Death wobble out of the blue......

[G10]

Hey guys, I need some help!
I installed a 1.5-inch TeraFlex leveling kit on my Gladiator roughly 15 months ago. Out of the blue, I'm experiencing death wobble! What's confusing is the fact that it's so inconsistent.

It's happened:

• Once when I hit a bump at highway speed (60+ mph) with both sides shaking.
• Twice while turning right at 30 to 40 mph, with only the right side shaking.
• Again at highway speed, but this time only the left side shook.

I've inspected the front end to check for anything loose and even taken the wheels off as well.

The only thing that has remotely changed with my jeep since then is increased road noise from the tire wear.

Also, the Jeep sits on factory wheels and tires. The only other front-end mods are an aftermarket bumper and winch.

What can I do to fix this?????????

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[ShadowsPapa]

Loosen the upper and lower control arms, then retighten to factory torque.
Loosen the track bar and retighten it back to factory torque.
While doing this - look for any worn holes, etc.
check your toe-in settings - that should not have changed at all just with that small lift, but it's worth checking.
Check for worn tie rod ends and drag link.
Check pitman nut to be sure it's tight.
In short, check all parts for wear, and check that all components are tight to specs - including ball joints and so on.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Did you rotate your tires and drive it? If not, do that and report back.

 

[skadax]

Following.

I had this exact thing happen to me today for the first time ever. I’m the 2nd owner of a 2020 JTR now with about 55,000 miles on it. I’ve owned it for just over a year. I lifted it with a Clayton 2.5 Overland+ about 6 months ago and has been driving absolutely beautifully. I was going highway speed today, hit a rough patch of road and suddenly had death wobble. Seemed like it was coming from the left front more than the right. I had to pull over and quickly inspected everything on the side of the freeway. Finding nothing wrong I started driving again and has been fine all the rest of the day. Will follow the recommendations here and report back what I find as well.

 

[Hootbro]

I would do what @ShadowsPapa said about loosening everything on the front end and re-tighten. Did you loosen everything when you initially installed the spacers?

I also think you would benefit installing an adjustable front track arm.

 

[skadax]

Small update, I followed the suggestions in this thread. I did find a couple of loose jam nuts and the front LCAs were under torqued (but not loose by any means). Driving seems better but I still feel some increased unsteadiness in the steering wheel (though it could just be in my head now). I plan to get an alignment tomorrow and will see if that helps.

OP, were you able to solve your issue?

 

[FijiKid]

Might be worth trying to update your steering stabilizer? I have heard it fixed the “death wobble” issue for some.

 

[Josh00333]

Might be worth trying to update your steering stabilizer? I have heard it fixed the “death wobble” issue for some.

Stabilizer does not "fix" any underlying issues, it may mask them, but dose not fix the root problem.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Might be worth trying to update your steering stabilizer? I have heard it fixed the “death wobble” issue for some.

Like said - it masks, not fixes. It can't fix a problem that causes the shimmy, and DW is a radical shimmy to the extreme - it's still a shimmy problem - it can only help the driver control the wheel and hide the cause.
That stabilizer will eventually wear out because the steering linkage is still trying to fight to shimmy and it will eventually wear down the stabilizer.

The more expensive and stronger and better built the stabilizer, the longer it can survive - but the root causes are still there the whole time, wearing other parts in the process.

 

[Scott L]

Curious about the steering stabilizer comments. I always thought the stabilizers were to keep the steering wheel from getting ripped out of your hands from bump steer especially offroad. With modern power steering are they even necessary? Yes it would obviously mask DW but can’t address the cause so without it would DW be caught earlier?

 

[FijiKid]

Not an expert by any means. I just shared what I have read, thought it might be helpful. After you have tried all else to fix the “root problem” and DW persists thought you might give it a shot. Maybe the oem one on your truck has gone bad. Just a thought.

Peeps have purchased afterwarket installed, pretty good reviews. Some did mention DW solution.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Not an expert by any means. I just shared what I have read, thought it might be helpful. After you have tried all else to fix the “root problem” and DW persists thought you might give it a shot. Maybe the oem one on your truck has gone bad. Just a thought.

Peeps have purchased afterwarket installed, pretty good reviews. Some did mention DW solution.

See the pictures, explanations, images, etc. I've posted from Norm Layton and an actual engineer who has worked with and designed solid/straight axle steering and suspension for various companies - including Jeep.

Curious about the steering stabilizer comments. I always thought the stabilizers were to keep the steering wheel from getting ripped out of your hands from bump steer especially offroad. With modern power steering are they even necessary?

That's the reason.
Power steering can still be impacted, not as badly, though, and that MAY BE why some say they run without one at all and do fine.

 

[Scott L]

Not an expert by any means. I just shared what I have read, thought it might be helpful. After you have tried all else to fix the “root problem” and DW persists thought you might give it a shot. Maybe the oem one on your truck has gone bad. Just a thought.

Peeps have purchased afterwarket installed, pretty good reviews. Some did mention DW solution.

I agree. I wasn’t directing my questions at you necessarily it’s something that comes up in EVERY death wobble discussion. I think a stabilizer would be a decent temp solution but it’s going to be temporary IMO maybe till someone can find and fix the real issue. From what I’ve seen it’s usually worn or loose ball joints and or steering components.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I agree. I wasn’t directing my questions at you necessarily it’s something that comes up in EVERY death wobble discussion. I think a stabilizer would be a decent temp solution but it’s going to be temporary IMO maybe till someone can find and fix the real issue. From what I’ve seen it’s usually worn or loose ball joints and or steering components.

Or tires........... that's been a cause and makes total sense. Bigger tires more likely to get into that spinning top situation where the top wobbles instead of spinning straight on the axis. Any imbalance and it goes bonkers. The bigger and heavier they are the more likely it is.

From a suspension engineer - FCA, OTR trucks and so on -

 

[skadax]

Shop tells me it’s the drag link in my case. Too much play laterally at the attachment to the pitman arm. They’re recommending new drag link (and may as well do tie rod). I’ll do the work myself so this will be my next project.

As far as stabilizer talk, I already have an aftermarket Fox stabilizer that’s been relocated with the Clayton bracket.

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