How common is the Death Wobble?

[DavidArmen]

I'm sorry, but if it were that rare, Jeep wouldn't have redesigned the steering stabilizer 5 times, and had the countless TSBs, STAR cases, etc dealing with death wobble.

I think it is *more* prevalent on the JL than the JK (again measured by how much Jeep has had to change the steering set up to address it). Contributing factors are aluminum knuckles that tend to cause ball joints, and steering linkages to go out of torque specs, crimped metal steering linkage, undertorqued from factory ball joints, generally lower caster on rubicons to provide light enough steering with the larger tires for the average consumer.

I have had a JKUR set up nearly identically to my JLUR - never had a death wobble or shimmy on my JK in 57K miles, even when I drove back from wheeling with busted stabilizers, bent tierods and a loosed front LCA.

On the JL started getting shimmy and death wobble at the 3,500 mile mark, which had to be fixed by a comination of pressurized stabilizer (biggest factor), retorqued balljoints and linkages to 10% higher than spec. Upgraded tierod (minor contribution).

Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought the steering box and other steering changes made to the JL were mainly to address loose and sloppy steering and free play in the steering, not death wobble.

Sponsored

 

[gato]

Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought the steering box and other steering changes made to the JL were mainly to address loose and sloppy steering and free play in the steering, not death wobble.

Steering box, yes. Stabilizer, no. The different revisions of stabilizers are to try to address the #1 action recommended by FCA/STAR/TSB to deal with death wobble - changing/updating the stabilizer.

 

[DavidArmen]

Steering box, yes. Stabilizer, no. The different revisions of stabilizers are to try to address the #1 action recommended by FCA/STAR/TSB to deal with death wobble - changing/updating the stabilizer.

If FCA is trying to fix death wobble with a steering stabilizer than that is indeed very sad. Thats the last thing anyone should change to fix death wobble as it’s only a band aid that will just hide the core issue

 

[ViperJon]

2018 JL never had it happen.

 

[Rodeoflyer]

It's so easy to rectify.. I don't even understand the death wobble threads anymore

they're 75%tire related. then track bars, ball joints, geometry issues, then a bunch of little stuff.

More fake news to hurt Jeep. It's 100% caster or a front end bearing/bushing/tire issue.

 

[gato]

If FCA is trying to fix death wobble with a steering stabilizer than that is indeed very sad. Thats the last thing anyone should change to fix death wobble as it’s only a band aid that will just hide the core issue

Popular thing to say on forums, but unfortunately it is misguided.

Even a perfectly set up and well functioning suspension/steering (even unmodified from the factory) on a solid front axle vehicle like the Wrangler is susceptible to bump steer, and shimmy or wobble after hitting a bump. It is just physics.

The steering stabilizer is there, precisely to mitigate this. Tuning a stabilizer to dampen the most common oscillations, without making the steering wheel too heavy or reduce return to center feel is critically important.

On the JL platform, the proper steering stabilizer selection/turning has proven to be, time and time and time again, the #1 factor in resolving wobble.

(P.S. I'm just taking the time to type the above, in the off-chance it may help someone else with shimmy or death wobble - not trying to convince you or anyone else to change your group-think opinion)

 

[Gripster]

Wife got DW at 3500 miles. Scared her real bad and she doesn’t trust her Rubicon any longer. It sucks. Totally stock 2 door 2021 JLR except the Mopar LCA to stop the wandering cant drive in a straight line problem. Dealer replaced the dampener which was leaking oil but I don’t know if that was the cause, or the damage caused from the violent event. I checked lower ball joints which were tight but have not checked upper as need to buy an extension to get torque wrench in there. Her Jeep has yet to see a dirt road too so can’t blame abuse.

 

[19 JLUR Bright Whit3]

Wife got DW at 3500 miles. Scared her real bad and she doesn’t trust her Rubicon any longer. It sucks. Totally stock 2 door 2021 JLR except the Mopar LCA to stop the wandering cant drive in a straight line problem. Dealer replaced the dampener which was leaking oil but I don’t know if that was the cause, or the damage caused from the violent event. I checked lower ball joints which were tight but have not checked upper as need to buy an extension to get torque wrench in there. Her Jeep has yet to see a dirt road too so can’t blame abuse.

I wouldnt be surprised if they forgot to retighten the front trackbar. My $.02

 

[jeep-tonic]

The second time I was taking a turn with enthusiasm and hit a pot-hole. In both cases, it didn't cease until I slowed down. Now that I know what it feels like and what to do when it happens, it's not a big deal to me.

You didnt lose control when going into a turn and DW kicked in? How did you react?

 

[John VonJeep]

Popular thing to say on forums, but unfortunately it is misguided.

Even a perfectly set up and well functioning suspension/steering (even unmodified from the factory) on a solid front axle vehicle like the Wrangler is susceptible to bump steer, and shimmy or wobble after hitting a bump. It is just physics.

This is bad advice. Bump steer isn’t DW. Shimmy isn’t DW.

DW results form play in the suspension system, usually because someone hasn’t tightened something correctly, or because a part has worn out.

19/20 times someone comes here complaining about DW, you come to find out they’ve lifted the Jeep or have otherwise messed with the suspension, resulting in something that wasn’t installed or torqued correctly. Lots of DW stories where it happens when someone was driving home from a fresh install by a lazy shop.

Why does it happen on stock JLs? Because the factory didn’t torque correctly, or because a component is broken or worn out.

Note to future readers: you aren’t going to remedy DW with a new steering stabilizer. Hopefully you’ve got a loose bolt or two. Worse, you’ve just got a part or parts that are worn out and need replacing. Worst is that the DW incident had wallowed or ovaled out your bolt holes and now you’ve really got a problem on your hands.

 

[rickinAZ]

My colleague just experienced this in their 2019 JLU Sahara, and not wanting the random safety issue to show up again is selling the Jeep. Just curious how common this issue is in the grand scheme of all the Jeeps on the road?

While I believe that they happen, my vote would be VERY infrequently, almost to the point of being an urban myth.

 

[jimhaleii]

In my opinion, death wobble is very rare on the JL platform. That is unless the owner has done some very stupid “upgrades” to the suspension and messed up the entire geometry. In stock form it is extremely rare.

I just bought a completely stock 2021 jlu sahara diesel with 15k miles, driving on hwy at 70mph, hit very rough bridge/overpass transition and experienced it. Was brutal and im very discouraged in the quality. This jeep was 59000.00 new, smh.
Had planned on lifting it anyway so I now have the following parts ordered:
Steersmart tierod assbly, draglink, front and rear trackbar, sector shaft brace, fox steering damper upgrade and clamp, mopar lift specific for diesel and z taser programmer. Hope this is enough, lol...wheels and 37's will replace factory wheels and tires
Hopefully it wont happen again
??????

 

[jimhaleii]

While I believe that they happen, my vote would be VERY infrequently, almost to the point of being an urban myth.

Not a myth...factory stock wrangler jlu sahara with only approx 15k miles had it so bad i had to pull over on interstate to complete stop. Terrifying to say the least!

 

[rickinAZ]

Not a myth...factory stock wrangler jlu sahara with only approx 15k miles had it so bad i had to pull over on interstate to complete stop. Terrifying to say the least!

My reply was to the question: "Just curious how common this issue is in the grand scheme of all the Jeeps on the road?". My answer was VERY infrequently. And...in the grand scheme of all the Jeeps on the road, they are.

BTW, I don't mean to discount your own experience. I have no doubt that they are terrifying.

 

[Rodeoflyer]

I just bought a completely stock 2021 jlu sahara diesel with 15k miles, driving on hwy at 70mph, hit very rough bridge/overpass transition and experienced it. Was brutal and im very discouraged in the quality. This jeep was 59000.00 new, smh.
Had planned on lifting it anyway so I now have the following parts ordered:
Steersmart tierod assbly, draglink, front and rear trackbar, sector shaft brace, fox steering damper upgrade and clamp, mopar lift specific for diesel and z taser programmer. Hope this is enough, lol...wheels and 37's will replace factory wheels and tires
Hopefully it wont happen again
??????

that will solve any issues...

Sponsored