Steering wheel wobble?

[plex]

So I finally pulled my OEM steering damper off, knowing that it will fail some points along the line (with @brewtus98 has the exact same built date of mine and has him reported the symptom).

To my surprise, there are two stickers on my steering damper, one indicate is an "AB", the other one is "AC", so how could this happen? Also, my stock steering wheel is so much stiffer than I thought, it is very hard to compress and decompress it comparing to Fox. Maybe it is because my OEM damper is only 1000 miles old and I rarely drove harsh roads.

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[billmans]

Hi All,

Canadian, 2018 Jeep JLU and I have been getting really bad wobble since about 8000K. Hit a bump on the highway and it feels like I have a flat tire, or as if I was driving on rumble strips! Everything is stock, nothing modified. I did receive a recall notice for the weld issue, but it has not been checked.

Called my dealership today and spoke with some who "specializes" in jeep who told me

1. The recall has nothing to do with the wobble.
2. That "Death Wobble" is mostly on American Forums and is not something that affects Canadians! Told me to check my lug nuts as someone probably tried to steal my tires/rims! (they are fine!)

This is going to be fun, I can already tell. I have booked a service for this Thursday. I have read this/other threads and from what I understand there can be a number of parts that can cause "death wobble". Is there any one main part that would cause it on a next to new 2018 JLU? Has it been the weld issue for anyone?

When the dealership inevitably tells me it's all in my head, what should I be telling them needs replacing!!!

Thanks
Bill

 

[fzdan4256]

Hi All,

Canadian, 2018 Jeep JLU and I have been getting really bad wobble since about 8000K. Hit a bump on the highway and it feels like I have a flat tire, or as if I was driving on rumble strips! Everything is stock, nothing modified. I did receive a recall notice for the weld issue, but it has not been checked.

Called my dealership today and spoke with some who "specializes" in jeep who told me

1. The recall has nothing to do with the wobble.
2. That "Death Wobble" is mostly on American Forums and is not something that affects Canadians! Told me to check my lug nuts as someone probably tried to steal my tires/rims! (they are fine!)

This is going to be fun, I can already tell. I have booked a service for this Thursday. I have read this/other threads and from what I understand there can be a number of parts that can cause "death wobble". Is there any one main part that would cause it on a next to new 2018 JLU? Has it been the weld issue for anyone?

When the dealership inevitably tells me it's all in my head, what should I be telling them needs replacing!!!

Thanks
Bill

I like the “ American problem only “ that’s a good one. Lol. I’ve come to the conclusion that they simply don’t know what causes the wobble or how to fix it ! My 2018 JLRU has 9500 miles and the wobble. Dealership doesn’t know what to do. They ordered a new steering dampener ( back ordered to April 2019 ) but I have already replaced it with after market. That’s NOT the problem. I’m so flipped frustrated ! $50k vehicle and it’s currently ( today ) in the shop being looked at by a 4x4 shop ( with me paying out of pocket ) to try and find a fix. Pretty much BS if you ask me. But I don’t know what else to do.....

 

[m3reno]

my tires were out of balance as was the alignment!! I installed the falcon 2.1 SS for non lifted vehicles and she drives perfect now

 

[LadynKy]

I ju

That's what happens to me over expansion bridges, highway water drains, and bumps or dips in the road. I don't think I could maintain that highway speed, the shaking is too extreme. The only way I've been able to control it, is to slowly reduce the speed below 50 mph, and wait for the shaking to stop. I'm waiting for the dealer to call for the "steering damper" they said would fix the issue. Unfortunately, they are back

I jus

Trac bar is a AC from an AB and something changing with the stiffness of the bushing rubber....Actually I think the damper is an AD now and no it’s not absolutely necessary to install a track bar as it’s 1/2-5/8s off center

I just my 2018 SahRa back yesterday. They did replace the damper and it’s driving better now then when I first drove it off the lot. Not sure if a band aid fix or not but so far it’s driving great. The part is on back order but I opened a case with Jeep (not my dealer) the part came in less than two weeks. Good luck.

 

[Turbo_punkn]

So I just had mine in for the death wobble. Dealer replaced the stabilizer with an aftermarket one approved by the regional rep. Still has the wobble but not as bad. They said they will have me back in whenever the new part that’s on national back order comes in. I really don’t see how this new mopar stabilizer is gonna fix it, especially if a brand new aftermarket one didn’t.

 

[vavaroutsos]

So I just had mine in for the death wobble. Dealer replaced the stabilizer with an aftermarket one approved by the regional rep. Still has the wobble but not as bad. They said they will have me back in whenever the new part that’s on national back order comes in. I really don’t see how this new mopar stabilizer is gonna fix it, especially if a brand new aftermarket one didn’t.

A steering stabilizer is not the cause of death wobble. It's will just reduce/mask the wobble. The cause of wobble is loose/worn out parts.

