New steering damper made death wobble worse

[Lunentucker]

Thank you. I’m honestly probably not skilled enough. I will look into a shop. I have a local one called ori

I see them. Winchester.
Looks like overall they have a good rep.

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[JTinVA]

I see them. Winchester.
Looks like overall they have a good rep.

Yea they seem good. Month waitlist tho. Im going to make an appointment with them.

 

[Bonanza]

The cause of your wobble, nor the fix to your wobble, is NOT the steering stabilizer.

#1 culprit is track bar, from what I've read. However in my experience, my most significant instigator is worn ball joints caused by larger tires. After that is wheel and/or tire balancing.

 

[Gren71]

Yeah. You're due ball joints and probably more.

Unless hes running larger tires his ball joints are probably fine. I haven’t read or seen a lot of folks with oem size tires blowing theirs at 55k.

personal experience in at 84k and mine are fine

https://www.cjponyparts.com/falcon-...XJYnXCLnkRSpxiss2a3JXF88Vda1AHYRoCQZYQAvD_BwE

Pretty sure this is the stabilizer mentioned earlier. I have the fox one and its served me well. But I will be upgrading to this sooner than later.

 

[Lunentucker]

He's taking it to a reputable off road shop. They'll figure it out.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Your steering box is probably the real culprit here.

Or the track bar or the drag link or the tie rod ends or the shocks or the tires or.................
Steering gear is only one of a dozen or more possible causes.
We've seen people resolve it with tires, with balancing, with torqueing loose parts and a whole list of stuff.

 

[DBravo]

Participants in the class action get 8 yrs or 90k miles to "cover all parts and labor needed to replace a failed front suspension steering damper".

True - received my notice yesterday (1/31/23) Reynolds, et al v. FCA US LLC

 

[TheNewWampsCat]

True - received my notice yesterday (1/31/23) Reynolds, et al v. FCA US LLC

What do we have to do to be a part of this? Kind of hard to read the small print on the card I have…

 

[Mr._Bill]

What do we have to do to be a part of this? Kind of hard to read the small print on the card I have…

If you received a postcard, you are part of it. Nothing to do until the court reaches a final decision on the settlement, unless you want to opt-out and pursue your own court case.

 

[tysongladiator]

Death wobble has nothing to do with the steering damper. If you installed a steering damper and it solved your issues, you didn't have death wobble. The steering damper is for bumpsteer.

Death wobble (as you all know) is when you vehicle shakes uncontrollably when you hit a bump and continues to do so. Bumpsteer is when you hit a bump and your wheels want to go left or right uncontrollably. Which the steering damper will help. But not Death Wobble.

If you have warranty, by all means let the dealer handle it. If not, find a reputable 4x4 shop. If you are somewhat mechanically inclined, diagnose it yourself. If you choose the latter, the first step should be to check all components that are steering and suspension related for proper torque and torque procedures. Once you start checking, you'd be surprised at what you find. Those nuts and bolts easily get out of torque. You can also inspect those parts (like balljoints) for wear and tear and decide if something needs to be replaced. And just because the dealer says everything looks good, don't trust it. Go to this video and jump to the 2:35 mark and you can see just how bad these nuts and bolts can get out of torque.

2yrs ago I had my steering box replaced. Even though I never had a problem with it, it was a free replacement so I took it. Steering then got bad. Inspected it myself and the pitman arm nut was barely finger tight. It's supposed to be 184 ft/lbs.

It could be anything. Most owners have been having balljoint issues. My balljoints were out of spec as well. But, checking everything is a good starting point. I hope this helps a little.

My apologies for it being so long!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Death wobble has nothing to do with the steering damper. If you installed a steering damper and it solved your issues, you didn't have death wobble. The steering damper is for bumpsteer.

Death wobble (as you all know) is when you vehicle shakes uncontrollably when you hit a bump and continues to do so. Bumpsteer is when you hit a bump and your wheels want to go left or right uncontrollably. Which the steering damper will help. But not Death Wobble.

If you have warranty, by all means let the dealer handle it. If not, find a reputable 4x4 shop. If you are somewhat mechanically inclined, diagnose it yourself. If you choose the latter, the first step should be to check all components that are steering and suspension related for proper torque and torque procedures. Once you start checking, you'd be surprised at what you find. Those nuts and bolts easily get out of torque. You can also inspect those parts (like balljoints) for wear and tear and decide if something needs to be replaced. And just because the dealer says everything looks good, don't trust it. Go to this video and jump to the 2:35 mark and you can see just how bad these nuts and bolts can get out of torque.

2yrs ago I had my steering box replaced. Even though I never had a problem with it, it was a free replacement so I took it. Steering then got bad. Inspected it myself and the pitman arm nut was barely finger tight. It's supposed to be 184 ft/lbs.

It could be anything. Most owners have been having balljoint issues. My balljoints were out of spec as well. But, checking everything is a good starting point. I hope this helps a little.

