Did we juust experience "death wobble"?

[Alan_Hepburn]

So, we're driving the wife's stock 2022 JLU Sport S recently, cruise control set at 70 mph on the freeway when we encountered a rough patch of roadway. Suddenly it felt like we were driving too fast on a washboard road! Slowed down to about 40 mph and it smoothed out. I've read most of the posts regarding "death wobble" but I've always assumed that it included a very "shaky" feeling in the steering wheel - is that the case? In our case the steering wheel stayed real solid, just the entire Jeep shook like crazy! We've got 18K miles on the Jeep and this is the first time we've experienced this.

Doing some experimenting it happened pretty much all the time when we hit bumpy roads at 70 mph; at 65 mph we could feel a very slight, momentary shudder but it only lasted a second or two. Below 65 mph it did not shake at all.

We're going to have a dealer check it out since it's still under warranty - we have a choice of a dealer in Columbia, TN, Murfreesboro, TN, or Franklin, TN - anybody have experience with any of those dealers?

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[Bulletbill]

Sounds like it. If you’re taking it to the dealer they will likely replace the steering stabilizer, as it is their go to fix.

It’s worth asking them to balance your tires, check your ball joints, tie rod, and other steering components as they can all be the culprit.

When it happened to me, they diagnosed it as a bad steering stabilizer and replaced it under warranty. In my case it fixed the issue and it has not returned in over 10,000 miles.

 

[au176]

Since you said that the wheel was really solid, I'd say that it wasn't Death Wobble. You'll know if you get the DW. To paraphrase an old saying- "if you have to ask if it was, it wasn't." Believe me, you'll know! Your sphincter won't unclench for a couple-few hours! At 70 MPH, the DW will put the fear of God into an Atheist!

A mechanic once told me that, "if you feel it in the steering wheel, the problem is up front, and if you feel it in your rear-end, the problem is likely in your car's rear-end."

My uneducated guess is that something underneath is loose, but not likely the FRONT suspension/steering, as that will be felt in the steering wheel.

Check rear suspension and also drivetrain mounts...

 

[WontonJLUR]

Definitely not death wobble. Death wobble is appropriately named because it makes you legitimately feel like you're going to die. You have absolutely no control over the vehicle direction as the wheels violently go from left to right, and the steering wheel matches this frequency. The ONLY cure is to slow down dramatically, typically to 20ish or lower MPH.

As to what you experienced, couldn't really say.

 

[Bandit59]

So, we're driving the wife's stock 2022 JLU Sport S recently, cruise control set at 70 mph on the freeway when we encountered a rough patch of roadway. Suddenly it felt like we were driving too fast on a washboard road! Slowed down to about 40 mph and it smoothed out. I've read most of the posts regarding "death wobble" but I've always assumed that it included a very "shaky" feeling in the steering wheel - is that the case? In our case the steering wheel stayed real solid, just the entire Jeep shook like crazy! We've got 18K miles on the Jeep and this is the first time we've experienced this.

Doing some experimenting it happened pretty much all the time when we hit bumpy roads at 70 mph; at 65 mph we could feel a very slight, momentary shudder but it only lasted a second or two. Below 65 mph it did not shake at all.

We're going to have a dealer check it out since it's still under warranty - we have a choice of a dealer in Columbia, TN, Murfreesboro, TN, or Franklin, TN - anybody have experience with any of those dealers?

I get my oil changed in Murfreesboro dealer. The dealer will most likely change out the stabilizer. And it may help but is seldom the cause. Make sure alignment and tire balance is right. If you have a place that works in Jeeps they will check the items that cause it to happen. They will check torque in all connections under the Jeep

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks - now to decide where to take it. We live just south of Chapel Hill, TN and the Columbia dealer is about 20 miles away; the Murfreesboro is about 26 miles, and the Franklin dealer is about 30 miles. I'm thinking I'll give the Columbia dealer a shot - being a smaller town than Murfreesboro, and farther away from Nashville than Franklin the labor rates might be lower if it turns out to be a non-warranty fix, and it might be easier to get an appointment...

 

[Terrymo]

I get my oil changed in Murfreesboro dealer. The dealer will most likely change out the stabilizer. And it may help but is seldom the cause. Make sure alignment and tire balance is right. If you have a place that works in Jeeps they will check the items that cause it to happen. They will check torque in all connections under the Jeep

My advice, which you didn’t ask for. If you have the capability and you don’t already have them, invest in a decent quality torque wrench (and other tools ) and using the torque specs on this forum double check hardware yourself. If you don’t know how, join a Jeep club and seek out people willing to teach you. Nobody is going to care about your Jeep as much as you do.

 

[Fght On]

Franklin Jeep is really good but always super busy and backed up. They’d prob want to keep your Jeep for a few days regardless just b/c they can’t get to it.

