This is Death wobble

[beachbumm78]

Wow, this just proves most sales guys are idiots. I've seen more DW reports from 100% stock owners than I have from modified Jeep owners. If anything I would guess most lifts/upgrades can actually help (they could make it worse too, esp. if cheap parts are used which can wear out). But just a blank statement tells me he is ignorant about this topic, yet acting informed.

I still think it's a very small % of the Jeep population that experience this. Maybe 5%. Hopefully yours will be fine. Welcome to the club, and ATX REPREZENT!!! Also be sure to check out Austin Jeep People on FB!

Yeah. When I started looking at Jeeps I knew nothing beyond I love driving them. I’ve learned so much from the past year on this forum. My brother used to have one. Funny enough — another sales guy at the same dealership is the one that really told me everything about the new ‘18 JL and all the updates and actually convinced me to get the new body style. He’s no longer there sadly. The guy I talked to tried to act like he knew all about the new Jeeps. It may of worked on the avg. consumer but I could tell.

Totally agreed about the DW. It seems it’s no set type or mod that is/is not causing it. Just like all the other issues. Some have them some don’t. I just hope I’m a lucky one that doesn’t. If not — at least I have a ton of info here

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[VNT]

We had severe DW twice in 2,000 miles. ( from 8,000-10,000 miles). They replaced SS first. That fixed it for awhile. It actually just masked it. Came back violently at 10,000. Always happened at 60-65 mph. Glad I wasn't on a 2 lane road or I may not be here today. They overnighted a new steering box, installed it and the DW went away. It's been 2,000 miles now. Fingers crossed.

When was your Sahara built? Curious if they had some bad steering boxes during some time frame.

 

[Robmypro]

Could this be bad tire balancing? Does it impact 2019 MY Rubicons?

 

[beachbumm78]

For those that have survived this....

 

[wbee]

Full disclosure

I installed the steer smart stuff last night and kept the steering stabilizer off. Went to do a test drive and had DW but it was much more violent due to the steering components not deflecting at all.

Loaded it on the trailer this morning for a double check of alignment (mainly toe) and also check balance on the tires. Alignment wasn’t bad but corrected the toe from the installation of new parts and caster was 6.5/6.8. Installed steering stabilizer while it was there.

Tires were around 3.5oz off each. They stripped all the weight and started fresh. I think each took about 4.5 oz each.

Brought it home and did a test drive. Much much better. In a spot that would give me DW every time only gave me a little shimmy I could drive thru. It’s much better, still not 100% though. Next step is Redneck ram I’m afraid. Glad to be back driving it again though

Brett

This might give you another reference point. When I was trying to fix my steering wobble issues and moved my caster out to between 6.5 and 7.0 degrees it amplified the Wobble terribly and I could hardly drive it. I had to bring my caster back to just under 6.0 degrees and it improved significantly. Just another reference, seems every Jeep is slightly different.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Wow, this just proves most sales guys are idiots. I've seen more DW reports from 100% stock owners than I have from modified Jeep owners. If anything I would guess most lifts/upgrades can actually help (they could make it worse too, esp. if cheap parts are used which can wear out). But just a blank statement tells me he is ignorant about this topic, yet acting informed.

I still think it's a very small % of the Jeep population that experience this. Maybe 5%. Hopefully yours will be fine. Welcome to the club, and ATX REPREZENT!!! Also be sure to check out Austin Jeep People on FB!

The dishonesty is a shame and the main reason I’d a terrible salesman. However, they never know who the customer next to them is or their background. Lying isn

This might give you another reference point. When I was trying to fix my steering wobble issues and moved my caster out to between 6.5 and 7.0 degrees it amplified the Wobble terribly and I could hardly drive it. I had to bring my caster back to just under 6.0 degrees and it improved significantly. Just another reference, seems every Jeep is slightly different.

Certainly worth trying. It’s roatating the LCA head a turn to bring it in .5 degrees or so.

Brett

 

[gschones]

Could this be bad tire balancing? Does it impact 2019 MY Rubicons?

I could be,. I previously had a JK at the same time as my buddy. Hid that did that but mine didn't. Both had stock tires and wheels. When he finally got new tires the DW went away.

 

[JL_John]

We’re still working thru it. There’s definitely not a magic part that cures everything for everyone. That said, the steer smart stuff is awesome and I honestly believe it should be on every built Jeep.