 

[Turbo_punkn]

A steering stabilizer is not the cause of death wobble. It's will just reduce/mask the wobble. The cause of wobble is loose/worn out parts.

you don't have to tell me the stabilizer isn't the problem.. I know something else is going on but I have to play the game with the dealer till they find an actual fix. Shouldn't have any worn parts, my jeep has 1200 miles on it.
whatever is worn or defective my not be worn that bad on the jeeps that had the new stabilizer and solved the issue. I'm sure those people who got it fixed are gonna have issues again soon.

just an update on mine, went for a ride down to quadratec today and had to pull over several times because of the wobble. the aftermarket stabilizer did nothing.

 

[#HERJL18]

you don't have to tell me the stabilizer isn't the problem.. I know something else is going on but I have to play the game with the dealer till they find an actual fix. Shouldn't have any worn parts, my jeep has 1200 miles on it.
whatever is worn or defective my not be worn that bad on the jeeps that had the new stabilizer and solved the issue. I'm sure those people who got it fixed are gonna have issues again soon.

just an update on mine, went for a ride down to quadratec today and had to pull over several times because of the wobble. the aftermarket stabilizer did nothing.

Which aftermarket SS did they use?

 

[Turbo_punkn]

Which aftermarket SS did they use?

I believe they are using skyjacker ones from one of the local Offroad shops.

 

[jeremyjeep]

The cause of wobble is loose/worn out parts.

I highly recommend that everyone with steering wheel shimmy or death wobble have the torque for the steering components checked, starting with the ball joints. The ball joints on my JL were finger tight. The first dealership I brought it to said they checked the ball joints, they didn't even take it into the shop. Liars. Second dealership put it up on the rack, said they checked it, the cotter pins in the ball joints were still perfectly factory bent when I looked after getting it back, so they lied as well. I guess both of those dealerships thought they had x-ray vision and didn't need to use a torque wrench. I took it to a 3rd dealership, the tech invited me over to check it out to show me that he could move both the left and right ball joints with his fingers after removing the cotter pins. Several others on the JL forum have also reported loose ball joints.

The track bar bolts, lower control arm bolts, drag link and tie rod were not torqued the factory spec. They weren't finger loose, but he estimated they all averaged less than 50% of the factory spec. I watched him turn the drag link bolts at least 4 full turns before the torque wrench beeped. Note: I didn't have the shimmy/death wobble problem. I had these components tightened because I was trying to resolve the loose steering / wandering all over the road steering symptoms. It did partially help that problem. So this isn't proof it will fix the shimmy / death wobble problems, but it IS common sense that this should be checked. Here are the factory specs: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...rangler-jl-steering-related-components.18510/

 

[szobell]

I am able to consistently getting getting death wobble. I have an exact spot by my home that I can reproduce it at will.

- I have checked my front wheel balance - not a fix.
- been to the dealer 3x - now they are waiting for a replacement stabilizer, but said it is on national backorder

I am skeptical that will fix it, but I will know as soon as I drive it.

@JeepCares - do they really know the root cause?

 

[m3reno]

I am able to consistently getting getting death wobble. I have an exact spot by my home that I can reproduce it at will.

- I have checked my front wheel balance - not a fix.
- been to the dealer 3x - now they are waiting for a replacement stabilizer, but said it is on national backorder

I am skeptical that will fix it, but I will know as soon as I drive it.

@JeepCares - do they really know the root cause?

Check your alignment as mine was off, also had my wheels high speed balanced no issues now

 

[jeremyjeep]

I am able to consistently getting getting death wobble. I have an exact spot by my home that I can reproduce it at will.

- I have checked my front wheel balance - not a fix.
- been to the dealer 3x - now they are waiting for a replacement stabilizer, but said it is on national backorder

I am skeptical that will fix it, but I will know as soon as I drive it.

@JeepCares - do they really know the root cause?

The new stabilizer may be a temporary fix. Did you have them check the torque on the ball joints, track bar, drag link, tie rod, etc.? If they are loose, then torquing them could fix it. Or if there is enough miles, the loose bolts could of ruined the bushings and now you need to replace the part(s) with the bad bushings and then torque everything to spec. Not only were the ball joints finger tight on mine, the drag link, tie rod, track bar weren't torqued to spec either. And don't just torque them, loosen them first, then torque. When I had to remove one side of the track bar to install an aftermarket steering stabilizer (per the instructions), the entire Jeep "settled" which most likely means the factory tightened the track bar bolt in the air (but not to torque). Even the rear control arms weren't torqued to spec. JL Torque Specs: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...rangler-jl-steering-related-components.18510/

Also, look at the cotter pins in the four front ball joints. If they are bent factory perfect (by a machine), then no one has checked your ball joint torque settings.

 

[4xnaz]

Just my experience here....not sure if it's a fix for everyone, but also was gradually getting the steering wheel wobble after hitting an obstruction in the road and getting worse day by day. I have the 3.5" Metalcloak Gamechanger lift with 38" Milestar tires. The install shop said they aligned my Jeep after the install and I had to reason to think otherwise. But after the wobble was getting worse, I took it into a different shop to get my alignment stats. My Caster was off the charts at a 9. After readjusting my Caster specs to a more manageable 6, the wobble I experienced on the same hole that o drive over every day to work, has stopped. I also added a Falcon 2.2 steering stabilizer to assist with the situation. Everything is fine now and once again, I'm only speaking about my own personal experience. I've attached my before/after alignment spec sheet for your review.

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