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Death wobble fixed

6K views 27 replies 14 participants last post by  kjeeper10 
#1 ·
Between March 2013 and October 2013 I had the death wobble 6 times. The occurrences all varied in speed between 50 and 70mph. They all happened in similar types of locations with 3 in one spot.

For some background I have a 2012 jeep wrangler unlimited sport S 6 speed manual. It had no lift(still doesnt) or other changes to it at the time of all all the death wobble occurences. Had about 17000mi on it in march and 25000mi in october.

I had taken it into my dealer to get it fixed/checked out after the first occurrence and they didn't find anything... supposedly checked the bolts and front end suspension etc.

I was so confused as to what was wrong I just kept driving it with no problems for a couple months. It then happened again so I took it into my own hands. Looking through the forums for me some idea about the track bar but it could be anything in the(very sophisticated) front suspension system. I checked over all the pieces and made sure they were up to torque. With the track bar being the most likely threat, I torqued those bolts to 130lbs and it seemed to do the trick for the spot I had gotten a death wobble multiple times.

I thought it was fixed for good but another couple months later I had a new spot where it happened twice. At this point it was becoming a hazard for anyone driving the Jeep as you have limited control and have to come to a stop to stop it. I re torqued the bolts and check the size of the track bar bolt vs hole as it was rumored it was a metric hole and a u.s. bolt or something(this was a while ago). With everything re torqued I went out and tested it. The death wobble still occurred and I was stumped...

More research led to the possible problem being the stock tire. (GY Wrangler SR-A 32IN). Now wanting to get rid of the stock tires and rims on my jeep anyway, I made the switch. I got 33in GY duratracs on MB TKO wheels. Since then I have not been able to generate a death wobble at any spot or speed. It worked for me and may work for you but please do your research and check out all other possible causes before you throw a Grand or two on new tires and/or wheels.

Hopefully this is helpful to someone with the seemingly fixless problem known as the death wobble.
 
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#3 ·
DW or a speed related wobble (not DW) ?

Actual DW
Tires can contribute to DW, not be the main cause. This is all in PM's thread.

let's say your track bar IS the issue, but the tires are bad also. The tires trigger the DW. What happens, the entire front end is put through wicked stress. TRE's, ball joints, CA bushings and now the track bar holes a worn/ovaled.
Replacing the bolts or upping the torque won't do nothing for fixing DW. Brackets need to be strengthened with new holes or welded washers.
You're basically chasing your tail unless the front end is gone through 100%
There's a good chance it will return. I see it all the time.
Read PlanMan's thread. Follow it and go through the front end 100%. check the mount holes. I did not see this mentioned in your post.

Good luck
 
#4 ·
You're basically chasing your tail unless the front end is gone through 100%
There's a good chance it will return. I see it all the time.
Read PlanMan's thread. Follow it and go through the front end 100%. check the mount holes. I did not see this mentioned in your post.

Good luck
^^^x2, if you don't fix the cause, then it will return! Band Aids, are just temporary..........:facepalm:

Ken, have these horrible ice/snow storms hit your area?
 
#6 ·
YUK, I heard that there has been about 20 deaths so far from the storms!

We had 83 for a high here today, I wish that I could send you some......:happyyes:
 
#8 ·
how come when everyone else gets deathwobble, its no big deal and happens just a couple times randomly, but when i got it i couldnt drive more than a mile without getting it? had to drive 70 miles home at 25mph once.......and still got it ten times in that trip...
 
#10 ·
Loose worn steering, shimmy when hitting a bump, tires out of balance, and or a bad tire, not enough positive caster, can all contribute to steering issues, that may cause your steering wheel to shake, and sometimes the body to shake with it, (depending on the severity).
Most of the time, it will come and go away at different speeds.

This is not the DW (Death Wobble), that I have experienced in a lifted TJ, that I was road testing for a possible purchase.
What I experienced, when hitting a bump in the road, was so severe, that I thought the front of the wrangler was literally going to explode. I have driven 18 wheeler's, mine haulage trucks, and heavy construction equipment, off and on most of my life. So normally, I don't get that concerned with a steering issue in any vehicle, or piece of equipment. But this was so severe, that it scared the cr-p out of me, and I had to bring it to a complete stop, to eliminate it.

Just think about it. We know that most of the time, that it is Track Bar caused related! The play that takes place between the front axle and wrangler body. Once that the horizontal harmonic, from side to side gets into motion, then it becomes devastating, and you must come to a complete stop to eliminate it.

