60k miles.

That lat bit is interesting, because just as any other shocks will loosen over time, the stabilizer is no exception. It gets a workout, too.

Just keep replacing the band aid on an open wound.

 

[yokramer]

Just keep replacing the band aid on an open wound.

Maybe they like the way the infection smells?

 

[Sardaukar]

Ugh... My '23 JLUR with a 3.5" lift and 35" tires is currently at the Dealer for death wobble. They are already pushing the steering stabilizer. I originally took it to a reputable Jeep and 4x4 shop in the area and they did an alignment and made sure everything was tight, diagnosing the issue to a clicking and some play in the steel steering box. They indicated it should be covered under warranty since I only have 28k miles on it, so I took it to the dealer. I had four severe cases of death wobble just driving the one hour from Jeep shop to the Dealer near me. They wouldn't stop unless I got under 30mph.

 

[brconflict]

Just keep replacing the band aid on an open wound.

But what's the open wound and who created it, exactly?

High-speed motorcycles use stabilizers for the same reason, and they should be replaced occasionally. That's not necessarily because those bikes are flawed. They're just being modded and used for something that's perhaps a little beyond their original design. If Wranglers had independent front suspension that would certainly solve this problem, but at the expense of a straight front axle. This issue has been a problem for quite some time. Sure, there might be some flaws that make it more "likely" to occur, as I alluded, but would you trust a Wrangler with a straight front axle and no stabilizer at all?

Keep in mind, ball joints and other parts on the front end will and do wear out—sometimes prematurely. What I offered is simply how to deal with what's there now with less expense and to better solve the problem. After all, maybe even a band-aid is cheaper than an entire front end replacement.

By all means, if you experience Death Wobble while under warranty, report it. Get it fixed. Just know the manufacturer must take the path of least resistance first.

 

[gek]

But what's the open wound and who created it, exactly?


Keep in mind, ball joints and other parts on the front end will and do wear out—sometimes prematurely. What I offered is simply how to deal with what's there now with less expense and to better solve the problem. After all, maybe even a band-aid is cheaper than an entire front end replacement.

But a stabilizer doesn't solve the problem it masks it. Hiding something behind a band aid and fixing it are completely different. I don't know about you, but I prefer other people I am on the road with to have functional steering.

If you need a band aid in the interim until you can fix the actually problem that is one thing, but just ignoring the actual problem with a band aid over and over is terrible advice. Especially since it will only ever get worse.

 

[yokramer]

But a stabilizer doesn't solve the problem it masks it. Hiding something behind a band aid and fixing it are completely different. I don't know about you, but I prefer other people I am on the road with to have functional steering.

If you need a band aid in the interim until you can fix the actually problem that is one thing, but just ignoring the actual problem with a band aid over and over is terrible advice. Especially since it will only ever get worse.

Hey man hiding your zombie bite behind a long sleeve shirt is a valid strategy.

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