My apologies for it being so long!

You know I agree with you - we've covered all of this and more over many months. The problem is - it's the internet and there's always YT trained engineers out there..........
I've posted quotes, diagrams, explanations and more from suspension and steering experts, designers, even a guy who owned a 4x4 shop and another who was an engineer for Chrysler/Jeep for years (and other companies as I recall.
The internet knows better, I guess.

This is a quote from a guy who raced Jeeps, built Jeeps and Power Wagons and so forth - but will anyone buy what he says? No, because the YT trained engineers know better. They put on a stabilizer and suddenly the truck was fixed.

Then people go and change things - move the wheels out with spacers, change the wheels, bigger tires, lifts and throw the geometry out of whack and you can end up like this explanation -

That came from an engineer who worked for GM, Hummer, Freightliner, as an engineer, etc.

Toe, scrub angle/radius, the intersection of angles, stock parts having to handle the huge gyroscopes on the front corners we call tires...........

Any looseness is bad.
Some of the torque specs out there are not factory specs (oddly, the specs that circulate out there that come from the MOPAR lift kits are actually not as tight as the factory stock specs).

 

[tysongladiator]

You know I agree with you - we've covered all of this and more over many months. The problem is - it's the internet and there's always YT trained engineers out there..........
I've posted quotes, diagrams, explanations and more from suspension and steering experts, designers, even a guy who owned a 4x4 shop and another who was an engineer for Chrysler/Jeep for years (and other companies as I recall.
The internet knows better, I guess.

This is a quote from a guy who raced Jeeps, built Jeeps and Power Wagons and so forth - but will anyone buy what he says? No, because the YT trained engineers know better. They put on a stabilizer and suddenly the truck was fixed.

Then people go and change things - move the wheels out with spacers, change the wheels, bigger tires, lifts and throw the geometry out of whack and you can end up like this explanation -

That came from an engineer who worked for GM, Hummer, Freightliner, as an engineer, etc.

Toe, scrub angle/radius, the intersection of angles, stock parts having to handle the huge gyroscopes on the front corners we call tires...........

Any looseness is bad.
Some of the torque specs out there are not factory specs (oddly, the specs that circulate out there that come from the MOPAR lift kits are actually not as tight as the factory stock specs).

Brother, we're always on the same page! Someone asked me was I an expert. I laughed and said, "Hellllll No!!!". Everything that I say, I've either learned from a shop or expert on the subject or I've learned from my own experience. When I have to take my Jeep to a shop for something I can't repair, I hang around while the work is being performed. I ask questions. I learn things.

And just like you, in the past, I have posted specs, diagrams, and charts. And yet we see the same questions answered over and over. And once again, you posted another diagram which is SPOT ON!

And when I originally had my lift installed, the dealer did it for free. Got a huge military discount. I started checking specs. Not for an issue, just wanted to learn about the components used. And you're correct again! A lot of the lift torque specs are different. As a matter of fact, I've noticed a lot of aftermarket replacement components has different specs.

I see a lot of your comments and posts. And just like everything else, I always learn something. I'm definitely no expert, but I know how to learn from an expert. Lol. Again, good diagram, good explanation.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Brother, we're always on the same page! Someone asked me was I an expert. I laughed and said, "Hellllll No!!!". Everything that I say, I've either learned from a shop or expert on the subject or I've learned from my own experience. When I have to take my Jeep to a shop for something I can't repair, I hang around while the work is being performed. I ask questions. I learn things.

And just like you, in the past, I have posted specs, diagrams, and charts. And yet we see the same questions answered over and over. And once again, you posted another diagram which is SPOT ON!

And when I originally had my lift installed, the dealer did it for free. Got a huge military discount. I started checking specs. Not for an issue, just wanted to learn about the components used. And you're correct again! A lot of the lift torque specs are different. As a matter of fact, I've noticed a lot of aftermarket replacement components has different specs.

I see a lot of your comments and posts. And just like everything else, I always learn something. I'm definitely no expert, but I know how to learn from an expert. Lol. Again, good diagram, good explanation.

I think I said it months ago - you are one of those I'd like to meet someday. Who knows, my wife want's to get down into the swamp areas of Louisiana and that's next door to TX.

 

[tysongladiator]

I think I said it months ago - you are one of those I'd like to meet someday. Who knows, my wife want's to get down into the swamp areas of Louisiana and that's next door to TX.

Likewise brother. I may or may not be moving back home to Florida. Either way I go, If you decide to make a trip, we got you. My wife and I would be glad to show you around either spot. But, I may just have to make a trip your way. Brother, you own a Javelin!!! I'd have to see that in person. Put my hands on it. Haha!

Btw, what part of Louisiana?

 

[Jteakus]

What would be nice is if everyone who starts a DW thread comes back after it has been corrected and reports the cause.

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