Hit a Bump on Highway, Whole Truck Started to Shake

[Sazabi19]

So I was heading into work just a bit ago and they had some construction going on towards the center of the highway. There are a few transfers of pavement that present themselves as decent bumps but nothing my truck hasn't soaked up for weeks just fine. Today though, I hit that bump and my entire truck started to shake pretty bad. While I was still able to keep it under control I couldn't keep driving it and had to pull over quickly and stop (safely). It stopped vibrating probably around 10-15mph, not sure as I was coming to a full stop. I was a bit rattled but knew as long as I kept cool it would be ok. I have it recorded on my dashcam and may upload it if I'm able to (105MB chunk, need to see if I can trim it down to a 10 or so second video).

My truck is fully stock Sport S (w/Max Tow) except the Fox 2.0 ST. I plan on throwing my Mopar ST back on before I go in for this. Just called dealership and I'm waiting on a call back. I won't say this was "death wobble" as I was still able to control it at 60mph, but it was not something you want to happen. Any thoughts/ideas? I just turned over 2500mi on Sunday, had it since 4/4.

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[Sazabi19]

Here's the "smaller" version from my dashcam, lower quality as even a 15 second clip of the original 2K quality was too much to upload here. You can see when it starts around 4 sec.

 

[WhatExit?]

No link to video

Did you inspect your Gladiator thoroughly to see if it was damaged or something is loose?

 

[Sazabi19]

Lol wtf, site doesn't allow MP4s... uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh. No I haven't checked yet. And besides something SUPER OBVIOUS I'm not sure I'd notice, not really familiar with the underside of my truck or general vehicle mechanics. I'll have to see if I can get this vid on here somehow... I can't upload it in a zip either, too large at 14.3MB... come on! lol

 

[Johnnyblender]

We had the same problem with the wife’s JLU Sahara. She brought it to the dealership and they replaced something and it hasn’t happened since.

 

[Anthracite Hooligan]

I won't say this was "death wobble" as I was still able to control it at 60mph, but it was not something you want to happen. Any thoughts/ideas?

OP, what you have described are classic symptoms of death wobble.

 

[Phljeeper]

OP, what you have described are classic symptoms of death wobble.

Agreed. This sure sounds like death wobble. Being stock the dealer needs to address it but usually the issue is your trackbar being loose.

 

[Sazabi19]

It's been at the dealer since yesterday so hopefully they found something and are addressing it. I was able to drive after a quick stop at the store of the highway and drive it home, all the best 2 days, and to the dealer. I thought once death wine started there was no driving until it was fixed.

 

[sass JT]

I thought once death wine started there was no driving until it was fixed.

You can still drive your vehicle but... it will cause more damage to the area in question. If it’s a track bar bolt loose, the bolt hole will wallow out and death wobble can repeat over and over again until either: a) repair the size of hole back to original size to fit the bolt ...ie welding washers to the spot or cutting out the bracket entirely And welding a new one on... b) or total out via accident /sell the vehicle.
Honestly, dw isn’t to be taken lightly and glad you have it in the shop.

 

[Sazabi19]

You can still drive your vehicle but... it will cause more damage to the area in question. If it’s a track bar bolt loose, the bolt hole will wallow out and death wobble can repeat over and over again until either: a) repair the size of hole back to original size to fit the bolt ...ie welding washers to the spot or cutting out the bracket entirely And welding a new one on... b) or total out via accident /sell the vehicle.
Honestly, dw isn’t to be taken lightly and glad you have it in the shop.

Ya, I really didn't want to play with it, just got it in as soon as I could but still had to drive it. Just tried to avoid the hole on the highway where I hit it the previous time that caused it. The fact that it has taken more than a day makes me hopeful they are really doing something with it and will fix it correctly.

 

[Shootist]

Being your truck is new and not modified it is most likely just something not torqued to spec as previously mentioned. I am wondering if the steering box TSB could also cause this as slop in da box lead to death wobble as well.

 

[Sazabi19]

Being your truck is new and not modified it is most likely just something not torqued to spec as previously mentioned. I am wondering if the steering box TSB could also cause this as slop in da box lead to death wobble as well.

I originally made an appt for the 28th to get the TSB flash and drive a month before deciding if I wanted the new box. This happened and the appt got moved to the 21st lol.

 

[remlemasi]

It’s not death wobble. I and a couple others have had this exact issue. Same way it comes on, bumps in road at around 50-60mph... slow down to around 10-15mph to make it go away.

Different fixes for each person. Some have had transfer case replaced, others have had axle shafts, seals or entire front axle replaced. They replaced the steering stabilizer on mine and it seemed to have gone away, but other issues (leaking axle shaft) are now prompting a new axle for me.

See this thread: https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...ues-with-their-gladiator-transfer-case.17841/

Take a look at the TSB I posted in #36. That’s what prompted them to replace the stabilizer, but I suspect the issue is bigger than that.

 

[Renegade]

It’s not death wobble. I and a couple others have had this exact issue. Same way it comes on, bumps in road at around 50-60mph... slow down to around 10-15mph to make it go away.

Different fixes for each person. Some have had transfer case replaced, others have had axle shafts, seals or entire front axle replaced. They replaced the steering stabilizer on mine and it seemed to have gone away, but other issues (leaking axle shaft) are now prompting a new axle for me.

See this thread: https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...ues-with-their-gladiator-transfer-case.17841/

Take a look at the TSB I posted in #36. That’s what prompted them to replace the stabilizer, but I suspect the issue is bigger than that.

I’ve been working on a friend’s JT to try to identify a similar wobble when he hits sharp bumps. After checking the torque on everything (multiple times) and swapping in some of my suspension parts (we’re both lifted 3”), I finally checked his steering stabilizer. It had a dead spot in it as if it wasn’t completely filled with fluid. This spot had ZERO resistance. I swapped in a spare I had laying around and he hasn’t experienced the wobble again yet. It looks like Jeep may need another stabilizer recall...

 

[Jay Gatsby]

It's been at the dealer since yesterday...

Any update @Sazabi19 ?

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