100% Stock 2021 Death Wobble

[Riccochet]

As the title says. I have a 100% stock 2021 Sport S max tow. Been experiencing death wobble at highway speeds. Tires are in good condition, balanced and showing no uneven wear. Had the dealer do an alignment which was within spec and needed no adjustment. Nothing is loose up front. Has the upgraded steering box.

It's going back to the dealer today for the second time for this. I'm at a loss as to what it could be. Hoping someone on here might have a suggestion I'm just not thinking of.

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[w650gb500]

I have a 2022 Sport with Max Tow and experienced it a few weeks back for the first time in 18,000 miles. I was on the phone with a family member, traveling down the PA Turnpike at 65mph and hit nothing more than an expansion joint on the road. The steering wheel started to shake in my hand and I immediately said something profane to the person on the phone! I took my foot off the accelerator and it stopped. I couldn’t believe it happened because I travel quite a bit in my Gladiator and it has never happened before. It hasn’t happed since, but I now know what it feels like.

My truck is 100% stock and I had put back on the stock steel wheels/tires which I swap for a set of Overland wheels during the nice weather. The steels have less than 1000 miles on them, so it isn’t a worn tire issue.

I’ll be heading 1200 miles south to FL in a few weeks, so we shall see if it happens during that trip and if so, I’ll make an appointment with my local dealer.

 

[Rahkmalla]

Sorry folks, according to the most recent class action settlement, this problem only affects 2020 gladiators.

But don't worry, I'm sure jeep will be happy to replace your steering stabilizer anyway, since you're still under warranty.

 

[XJADDICTION]

Loose trac-bar, I don’t care what dealer says. Check the bolt on the axle side of the trac-bar. Take bolt out, apply lock tight and tighten that thing down to spec or a bit above.
If it’s not trac-bar then lock at
- steering box
- ball joints.
I had some pre- DW on my stock 2020 (purchased 10/2019) took it to dealer and they said they ordered a new steering stabilizer, don’t drive the JT until it’s replaced. I took it home and tightened trac-bar… no more issues until it got loose again. Locktite took care of it.

 

[Darkspeed]

miles on your 2021? a lot can wear out in two years.

 

[Lunentucker]

Loose trac-bar, I don’t care what dealer says. Check the bolt on the axle side of the trac-bar. Take bolt out, apply lock tight and tighten that thing down to spec or a bit above.
If it’s not trac-bar then lock at
- steering box
- ball joints.
I had some pre- DW on my stock 2020 (purchased 10/2019) took it to dealer and they said they ordered a new steering stabilizer, don’t drive the JT until it’s replaced. I took it home and tightened trac-bar… no more issues until it got loose again. Locktite took care of it.

+++++++

A stabilizer may help to mitigate the symptoms of loose or worn out components, but it isn't fixing the problem.

 

[Riccochet]

Update: Dealer says the steering stabilizer failed.

I'm finding it hard to believe that a failed stabilizer would cause death wobble.

 

[Riccochet]

miles on your 2021? a lot can wear out in two years.

36,700

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Update: Dealer says the steering stabilizer failed.

I'm finding that a failed stabilizer would cause death wobble.

@Rahkmalla shocker, isn't it? ?

 

[Rahkmalla]

@Rahkmalla shocker, isn't it? ?

I'll say it again for the people who haven't heard it before: properly operating suspension and steering systems should have zero wobble with the steering stabilizer removed entirely.

Honestly, it all just seems more likely to me that death wobble is causing the steering stabilizer failures. In essence it's a shock of shorts, and that amount of violent back and forth that rapidly could easily blow one out.

 

[coalcracker]

I just picked up a ‘21 that has death wobble and while I didn’t catch it myself because it wasn’t obvious to me, there’s movement in the drag link near where it attaches to the pitman arm. Had it over to a shop that specializes in Jeeps and one of the techs looked it over with me and showed me. And it was also free. I was wiling to pay but they came out to the parking lot and took a look with me.

So if the dealership is failing you, it might be worth finding an independent shop to take another look. I know that doesn’t help with warranty claims but maybe they can help to pinpoint and you can go back to the dealership with that information?

 

[Darkspeed]

36,700

have you ever replaced your ball joints?

 

[Levi.Butler]

I hate that the dealership points to the stabilizer when this stuff happens.

I drove ~60k miles in my JK without a stabilizer and my wife's JL has been without one for ~5k (she's getting my Fox ATS once I finally get my PSC big bore kit installed, waiting on more parts so I can finally get the final round of mods done). A properly configured Jeep doesn't need a steering stabilizer.

 

[Lunentucker]

I drove mine yesterday at 60 in 25 mph crosswinds and could barely feel the winds at all.
When I was detailing the other day and had the wheels off, I took some rough measurements on the angle of the centerline between the top and bottom ball joints. Accounting for the slope of my garage floor and for how much I had the front end lifted with the jack, I'd say my caster angle is now in the 7.5 range. I still have the toe set at about + 1/2 degree.
The thing drives amazing!

 

[Riccochet]

I'll say it again for the people who haven't heard it before: properly operating suspension and steering systems should have zero wobble with the steering stabilizer removed entirely.

Honestly, it all just seems more likely to me that death wobble is causing the steering stabilizer failures. In essence it's a shock of shorts, and that amount of violent back and forth that rapidly could easily blow one out.

I know. My '12 JKR with full MetalCloak game changer and HD steering drives perfectly fine without a stabilizer. Everything is tight, aligned and proper geometry.

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