2021 gladiator death wobble

[BuckeyeButch]

A couple weeks ago I had what may have been DW. The temp was 09 degrees out, driving @ 70mph on I71 north of Colombus almost at every overpass that I would come to at the joint it would start the shacking. Since that morning with warmer temps, I haven't had any problem. Is this cold related? What's others experience with temperatures.

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[amillerr10]

A couple weeks ago I had what may have been DW. The temp was 09 degrees out, driving @ 70mph on I71 north of Colombus almost at every overpass that I would come to at the joint it would start the shacking. Since that morning with warmer temps, I haven't had any problem. Is this cold related? What's others experience with temperatures.

Hi.... i actually ended up traded my Gladiator in because i was sick of dealing with the issues... alot of people on the forums will tell you it is not cold related. here is my experiences.... i bought a 2018 wrangler and a 2021 gladiator, both in the summer.... fast forward to December, our first cold day in the teens, i got the death wobble, in both vehicles, 3 years apart... when it would warm up a little, the issue wouldn't happen, but i could still feel that it was "loose" for a lack of a better term. ironically, i drive 71 and it was the worst. i travelled between Cincinnati and Cleveland and every expansion joint would cause death wobble. spent countless months dealing with the issue between both vehicles. eventually the dealer just put a Fox racing stabilizer on both vehicles and the issue stopped. i had numerous other issues with the gladiator, and thats what led me to trade it in. and it had under 7500 miles on it.

 

[zmax44]

The dealership replaced the steering dampener and traction bar went for a test drive on the highway hitting every expansion jointed overpass on I-74 and I-275 that I normally drive and had the same experience, Major Death Wobble!! Wasnt happy! So they keep it and I drive off in the 2021 Jeep Renegade dealership loaner again. I get a call a couple days later they said it was fixed after replacing the tie rod ends and a front end alinement, test drove it with tech manager over same overpasses and some more and no issues at all. Ive put a couple hundred miles since and still no issues at all and seems good with not even the slightest wobble. So not happy it happened but the dearlership did everything they could do to fix the problem in a timely manner, kept me updated and provided me with a decent loaner with gas in it while working on my Gladiator. Northgate Jeep Cincinnati Ohio

 

[seven30]

The dealership replaced the steering dampener and traction bar went for a test drive on the highway hitting every expansion jointed overpass on I-74 and I-275 that I normally drive and had the same experience, Major Death Wobble!! Wasnt happy! So they keep it and I drive off in the 2021 Jeep Renegade dealership loaner again. I get a call a couple days later they said it was fixed after replacing the tie rod ends and a front end alinement, test drove it with tech manager over same overpasses and some more and no issues at all. Ive put a couple hundred miles since and still no issues at all and seems good with not even the slightest wobble. So not happy it happened but the dearlership did everything they could do to fix the problem in a timely manner, kept me updated and provided me with a decent loaner with gas in it while working on my Gladiator. Northgate Jeep Cincinnati Ohio

Glad they finally nailed it. No doubt they checked those tie rod ends several times and they were not loose then finally thew up their hands and just replaced what they figured were good ends.
I think the rod-end springs are marginal and deflect too easily for a beam axle.

 

[Jerry C]

Any problems like this with a 2022 with stock wheels and tires?

 

[u-joint]

Any problems like this with a 2022 with stock wheels and tires?

All Jeeps from TJs onward are equally susceptible to death wobble. Best way to avoid it is to either;

a) Stay stock
or
b) Learn the causes, diagnosis, and always check & keep thinks torqued properly.

Heck, "b" applies whether you're stock or not, lol.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Any problems like this with a 2022 with stock wheels and tires?

No one can possibly answer that question.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

All Jeeps from TJs onward are equally susceptible to death wobble. Best way to avoid it is to either;

a) Stay stock
or
b) Learn the causes, diagnosis, and always check & keep thinks torqued properly.

Heck, "b" applies whether you're stock or not, lol.

And Ford truck owners will tell you the same about their trucks.

