Death Wobble fixed now have Tire hop

[Mojavie]

Right after I got my new 2023 Mojave in March 2023, I had a Rough Country 3" lift installed with 37" BFG K02's, Method MR705 wheels at a local Off-Road shop.

I started having Death Wobble a few months ago. I took the Jeep in to have the Death Wobble repaired last week at a new shop and it had the following issues:
Incorrect length sway bar links
Needed new drag link
Pittman arm loose
Suspension sprung
Steering box bolts loose
Tires were out of balance
Toe was off
Bad tire hop.

The new shop tightened all loose components and greased where necessary.
Installed correct length sway bars.
Set the Toe and adjusted steering wheel.
Installed new Terraflex drag link.
The new shop test drove my Mojave with known to be good tires and wheels and diagnosed tire hop with my BFG K02's.
The Death Wobble is fixed but obviously not the Tire hop.
I don't drive much and only have 8500 miles on the tires and the tread looks hardly worn.

The new shop highly recommended I replace the tires because of the tire hop. They weren't pushing or even asking to sell me replacement tires just that they need to be replaced.

Now to my question. If I don't replace the tires, am I going to cause all of the same issues that led to Death Wobble? I just spent a lot to have these issues repaired and would rather not spend another $2300 on new tires. But I also don't want to keep riding the tires and eventually replace the tires and pay to have all of the same issues fixed again.

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[Walldo]

You might get some results if you have the tires "Road Force Balanced". Good luck

 

[MCMXLI]

What do you mean by "tire hop"? Does it occur in specific situations?

My reference point is wheel hop under hard acceleration from a stop.

My first guess are shocks or suspension bushings allowing deflection. On a Jeep, tires are the last thing I would think about - assuming they are correctly balanced.

 

[Mojavie]

You might get some results if you have the tires "Road Force Balanced". Good luck

Thanks, Walldo. I've done a bit of research and come across info that mentions "Road Force Balanced". That will be a good cheaper next step before replacing tires.

 

[Reddout99]

I would definitely have them rebalanced first. If you have a Discount Tire locally, I would take it there. I believe they do road-force balancing. They typically do a good job at this. I've ben using DT for years

 

[Mojavie]

What do you mean by "tire hop"? Does it occur in specific situations?

My reference point is wheel hop under hard acceleration from a stop.

My first guess are shocks or suspension bushings allowing deflection. On a Jeep, tires are the last thing I would think about - assuming they are correctly balanced.

Good points MCMXLI, I should have explained what this issue feels like and what the guy at the shop explained was a continuing problem after he fixed the Death Wobble.
I've had no previous experience with "tire hop" this was my first time hearing the term.
For me "tire hop" happens at speed and is a constant up/down vibration. This may not be a case of "tire hop" it was how it was explained to me.

 

[Janster]

Wow…. I can’t help but think….that shop took advantage of you. And now, they’re trying to sell you some new tires too….

What exactly is your ‘tire hop’?? Honestly? I’d take it to another shop and get an alignment done and/or get a 2nd opinion. Are they suggesting you replace the tires because they think you have tire CUPPING?

Cupping is either alignment or suspension related - not tire related. It’ll become tire related if you don’t get the initial problem fixed.

Seriously…Take it to another shop….

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Good points MCMXLI, I should have explained what this issue feels like and what the guy at the shop explained was a continuing problem after he fixed the Death Wobble.
I've had no previous experience with "tire hop" this was my first time hearing the term.
For me "tire hop" happens at speed and is a constant up/down vibration. This may not be a case of "tire hop" it was how it was explained to me.

Most know "tire hop" as something that happens when accelerating hard. It's not usually used to describe an out-of-balance tire.

If your tires cannot be balanced, I'd reach out to BFG for warranty replacement.

 

[Mojavie]

I would definitely have them rebalanced first. If you have a Discount Tire locally, I would take it there. I believe they do road-force balancing. They typically do a good job at this. I've ben using DT for years

Thanks, Reddout99. I agree getting the tires "Road force Balanced" will be my next step. I'm going to reach out to my local Discount Tire.

 

[Mojavie]

Wow…. I can’t help but think….that shop took advantage of you. And now, they’re trying to sell you some new tires too….

What exactly is your ‘tire hop’?? Honestly? I’d take it to another shop and get an alignment done and/or get a 2nd opinion. Are they suggesting you replace the tires because they think you have tire CUPPING?

Cupping is either alignment or suspension related - not tire related. It’ll become tire related if you don’t get the initial problem fixed.

Seriously…Take it to another shop….

My next step is taking it to another shop like mentioned above to have the tires looked at. I don't think he was taking advantage of me as far as trying to get me to buy new tires from his shop. He never tried to sell me on another tire.

 

[Mojavie]

Forgot to mention the shop said " Tires need to be replaced (Possible they were rotated incorrectly, blemished or have a broken band from mounting.

 

[Janster]

Forgot to mention the shop said " Tires need to be replaced (Possible they were rotated incorrectly, blemished or have a broken band from mounting.

Do you have any photos of the tires?

Just be smart about this whole thing. A **Tire Hop** is not the same thing as a vibration. When a wheel is out of balance, it causes vibrations. When a wheel is slightly bent, it causes a vibrations.

If what they’re saying is true……. and the tires themselves are causing Tire Hop…. That kind of damage should be easy for you to see just by looking at tires and/or you have a bent wheel. If you can’t see anything wrong with the tires just by looking at them, I’d be a bit concerned they’re pulling your leg.

Good Luck! I hope your 2nd opinion makes more sense….

 

[Mojavie]

Do you have any photos of the tires?

Just be smart about this whole thing. A **Tire Hop** is not the same thing as a vibration. When a wheel is out of balance, it causes vibrations. When a wheel is slightly bent, it causes a vibrations.

If what they’re saying is true……. and the tires themselves are causing Tire Hop…. That kind of damage should be easy for you to see just by looking at tires and/or you have a bent wheel. If you can’t see anything wrong with the tires just by looking at them, I’d be a bit concerned they’re pulling your leg.

Good Luck! I hope your 2nd opinion makes more sense….

Thanks, Janster! I'm taking the truck up to discount tire shortly and let you all know the results.

 

[Pismo61]

Had a bad BFG and had it replaced free with 13/32s tread remaining. Less then that it wouldn't be free of charge.Seems to be an issue.DT tire road forced and it was at 41.The others were 11-14.One still has ,to me a lot of weights.

 

[Jaxmax]

Sounds to me line his shop did ok , found things wrong fixed what they could ,they felt the “wheel hop” and took his rims and tires off and ran a known good set of tires and had no issues, sounds to me they are correct in bad tire or balancing. Get balanced and if that fiesn’t fix it get warranty on tires. Also the lift kit suspension is “sprung “ might be something to address I assume springs are sagging or perhaps too much weight…..Jack

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