Fixing the "death wobble"

[JeepGeezer]

My current 2022 Wrangler Sport S is my fourth Jeep, but the first one where I have experienced the "death wobble". It caught my wife while driving on the highway and half scared her to death, so I need to get it fixed before she will be comfortable driving the Jeep again. Fortunately the Jeep dealer told me it should be covered under warranty (we only have 12,000 miles on it, and it just passed it's 2nd anniversary).

My question is directed to anyone who has had this fixed at a dealer. Hold long does the work take? I have asked the dealer but never got a really good answer so I am wondering if this is a one day job or one week. Or more? The dealer tells me that they will provide me with a rental (at their expense), but the last time they did that for some other work they gave me some huge pickup truck that cost me an arm and leg for gas alone and was so tall it almost did not fit in my garage. I suppose I should be glad that they say they will pay for the rental, but I still would like some idea of how long I should expect to have to wait.

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[rohdawg]

Hold long does the work take?

Depends on what’s causing the DW and if they can chase it down correctly.
Since the dealership is handling it, they’ll replace your steering stabilizer and send you on your way.
Should be a day at most if that’s the case.

 

[gek]

if they can chase it down correctly.

 

[Digitac]

A day to install, but my stock ‘22 4xE developed it a few weeks ago and they said the stabilizer was back ordered and they couldn’t even place an order for it for 10 days. I’m still waiting on an ETA for when the part will be in.

 

[gek]

"The stabilizer is not covering up the real problem anymore, let's put on a new one to see if it hides it again."

 

[4xFUN]

Presuming your JL is stock, they will try replacing the stabilizer. That said, I would also look at the frame side front track bar bushing. I replaced my track bar early on as part of my first suspension upgrade and the frame side bushing was badly deformed and would have caused trouble...

 

[gek]

@howsthewhiskey

Do you like cheese?

 

[gek]

@howsthewhiskey

What about cornbread?

 

[gek]

@howsthewhiskey

Do you eat them together?

 

[yokramer]

Its like a scavenger hunt for @howsthewhiskey

 

[JeepGeezer]

A big thank you to those who answered my question. I appreciate the help.

 

[JeepGeezer]

@howsthewhiskey

Do you like cheese?

Some, but why do you ask???

 

[Phrank]

I would be far less concerned with the duration of the fix than with the quality of the fix. It is well documented here that dealers tend to just toss a stabilizer on in an effort to kick the can down the road - hopefully far enough down the road to get you past the point of warranty protection.

 

[JeepGeezer]

I would be far less concerned with the duration of the fix than with the quality of the fix. It is well documented here that dealers tend to just toss a stabilizer on in an effort to kick the can down the road - hopefully far enough down the road to get you past the point of warranty protection.

Do you mean that replacing the steering stabilizer does not actually fix the issue?

 

[shad0w77]

A day to install, but my stock ‘22 4xE developed it a few weeks ago and they said the stabilizer was back ordered and they couldn’t even place an order for it for 10 days. I’m still waiting on an ETA for when the part will be in.

I was in the same boat. You know they're backordered? Because the Mopar ones are next to disposable. Buy a Bilstein direct replacement and spend 20 mins putting it on in your driveway. My dealer never gave me a problem about it and even said it was a good call.

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