“Death wobble”

[rsan09]

Hi Everyone,
I Recently experienced the “death wobble” on my 2020 Jeep Gladiator. It's around 43k miles, stock, no lift kit or mods. Anyone else experience this and know what parts need replacing? It's so embarrassing and annoying.
Thanks!!

Sponsored

 

[40x40]

Hi Everyone,
Recently experiencing the “death wobble” on my 2020 Jeep Gladiator. Anyone else experience this and replaced parts? Can anyone tell me what parts require replacing to stop the “death wobble” from happening. Its so embarrassing and annoying.
Thanks!!

top of the page, second row, "search forums", type in death wobble and put on your seat belt.

 

[Jchap1987]

Omg

 

[Gvsukids]

Hi Everyone,
Recently experiencing the “death wobble” on my 2020 Jeep Gladiator. Anyone else experience this and replaced parts? Can anyone tell me what parts require replacing to stop the “death wobble” from happening. Its so embarrassing and annoying.
Thanks!!

Are you sure? Embarrassing to whom?

 

[g2020]

Here is the most important part, from my reply to the thread below, for death wobble on what I assume is a stock vehicle with no mods:

Tell the service advisor that the steering "shakes" and "feels loose"​

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...er-drift-bump-steer.68302/page-9#post-1438712

If your vehicle has a lift kit installed, the tires are larger than stock size, or your vehicle has any other relevant mods, first read the very first post in the thread. OEM tire size for a 2020 Gladiator Sport is 245/75 R17.

If your vehicle is stock, the service advisor should write a prescription for the same meds (TSB method + new steering damper). Push back (or go to a different dealer) if they try to do a steering damper-only job. Make sure it's the correct TSB (or a later one). There have been at least two TSBs on this issue since the Gladiator was launched in 2019.

Make sure that the dealer inspects other steering components (not just the damper) and the suspension as well. The rest of the vehicle (beyond the worn out steering damper) can be affected by, or be the cause of, the incredibly violent shaking, or death wobble. A case in point is described in post #6, below.

The same reply, at the link above, also contains the latest replies to each of 14 recent threads on death wobble or dw (posted between Nov 2024 and Jan 2025).

 

[Gladiator Joe]

I have 2020 also with 65k miles. Also started experiencing some shimmy. I got under truck, and had my wife start it up and slowly move steering back and forth. I was listening and feeling various components within steering. I was able to identify loose pitman nut and draglink end was worn. I decided to replace draglink, tie rod and track bar. Shimmy went away completely. I probably didn’t need to replace those others, but decided to upgrade to Synergy since I have 35’s, and figured the other steering components would show signs of wear soon anyway.

 

[Reddog]

Hi Everyone,
Recently experiencing the “death wobble” on my 2020 Jeep Gladiator. Anyone else experience this and replaced parts? Can anyone tell me what parts require replacing to stop the “death wobble” from happening. Its so embarrassing and annoying.
Thanks!!

And dangerous. Take your Gladiator to a reputable dealer or a shop specializing in off road suspension and have it looked at carefully. Could be a bunch of things wrong. Get an experienced survey of the steering and suspension or you will likely regret it later. DW is not always caused by one bad part, and in most cases it reflects several issues that are causing problem.

 

[Free2roam]

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...-wobble-shimmy-wander-drift-bump-steer.68302/
All you need to know

 

[rsan09]

I have 2020 also with 65k miles. Also started experiencing some shimmy. I got under truck, and had my wife start it up and slowly move steering back and forth. I was listening and feeling various components within steering. I was able to identify loose pitman nut and draglink end was worn. I decided to replace draglink, tie rod and track bar. Shimmy went away completely. I probably didn’t need to replace those others, but decided to upgrade to Synergy since I have 35’s, and figured the other steering components would show signs of wear soon anyway.

Thanks for your reply, great starting point. Yeah, my gladiator is only 43k miles. I was thinking of replacing draglink, tire rode and track bar anyway. Did you get Synergy for all those parts?

 

[rsan09]

Here is the most important part, from my reply to the thread below, for death wobble on what I assume is a stock vehicle with no mods:

Tell the service advisor that the steering "shakes" and "feels loose"​

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...er-drift-bump-steer.68302/page-9#post-1438712

If your vehicle has a lift kit installed, the tires are larger than stock size, or your vehicle has any other relevant mods, first read the very first post in the thread. OEM tire size for a 2020 Gladiator Sport is 245/75 R17.

If your vehicle is stock, the service advisor should write a prescription for the same meds (TSB method + new steering damper). Push back (or go to a different dealer) if they try to do a steering damper-only job. Make sure it's the correct TSB (or a later one). There have been at least two TSBs on this issue since the Gladiator was launched in 2019.

I haven't mentioned this before, but make sure that they inspect the chassis and other steering components (not just the damper) as well. The rest of the vehicle (beyond the worn out steering damper) can be affected by the incredibly violent shaking, or death wobble.

The same reply, at the link above, also contains the latest replies to each of 13 recent threads on death wobble or dw (posted between Nov 2024 and Jan 2025). This thread makes 14

Thank you for your reply. Great starting point. I've had issues with my local jeep dealer - service department and they are not reliable or stall on "fixing simple battery issues", rather not take it to them and possibly an outside jeep garage that will most likely know what they are doing. It's great being on the forums and having a sense of community where we can get together and relate to similar issues with our jeeps :\

 

[Gladiator Joe]

Thanks for your reply, great starting point. Yeah, my gladiator is only 43k miles. I was thinking of replacing draglink, tire rode and track bar anyway. Did you get Synergy for all those parts?

I did. There are excellent install videos out there.

 

[rsan09]

I did. There are excellent install videos out there.

Nice! I will look into those.
My truck is completely stock, no lift but I want to get this fixed before I consider putting new wheels and tires. thinking of going 35's. I think that's the biggest I could go with no lift kit, right? Hopefully I don't run into any other issues in the long run.

 

[CyberShanks]

Wife's JK has had synergy steering components for around 150k miles. Stuff is good stuff.

Jim

 

[g2020]

Thank you for your reply. Great starting point. I've had issues with my local jeep dealer - service department and they are not reliable or stall on "fixing simple battery issues", rather not take it to them and possibly an outside jeep garage that will most likely know what they are doing. It's great being on the forums and having a sense of community where we can get together and relate to similar issues with our jeeps :\

I have updated my post with the solution for a stock Gladiator with OEM-size tires and no mods.

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/death-wobble-dw-death-wobble-dw-death-wobble-shimmy-wander-drift-bump-steer.68302/page-9#post-1438712

• My post starts by suggesting a review of the (excellent) first post in the same thread before reading anything else; this is the place to start reading about the types and causes of shaking and death wobble
• Post # 8 (above) also refers to the first post in the same thread
• Post #6 (above) indicates that other steering components can be affected by, or be the cause of, death wobble (we obviously know this already, but I want to list a specific example for the stock Gladiator case)

 

[Bucephalus]

Nice! I will look into those.
My truck is completely stock, no lift but I want to get this fixed before I consider putting new wheels and tires. thinking of going 35's. I think that's the biggest I could go with no lift kit, right? Hopefully I don't run into any other issues in the long run.

I had the same issue on my 21 Sport. Went to multiple dealers and shops. No one could isolate the problem. In the end it was the damn stabilizer. $43 at the dealer, Swapped out in 5 min. Got 34k stress free miles then it started to pop up again. Replaced with a new one and 8k miles no issues. Start wit the simplest thing first..change the steering damper/stabilizer.

Sponsored