100% Stock 2021 Death Wobble

[Wheelin98TJ]

I know. My '12 JKR with full MetalCloak game changer and HD steering drives perfectly fine without a stabilizer. Everything is tight, aligned and proper geometry.

But your Gladiator needs a steering stabilizer?

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[Riccochet]

But your Gladiator needs a steering stabilizer?

Apparently. A bone stock Gladiator with 36k miles has a worn out stabilizer.

Think it's time to trade this thing in.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Apparently. A bone stock Gladiator with 36k miles has a worn out stabilizer.

Think it's time to trade this thing in.

Don't fall for the standard dealer diagnosis.

Your problem is somewhere other than the steering stabilizer.

 

[svc707]

2021 Mojave with 11k miles and found lower ball joints no where near 55lb of torque. Invest in basic tools and torque wrench and you can find loose bolts on your own and have that sense of accomplishment fixing it yourself ?

 

[Riccochet]

Just shook down the front end myself. Ball joints are good, I don't see any play in the track bar, drag link or tie rod. All the bolts are tight, but who knows if they weren't before the dealer touched it. Had my wife rocking the wheel back and forth looking for play, saw none. Going to get it on my neighbors lift tomorrow morning and get a better look. Maybe pull the stabilizer and see how worn out it is.

 

[svc707]

Just shook down the front end myself. Ball joints are good, I don't see any play in the track bar, drag link or tie rod. All the bolts are tight, but who knows if they weren't before the dealer touched it. Had my wife rocking the wheel back and forth looking for play, saw none. Going to get it on my neighbors lift tomorrow morning and get a better look. Maybe pull the stabilizer and see how worn out it is.

you wont feel or hear the balljoints by just shaking it. but i had a knock i could feel in the pedal and the floor while driving.

I also had a dead spot in my factory stabilizer but i didnt want another factory one and opted for the falcon and relocated up and over

 

[Riccochet]

you wont feel or hear the balljoints by just shaking it. but i had a knock i could feel in the pedal and the floor while driving.

I also had a dead spot in my factory stabilizer but i didnt want another factory one and opted for the falcon and relocated up and over

You can feel a worn ball joint by lifting the wheel off the ground by the axle an inch or two and putting a pry bar under the tire and prying up. If there is play upward the joints are toast. Can also push and pull on the top and bottom of the tire to feel for play.

Not my first rodeo building Jeeps or doing suspension. This vehicle being so new I just didn't feel like dealing with it when the dealer had "fixed" it in the past. I'm still not happy with their solution. So I'm most likely getting rid of this truck since I have no desire to pump money in to a 2 year old vehicle that is a daily driver for my wife.

When I say I've done suspension this is my most recent October of last year. Full MetalCloak game changer suspension and HD steering on my JKR done in my garage on the floor. It had a full Rock Krawler suspension on it prior that I installed in 2013. Before this I had a 2010 JKUR that I did a 4.5" full BDS suspension on. Before that 2006 TJU, 1994 YJ.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

As the title says. I have a 100% stock 2021 Sport S max tow. Been experiencing death wobble at highway speeds. Tires are in good condition, balanced and showing no uneven wear. Had the dealer do an alignment which was within spec and needed no adjustment. Nothing is loose up front. Has the upgraded steering box.

It's going back to the dealer today for the second time for this. I'm at a loss as to what it could be. Hoping someone on here might have a suggestion I'm just not thinking of.

Did you look at the dozen or so DW threads here from other the years for ideas?
Pretty much every idea that could be imagined by the human brain has been laid out in them - might save ya some time.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Apparently. A bone stock Gladiator with 36k miles has a worn out stabilizer.

Think it's time to trade this thing in.

Think your mind was made up a couple hours ago?
If these ball joints are spring loaded, like many have been for decades, you won't shake it. It will take some real muscle to overcome the spring inside.

 

[tysongladiator]

I'm willing to bet (and I'm sure others will agree) that your dealership isn't really checking your equipment like they said they have.

Loose track bar, balljoints, other bolts or nuts, etc. If they didn't check every single bolt or nut for proper torque and torque procedures, they're wrong. And I doubt they did. Been there, done that. Myself and others have checked and had checked their own equipment after the dealer so-called check everything and found issues.

My comment may not particularly help solve your or anyone else's issues, but it may motivate you to further diagnose it yourself or with someone else and get it taken care of properly.

Good luck!?

 

[SussexCounty]

2021 14,00 miles.

Running 65 on 495 hit an expansion joint and the dreaded wobble started. The majority of the miles are interstate, so no off road adventures to knock anything loose. I keep everyone informed as to what the dealer says.

 

[Hootbro]

2021 14,00 miles.

Running 65 on 495 hit an expansion joint and the dreaded wobble started. The majority of the miles are interstate, so no off road adventures to knock anything loose. I keep everyone informed as to what the dealer says.

Was it by the Christiana River/Port Of Wilmington Bridge area?

 

[Enduro800]

Just went through this with my'22, I couldn't wait the 30 days for the dealer to order in the warranty stabilizer part so I went out and bought the AEV one. The warranty part cam in last week which they exchanged for the original one.

 

[exfil offroad]

As the title says. I have a 100% stock 2021 Sport S max tow. Been experiencing death wobble at highway speeds. Tires are in good condition, balanced and showing no uneven wear. Had the dealer do an alignment which was within spec and needed no adjustment. Nothing is loose up front. Has the upgraded steering box.

It's going back to the dealer today for the second time for this. I'm at a loss as to what it could be. Hoping someone on here might have a suggestion I'm just not thinking of.

ball joints! No way are those factory ball joints good at 36000 miles, they are toast at 20k. The ball joints they put in are trash! If you take that knuckle off youll see those things will wiggle like a noodle.

 

[ScottBeach]

I promise that A) your steering stablizer did fail and B) that is a symptom not cause of your issue

The stabilizer is an attempt to reduce the wobble to your hands so you dont freak out. That is failed just means the issue(s) have been there a while. As all have said above check tq on all bolts. I will add this. Recheck often. For me about 4 times a years. Stuff loosens up fast.

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