I can totally appreciate not wanting to pay for something before you know for sure if it’s covered under warranty, but you might want to try calling Chambliss over at Elevated Off-road in Murfreesboro (no affiliation or compensation provided) and speak w him. He’s the owner. I’m coming from the Raptor world but sold my motorcycle and wanted another summer toy. I’ve always loved the YJ’s from my HS days so I bought a JLUR and he’s building it for me. I know about trucks and off-road but not Jeep specific. He’s been awesome. I call him all the time to run things by him.

 

[khramesh]

Your issue does'nt seem like a 'Death Wobble'. Like other members have stated, you would feel the steering rock and sway back and forth left to right violently till you slowed down.
I had this experience last year. At one service visit I made the mistake of telling the svce mgr that my Jeep (2021 Wrangler S U Manual) was a bit bumpy. Bam, they said it was the steering dampner and changed it!! Driving to Chicago from NYC the next day, I experienced the first D W and reached out to members not knowing what D W was! Thanks to members who advised and calmed me down!
I new it was due to the new dampner they had installed!
It took me several visits, and 6 months to convince them that they had installed a faulty steering dampner. I was made to put 4 new tires ( I needed this in a few K miles anyway so gave in), wheel alignment etc! None of these changes fixed this unwanted recurring problem, which I never had in the 4 years that I had driven my Jeep.
I did not give up, and finally they said the dampner they had installed had air pockets in it which they could not get out.
They installed a new one and it has been about 4 months now and I have not had D W since then!
I bet you 'Jeep Cares' is watching this thread, and I am surprised that they have not yet reached out to you!
I suggest you open a ticket and they will help you out like they did to me.
Sorry, for the long story !!
Good luck!

 

[Riverjeep]

So, we're driving the wife's stock 2022 JLU Sport S recently, cruise control set at 70 mph on the freeway when we encountered a rough patch of roadway. Suddenly it felt like we were driving too fast on a washboard road! Slowed down to about 40 mph and it smoothed out. I've read most of the posts regarding "death wobble" but I've always assumed that it included a very "shaky" feeling in the steering wheel - is that the case? In our case the steering wheel stayed real solid, just the entire Jeep shook like crazy! We've got 18K miles on the Jeep and this is the first time we've experienced this.

Doing some experimenting it happened pretty much all the time when we hit bumpy roads at 70 mph; at 65 mph we could feel a very slight, momentary shudder but it only lasted a second or two. Below 65 mph it did not shake at all.

We're going to have a dealer check it out since it's still under warranty - we have a choice of a dealer in Columbia, TN, Murfreesboro, TN, or Franklin, TN - anybody have experience with any of those dealers?

Definitely sounds like it and on my last JL it occurred at just about the same mileage as you. That is about the life of the steering stabilizer.

 

[fe731as]

If you're not experiencing any steering wheel 'shake', I'd start by looking for a bad shock or a wheel imbalance. The 'going over bumps' lends to a bad shock, as that's what the shock is supposed to absorb. Wheel balance issues usually have a 'harmonic' speed...shakes at 30, shakes at 60, etc.
*Start with the cheapest parts first.
MY wife is experiencing true 'death wobble' in her '20 JLUD Sahara @ 80k mi. I'm working on ordering aftermarket parts, but in the meantime, she's figured out which bumps to avoid on her commute.

 

[Alan_Hepburn]

Follow-up: We went online to the Columbia Jeep dealer and got an appointment - we could have got a same-day appointment but chose to drop it off the following day, which was a Thursday. Described the symptons and the service advisor said it sounded like death wobble. He said they'd check it out and let us know. Got a call Monday morning and it was ready to pick up with a new steering damper - they also replaced the battery in the fob: no charge - everything covered under warranty!

On the way home we took a detour onto the freeway so we could get it up to 70 mph and test it out: no vibration!

 

[Bandit59]

Follow-up: We went online to the Columbia Jeep dealer and got an appointment - we could have got a same-day appointment but chose to drop it off the following day, which was a Thursday. Described the symptons and the service advisor said it sounded like death wobble. He said they'd check it out and let us know. Got a call Monday morning and it was ready to pick up with a new steering damper - they also replaced the battery in the fob: no charge - everything covered under warranty!

On the way home we took a detour onto the freeway so we could get it up to 70 mph and test it out: no vibration!

Good to get such fast service. I hope that was the answer. The dealer will allways go to the stabilizer. And it normally will take care of it for awhile. But I comes back It’s something in the front end either worn or not properly tourqued. Or as simple as an alignment and tire balance. But free is always a good price. If it happens again find a good Jeep or 4 wheel drive shop. They will probably know the reason

 

[The Last Cowboy]

Odd that the steering wheel didn't shake. The symptom you described would indicate to me the that one or more of the craptastic OEM shocks have blown. Many owners will find them leaking before 20k miles.

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