DW experts... ASSEMBLE!

[AnnDee4444]

I’ll jump in here and make it 4. 2019 2-door Ocean Blue Rubicon w/manual. My question, not to hijack the thread but, I’m definitely out of warranty. I still have the aluminum steering box, would that recall still be something I can take advantage of when and if my steering gets any looser ? It really isn’t bad at all, or maybe I’m just used to it.

I may be incorrect but I don't think there was actually a recall, only a TSB (recalls would be for anything with/without warranty, TSB is only free while under warranty). I would try adjusting the steering box first before anything else. I had my original aluminum box changed for the iron, and honestly didn't notice any difference. Others will have different results, but I ended up needing to adjust my iron box anyway.

I guess it makes sense that all the older/discontinued colors are getting deathwobble... but I've had a theory that the 2-door's lower ratio might be more prone to loose steering, and possibly influencing deathwobble. Any Punk'n Orange in here?



Also I recently came across this (watch front tire)... I'm pretty sure the track bar mount/frame deflects. This is likely one of the ways that deathwobble can start. I'm pretty sure it was for me anyway, which was cured with Metalcloak's track bar brace.

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[multicam]

Update:

Today I installed the Dynatrac ball joints. Bottom line up front: it appears to have completely fixed my death wobble! And wow, what a difference when steering. It just feels way more planted, confident, and predictable in medium-speed turns. Also totally fine at 75+ mph on imperfect roads.

When I did the new track bar it definitely helped but the DW still appeared on the drive from my place to the Kansas City airport. I just replicated that round trip exactly as I did on the February 20th (after the track bar replacement. This is when I realized the DW was still there) and I had no signs of it whatsoever.

 

[Cuyose]

Update:

Today I installed the Dynatrac ball joints. Bottom line up front: it appears to have completely fixed my death wobble! And wow, what a difference when steering. It just feels way more planted, confident, and predictable in medium-speed turns. Also totally fine at 75+ mph on imperfect roads.

When I did the new track bar it definitely helped but the DW still appeared on the drive from my place to the Kansas City airport. I just replicated that round trip exactly as I did on the February 20th (after the track bar replacement. This is when I realized the DW was still there) and I had no signs of it whatsoever.

Oh man, this was the first thread I checked and having the dynatrac ball joints coming tomorrow, this is super encouraging! I have a mopar lift and am running 35's. Started noticing some mild wobble under very rare circumstances at about 34K miles. I Offroad ALOT. After a fairly decent run this last weekend, I noticed it got pretty bad and will even show up on pavement, so basically not safe to drive. I have 41K on original ball joints so Im hoping this is it!

 

[jc1003]

I don't have death wobble but Dynatrac ball joints and longer LCA's make it a night and day difference.

 

[multicam]

I don't have death wobble but Dynatrac ball joints and longer LCA's make it a night and day difference.

I agree. Here's a concrete, non-death wobble example I’ve been noticing over the last few days.

When I leave my garage, driving forward, I’m usually going about 10mph at the end of my driveway. I turn left right where the concrete meets the street and there’s a small gutter ditch thing that rocks the jeep left and right. With the old worn-out ball joints the jeep would rock left and right noticeably more than it does now. I can feel the improvement since installing the new ball joints because the jeep doesn’t keep rocking and settling down nearly as much as it used to.

 

[Krondor]

Good thread, I'm just getting the onset of DW so will be getting a new track bar, and have planned to upgrade the Ball Joints around 50K (about 10k miles to go).

Amazing how bad the stock ball joints are. Mine were shot before 50k too.

Get them sooner rather than later man.

 

[blnewt]

Amazing how bad the stock ball joints are. Mine were shot before 50k too.

Get them sooner rather than later man.

Yeah, they're next on my to-do list, probably get the Teraflex, isn't that what you have???

 

[Krondor]

Yeah, they're next on my to-do list, probably get the Teraflex, isn't that what you have???

Yeah, I went with them for the price and easy of maintenance. Gathering more and more zerks though. lol

 

[multicam]

Okay, final update until the next time DW rears its ugly head

The ball joints did solve the DW. Once they were installed I never experienced it again, even after a 2600 mile road trip to Florida. But I could tell the tires were shot, overused (53,400 miles), out of balance, or a combination of all this. The jeep had a weird shake to it. I could just tell something was off.

It was time for new tires anyway so I had these KOs installed. Talk about a night and day difference! It now drives SO much better. It's firm, confident, tracks perfectly straight. LOVE IT!!!

All the mods:
-Mopar LCAs
-Dynatrac Ball Joints
-Yeti track bar
-BFG KO2 315/70R17s

That's pretty much it.

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