And yet - are these really susceptible?
.......... honestly, out of 100,000 vehicles, how many really truly have THIS problem?
My brother has owned countless Jeeps from the CJ series on up since the 70s and he's never had such an issue.

 

[u-joint]

And Ford truck owners will tell you the same about their trucks.

And yet - are these really susceptible?
.......... honestly, out of 100,000 vehicles, how many really truly have THIS problem?
My brother has owned countless Jeeps from the CJ series on up since the 70s and he's never had such an issue.

Susceptible does not imply common. Rather that the design is more likely to lead to such outcomes versus an IFS design or a leaf-spring setup like CJs and YJs.

 

[seven30]

And Ford truck owners will tell you the same about their trucks.

And yet - are these really susceptible?
.......... honestly, out of 100,000 vehicles, how many really truly have THIS problem?
My brother has owned countless Jeeps from the CJ series on up since the 70s and he's never had such an issue.

You could be right. The difference between then and now is the interweb. Heck we should probably keep that in mind for just about everything these days.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

You could be right. The difference between then and now is the interweb. Heck we should probably keep that in mind for just about everything these days.

It's been around for years - this is from a suspension engineer:

"Death wobble" first showed up in vehicles in the 1960s with early aftermarket lift kits, primarily on Jeep CJs and Land Rover S1s.

......and these are the guy's credentials, he knows his stuff:

• Freightliner engineering, 2008-09
• Senior engineer - chassis design synthesis (developed business integration plan, process, and documentation for CATIA use in advanced vehicle engineering), 2002-2004
• CATIA Kinematic Application trainer and engineer, American Axle, 2002
• Tenneco Automotive Japan, Ltd - Consultant on exhaust systems design and prototype troubleshooting to Isuzu on GMT 355 / ISZ 190 project; employee training on design systems, 2000-01; Vehicle Exhaust Systems Design and Prototype Troubleshooting to Isuzu Motors, Fujisawa, Japan on GMT 355/ISZ 190 Project
• Tenneco Automotive, Michigan, American LaFrance design, Wagner Lighting (exterior lighting systems for GM and Chrysler), Catnet, Autoliv (airbags/restraings for GM and Chrysler), Masland (interior components for Chrysler), GM Corvette Group (C5 mule prototype design), Harvard Industries (engine fans for GM, door frames for Chrysler)
• Chrysler Corporation Jeep/Truck Engineering, 1987-1992, including Senior Designer, 4x4 Vehicle Suspensions - responsible for all 4x4 suspension design concepts on Dodge BR (full size RAM pickup); Jeep Motorsports race team assistance.
• AM General - senior suspension design for FMTV and HMMWV; GM Truck Group - Military Vehicles Operations; GM Truck and Bus Group, International Harvester TSPC and Scout Group

 

[Rusty PW]

Death wobble can happen on any straight front axle vehicle. Ford's, Rams, Jeeps, old Chevys, plus motorhomes, and semi's. I only had DW on one vehicle. That was a '88 Cherokee. I got rid of my diesel pusher motorhome last year. It was starting to show signs of DW.

 

[seven30]

It's been around for years - this is from a suspension engineer:

"Death wobble" first showed up in vehicles in the 1960s with early aftermarket lift kits, primarily on Jeep CJs and Land Rover S1s.

......and these are the guy's credentials, he knows his stuff:

• Freightliner engineering, 2008-09
• Senior engineer - chassis design synthesis (developed business integration plan, process, and documentation for CATIA use in advanced vehicle engineering), 2002-2004
• CATIA Kinematic Application trainer and engineer, American Axle, 2002
• Tenneco Automotive Japan, Ltd - Consultant on exhaust systems design and prototype troubleshooting to Isuzu on GMT 355 / ISZ 190 project; employee training on design systems, 2000-01; Vehicle Exhaust Systems Design and Prototype Troubleshooting to Isuzu Motors, Fujisawa, Japan on GMT 355/ISZ 190 Project
• Tenneco Automotive, Michigan, American LaFrance design, Wagner Lighting (exterior lighting systems for GM and Chrysler), Catnet, Autoliv (airbags/restraings for GM and Chrysler), