How common is the Death Wobble?

[Mccorm67]

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?

Sponsored

 

[DavidArmen]

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.

 

[Mccorm67]

I suspected that, I think the Jeep in question was just a stock Sahara. But sad to lose a Jeeper because of it.

 

[TheBirdie72]

But sad to lose a Jeeper because of it.

This is why it is called death wobble. I’m sorry for your loss. ?

 

[19 JLUR Bright Whit3]

A modified or stock Sahara? Was it really "death wobble"? Maybe an unbalanced 18in wheel? ?

 

[BuyHold]

You may want to set up a poll for this with model year dimension. I personally have never experienced it and have a 2021. Jeep apparently upgraded steering sometime in 2020(?) so model year is probably relevant to what answer you get.

 

[Mccorm67]

I’d only seen it a few times, but I would say totally stock, defy a daily driver and from what I know, not an off road user. They just said “google the death wobble” lol.

 

[Cajun21]

I guess this is an anomaly-I never had that issue with my 2019 sport jlu-I also have a few friends that have the 2019 sahara and have them stock no issues. Hate to see a Jeeper leave-maybe a warped rim. Best of luck

 

[BVES4]

I have a stock Sahara (everyday driver/only 4WD twice on beach)...everything was fine until 36,500 miles. Boom, cruising at 70 flat interstate, wobble. Slowed down to @40 and wobble went away. Couldn't get an appt at the dealer for a week (in that week, no more instances). At appt, dealer says they replicated the instance and installed a new steering stabilizer. Drove it home, 7 miles, then next day on way to work, same interstate....wobble x2 again. Taking in tomorrow because service dept chief says they need to do a more thorough bleed of the stabilizer.
After reading up on "Death Wobble" in this forum, looks like there is more than steering stabilizer issues and that the dealer is just going through their progressions....more to follow, but disgruntled is an understatement.

 

[JABCAT]

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 agree. I've owned 5 different Wranglers beginning in 1994 and have never experienced it. I've also owned 20 or more high-performance cars and enjoy modifying those. When one modifies something from original manufacturer's specifications and a problem develops, the problem can no longer be blamed on the manufacturer, imo.

 

[John VonJeep]

DW usually originates due to worn out or improperly torqued suspension components. It has also been blamed on Jeep using ever-so-slightly undersized bolts for the front track bar (due to a metric/Imperial mismatch), which leads to a wallowing-out of the track bar bolt holes.

It’s pretty rare in stock vehicles, although it seems to be more common on stock JLs than other Jeeps. One can only speculate about why this might be happening.

The bottom line is that with properly torqued, not-worn-out suspension components, DW shouldn’t happen in a solid front axle (and cannot by definition happen with IFS). If it does happen, the suspension should be torn down, parts examined and replaced as necessary, and a cause identified. Patches like installing a stronger steering stabilizer are just that — patches. They mask the problem but don’t fix it. It’s still there, eating away at the suspension components. You just can’t feel it.

 

[AcesandEights]

I've owned a TJ, XJ and two JL and haven't ever experienced DW.

ETA: I take that back...I've experienced it once in my Ford Super Duty.

 

[Wooster]

My first Jeep, the 2018 JL Wrangler 4-Door developed DW. First about 4 months ago, on interstate after hitting uneven bump about 70 mph During a slight right turn on curve. It is however lifted, but didn’t develop until 6 months after the lift. Solved finally by replacing control arms, and track bar with beefier higher quality parts.

 

[AC87]

Nope, never experienced it. Didn't even know it might be a thing until now. stock Rubicon over here.

 

[Dyolfknip74]

Nope, never experienced it. Didn't even know it might be a thing until now. stock Rubicon over here.

You've never heard of death wobble? Odds are stock, you'll never have to worry about it.

You'd DEFINITELY know if you did have it though.

Sponsored