Don’t know if I’ve said it here or not, every lifted JL we turn out from our shop will have a steer smart drag link and tie rod at a minimum. If it doesn’t come with what we consider a quality track bar, it’ll be steer smart too. I’m not risking anyone’s safety over $1400 of parts. If it’s the make or break cost deal, I’ll install for free if that’s what it takes to get them in a safe Jeep. After the personal experience with this, we’re not going to compromise

Brett

We're in similar situations. I have a 3.5" Metalcloak kit, 37s, Method Beadlocks, full Steer Smarts kit, etc, and I take it on the rock as much as I can. Came back from a trip a few weeks ago and had terrible death wobble next morning. Was able to get it driveable with toe, caster, wheel balancing and masking it with a Fox stabilzer but its still not right. I can feel the lateral movement in the steering wheel when I hit bumps and if the stabilizer comes off I get the wobble. Running out of parts to change and everything we've taken off shows no signs of failure. Talked to PSC today about converting to their manual steering setup or going full hydro. Would be interested to hear how you make out with the redneck ram system. Frustrating - this thing was solid for 10k miles and now it steers like garbage.

 

[jlewissystem]

We're in similar situations. I have a 3.5" Metalcloak kit, 37s, Method Beadlocks, full Steer Smarts kit, etc, and I take it on the rock as much as I can. Came back from a trip a few weeks ago and had terrible death wobble next morning. Was able to get it driveable with toe, caster, wheel balancing and masking it with a Fox stabilzer but its still not right. I can feel the lateral movement in the steering wheel when I hit bumps and if the stabilizer comes off I get the wobble. Running out of parts to change and everything we've taken off shows no signs of failure. Talked to PSC today about converting to their manual steering setup or going full hydro. Would be interested to hear how you make out with the redneck ram system. Frustrating - this thing was solid for 10k miles and now it steers like garbage.

What SteerSmarts parts did you do? Drag, tie-rod and trackbar?

 

[JL_John]

What SteerSmarts parts did you do? Drag, tie-rod and trackbar?

All of the above plus the bracket for the drag link flip.

 

[californiajeeping]

Lawyers sending letters for death wobble lawsuits. - https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/got-this-in-the-mail-today.24920/

 

[jlewissystem]

All of the above plus the bracket for the drag link flip.

Dang..keep us posted. Was going to get same setup. Proceeding with caution..

 

[Martindfletcher]

Lawyers sending letters for death wobble lawsuits. - https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/got-this-in-the-mail-today.24920/

My not deathly wobble was on at 45mph

 

[rustyshakelford]

We're in similar situations. I have a 3.5" Metalcloak kit, 37s, Method Beadlocks, full Steer Smarts kit, etc, and I take it on the rock as much as I can. Came back from a trip a few weeks ago and had terrible death wobble next morning. Was able to get it driveable with toe, caster, wheel balancing and masking it with a Fox stabilzer but its still not right. I can feel the lateral movement in the steering wheel when I hit bumps and if the stabilizer comes off I get the wobble. Running out of parts to change and everything we've taken off shows no signs of failure. Talked to PSC today about converting to their manual steering setup or going full hydro. Would be interested to hear how you make out with the redneck ram system. Frustrating - this thing was solid for 10k miles and now it steers like garbage.

Man that sucks. We’re still happy with ours. I’m fixing to start building my wife’s JL. Got the build sheet today and expect the window sticker soon. Going to start having to spend money on hers vs mine. If we get any more steering issues, I don’t know anything else to do besides Redneck ram or psc. I know how frustrating this is chasing it down.

I’ve been going back and forth with buying an alignment rack. Would be nice to keep it in house but would also make it much easier to play around with ours and trying our different caster settings and speed up installing steer smart tie rods

Brett

 

[JLscorpio31]

hey guys, luckily I don't have a DW yet. I installed the Rancho 2" lift kit with the RS9000xl series shocks, and added the Evo LCA drop bracket. With new front/ rear coil springs. in one part of town where the road transitions to either a bridge or overpass bridge, that bump for some reason would cause my front tires to bounce for a second and go away. I can hit multiple and steeper bumps throughout town and driving anywhere and it will not bounce...only those two certain bumps on the road...I also have steel front bumper and 10K winch on stock tires. no other mechanical or steering issues. so I called Rancho for suspected faulty front shocks, received new ones and installed them...with the same issue. I'm thinking it may be the front springs with added weight from steel bumper and winch??? any inputs? thanks all.

Tony

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