I hope that none of you experience the actual DW, and I never want to again........:nonono::nonono::nonono:
 
#14 ·
Ive posted this before but I think it applies here as well.

The easiest way to properly diagnose proper Death Wobble is by checking your seat afterwards. If it’s clean, chances are it was not a death wobble.

Other common symptoms include but are not limited to,

· Having to pry your fingers off the steering wheel afterwards.
· Fear of freeways.
· Empty wallet.
· Learning much more about JK suspension that ever thought possible.
· Sudden urges to pray to god.
· Reevaluating your decision to buy a JK to begin with.
 
#18 ·
Ive posted this before but I think it applies here as well. The easiest way to properly diagnose proper Death Wobble is by checking your seat afterwards. If it’s clean, chances are it was not a death wobble. Other common symptoms include but are not limited to, · Having to pry your fingers off the steering wheel afterwards. · Fear of freeways. · Empty wallet. · Learning much more about JK suspension that ever thought possible. · Sudden urges to pray to god. · Reevaluating your decision to buy a JK to begin with.
Ha!!! The truth has been spoken
 
#16 ·
Not to sound rude but if you think sway bar end links or a tire balance got rid of DW you're in for a surprise. Also the steering stabilizer may just mask it for a bit. If it was truly DW it'll be back.
 
#24 ·
Still no DW Since I switched the tires... I've had it checked twice at the one dealer and once at a different one... They insist they haven't found anything and verified the correct bolt size on the track bar...

Once again I assure you this was real death wobble. I've had shimmys due to Un-balanced wheels...

Call me crazy but over 8k miles since I put the new tires on and not a single death wobble.

Now that summer(70 on sunday) is finally peaking it's head in MN(don't mind the 10-18in of snow we got a couple days ago) I'm going to do a full look over in hopes of tracking down the mystery.

Does anybody know a good 4x4 shop in MN that could give me a 3rd party opinion on my problems?
 
#26 · (Edited)
Still no DW Since I switched the tires... I've had it checked twice at the one dealer and once at a different one... They insist they haven't found anything and verified the correct bolt size on the track bar... Once again I assure you this was real death wobble. I've had shimmys due to Un-balanced wheels... Call me crazy but over 8k miles since I put the new tires on and not a single death wobble. Now that summer(70 on sunday) is finally peaking it's head in MN(don't mind the 10-18in of snow we got a couple days ago) I'm going to do a full look over in hopes of tracking down the mystery. Does anybody know a good 4x4 shop in MN that could give me a 3rd party opinion on my problems?
Just curious

You said "And verified the correct bolt size on the track bar"
If the bolts are stock, this could be your issue.
The factory bolts are technically "the correct" bolts.

like described in this thread, the sticky and hundreds of times on every jeep forum.
The stock bolts are FULLY threaded. If loose at all and after DW can chew the bushing material.
I've seen in on mine (no DW) and other jeeps removing the TB's.

Remove those 2 bolts and look at the sleeves. Then look at the mount holes. They are bigger stock and reason for the 9/16 upgrade.
Perfect example.
A friend still runs her stock track bar and bolts. Recently started developing a shimmy. We changed the DL but found both upper ball joints to have play. After replacing the drag link, I removed and replaced the two track bar bolts with 2 9/16 I had laying around. The bushings had a little bit of wear but the upper mount hole was surprisingly ovaled out. I couldn't really get a mic in there but guessed .005-.007 out of round.
She's getting new joints but I suggested either Synergy's upper frame bracket/brace or weld washers.
(She already had a lower AEV bracket, lowers were fine)


"true" DW is almost always the track bar. I don't know why people are so afraid to remove and actually inspect the bushings/holes. Also rely on incompetent techs. My advice ... If the shop moron mentions the steering stab .... Walk out.
"If it ain't broke don't fix it" this is the motto some --or most -- shops unfortunately go by. The 9/16 bolt replacement is not a factory fix.

You think they [the tech making $9 hr] is going to remove anything if it doesn't appear to be the problem ? Prob not.


Good luck and keep us posted.
 
#27 ·
Kjeeper10, you really are one of the most helpful guys on the forum!
Anyway, I will definitely check out those bolts myself... don't know if I will get to it before Monday as we are having people over for easter but will definitely keep you guys updated... One question that I'm sure I could find on the forum but since I'm already posting, might as well ask.
what are the tricks for taking the air dam on and off with the rubber/plastic screws etc.? Will I be able to reassemble it? It just gets in the way when looking and working with the whole front suspension.

Thanks for all your help throughout the forum.
 
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