Weight distribution causing DW?

[Gatorjon]

2022 JLURD
16000 miles
2.5”lift, stock wheels and tires, after market front rack bar and lower control arms. Torqued and aligned before the trip.

Started getting death wobble during a 600 mile road trip and it was a light shake. The weather had just turned extremely cold while I was driving and inflating the tires seem to make it go away the rear was loaded down with a ton of stuff probably 200-300 pounds. Fast forward to the trip back and started getting very violent death wobble even with the tires at correct pressure. Ended up towing the jeep back 600+ miles. I followed the guide posted on this site somewhere for diagnosing, and correcting all the various causes of DW. Could not find anything wrong. Took it to the dealership who confirmed they checked the tie rod ends, track bar, steering stabilizer, drag link, all bushings, and ball joints, and found nothing wrong. They road tested several times, and could not get the death wobble to occur. They said it could’ve been caused by having too much weight in the rear and unloading the front suspension. Is that correct? At this point, I’m not sure what to do.

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[Old Jeeper]

2022 JLURD
16000 miles
2.5”lift, stock wheels and tires, after market front rack bar and lower control arms. Torqued and aligned before the trip.

Started getting death wobble during a 600 mile road trip and it was a light shake. The weather had just turned extremely cold while I was driving and inflating the tires seem to make it go away the rear was loaded down with a ton of stuff probably 200-300 pounds. Fast forward to the trip back and started getting very violent death wobble even with the tires at correct pressure. Ended up towing the jeep back 600+ miles. I followed the guide posted on this site somewhere for diagnosing, and correcting all the various causes of DW. Could not find anything wrong. Took it to the dealership who confirmed they checked the tie rod ends, track bar, steering stabilizer, drag link, all bushings, and ball joints, and found nothing wrong. They road tested several times, and could not get the death wobble to occur. They said it could’ve been caused by having too much weight in the rear and unloading the front suspension. Is that correct? At this point, I’m not sure what to do.

I have dealt with DW since the 60s and weight distribution I would think would be a factor. I don't see any major loading and unloading due to the gear in the rear. I suppose you haul folks in the back seat of your JLU?

The Ford 450 has a very similar architecture to the Jeep. This is my F 450 truck, sitting on the bed of my truck is my RV, tipping the CAT Scale at 5990 lb which does not include any weight from the truck. I have been doing Truck camping like this for almost 20 years and never had an issue.

I made a lot of trips in my Jeep and I would combine meetings and business with vacation time. I was typically gone for about 6 weeks at a time. Jeep was loaded with SCUBA gear, a Mountain bike, and a LOT of clothes to last that long. My trip was from Norfolk Va to Canada over to Quebec and back down to Key West and back to Norfolk Va.

No problems on that trip.



DW applies only to: ALL CARS, TRUCKS, MOTORCYCLES, SHOPPING CARTS, SOLID axle, independent suspension modes of transportation that was manufactured after 1901.

It is NOT a question of Right or Wrong, it is a question of Newton's 1st and 3rd law of motion: "Newton's first law states that every object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless compelled to change its state by the action of an external force. ... The third law states that for every action (force) there is an equal and opposite reaction."

1) If it is attached to the front suspension it plays a role in DW.

2 The following are generally the things you want to look in no order:

Track bar, bushings, and mounts

Steering stabilizer

Ball joint wear

Soft or worn shock

Ball joints

Rubber bushings

Tie rod ENDS being excessively worn

Tire Pressure, too low or unbalanced

Alignment and wheel balance should ALWAYS be in adjustment

Toe-in OEM specs and caster adjusted and compensated for tire size

Lower/upper control arms adjustment and bushings



Yes, anything and everything hanging under the frame of the front end of your vehicle can contribute to DW and or be the source.

That said...

DW applies only to: ALL CARS, TRUCKS, MOTORCYCLES, SHOPPING CARTS, SOLID axle, independent suspension modes of transportation that was manufactured after 1901.

It is NOT a question of Right or Wrong, it is a question of Newton's 1st and 3rd law of motion: "Newton's first law states that every object will remain at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless compelled to change its state by the action of an external force. ... The third law states that for every action (force) there is an equal and opposite reaction."

1) If it is attached to the front suspension it plays a role in DW.

2 The following are generally the things you want to look:

Track bar, bushings, and mounts

Steering stabilizer

Ball joint wear

Soft or worn shock

Ball joints

Rubber bushings

Tie rod ENDS being excessively worn

Tire Pressure, too low or unbalanced

Alignment and wheel balance should ALWAYS be in adjustment

Toe-in OEM specs and caster adjusted and compensated for tire size

Lower/upper control arms adjustment and bushings



Yes, anything and everything hanging under the frame of the front end