Fixing the "death wobble"

[gek]

Yeah, all the JLs rolling off the production line with under 15k miles just have serious suspension geometry issues. It definitely isn't a faulty steering dampener. There definitely isn't three revised recalls, multiple TSBs, and an extended warranty for the issue.


The issue only happens traveling at speed while hitting a bump. It's very reproducible. Perhaps it's because of the aluminum steering knuckles, maybe it's because of the hyrdo-electric power steering design, or maybe the ball joints aren't tight. Maybe all new Jeep owners are just hitting massive pot holes and blowing the stock shock out.

I'm not the engineer, but replacing the dampener fixes the problem. Masking it or not it's the correct fix for our current stock suspension design

Hahaha, tell me you don't understand without telling me you don't understand. I don't think I can explain it any clearer, I guess I'll try, but only this once. If this doesn't work, I fear you are beyond my grasp and it will require someone with far more patience and understanding than I posses.

Any form of masking it is not the correct fix and while it may hide the issue, it does not fix the issue.

Just because a new damper stops it from occurring does not mean there is not an underlying issue. Like I said before, if your suspension is in ideal condition you should be able to drive without one.

One last attempt, maybe a better analogy.

If you are bald and you put a hat on you are still bald, it did not fix your baldness.
The steering stabilizer is like a hat for your suspension's baldness (worn/bad components).

That's the most effort I am willing to put towards explaining it. I hope this was easier for you to understand, especially the analogy, I am going to save that one for future stabilizer discussions.

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[alphawolff]

Hahaha, tell me you don't understand without telling me you don't understand. I don't think I can explain it any clearer, I guess I'll try, but only this once. If this doesn't work, I fear you are beyond my grasp and it will require someone with far more patience and understanding than I posses.

Any form of masking it is not the correct fix and while it may hide the issue, it does not fix the issue.

Just because a new damper stops it from occurring does not mean there is not an underlying issue. Like I said before, if your suspension is in ideal condition you should be able to drive without one.

One last attempt, maybe a better analogy.

If you are bald and you put a hat on you are still bald, it did not fix your baldness.
The steering stabilizer is like a hat for your suspension's baldness (worn/bad components).

That's the most effort I am willing to put towards explaining it. I hope this was easier for you to understand, especially the analogy, I am going to save that one for future stabilizer discussions.

I'm telling you they're leaving the factory with this condition. If there is a fault in the suspension is it because of an engineering design, not a failure of suspension components. What you're saying only applies to vehicles with actual mileage on them, not brand new JLs with sub 15k. I fully understand what can cause death wobble.

Pull your steering dampener off and take it on the highway. I'm sure you'll be fine.

 

[gek]

I'm telling you they're leaving the factory with this condition. If there is a fault in the suspension is it because of an engineering design, not a failure of suspension components. I fully understand what can cause death wobble.

Pull your steering dampener off and take it on the highway. I'm sure you'll be fine.

I will be fine, I have upgraded my track bar and ball joints while I still have the stock stabilizer that came on it.

The fault is in their use of shitty components like plastic ball joints and cheap bushings.

 

[Tokenwasp]

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.

I had the same experience recently (SS on backorder), and I ended up purchasing the Fox through-shaft model and doing it myself. They try to rely on the procedure in Star case number S1819000004, but I did get the dealership to perform TSB 02-004-21, which is basically re-torquing the ball joints.

 

[Jamrock]

I'm telling you they're leaving the factory with this condition. If there is a fault in the suspension is it because of an engineering design, not a failure of suspension components. What you're saying only applies to vehicles with actual mileage on them, not brand new JLs with sub 15k. I fully understand what can cause death wobble.

Pull your steering dampener off and take it on the highway. I'm sure you'll be fine.

The posts on this forum do not suggest that the vehicles are leaving the factory with defective suspension parts. The ones I have read suggest that death wobble started after the Jeeps had been driven for a while.

The after market suspension parts are more robust and durable than the factory ones. However, the factory ones seem to work until they get worn.

I agree that a steering stabilizer will improve the situation. Whether that is the best solution or not is open to debate.

 

[Whaler27]

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.

As others have said, the dealership “fix” will probably be a new stabilizer. If you have an appointment that can be done while you wait. And it won’t “fix” anything.

I’m not a Steer Smarts rep, but I share the video linked below every time a new thread is started on this extremely well worn topic. (This site has a search engine).

Older threads have much more content and detail on the causes of DW, but as the question is repeatedly posted the long-timers are less inclined to take the time to re-re-re-re-explain.

Steering stabilizer not the CAUSE

 

[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.

Just an FYI, my dealer was supposed to be able to order it on April 9th so I called this week to check the status. They said "no luck, try again in another month"! They refuse to look at any other possible causes until they replace the stabilizer. I'm worried if I put an aftermarket stabilizer on and it doesn't fix the wobble they'll blame it on the stabilizer and refuse any more warranty work on it.

 

[gek]

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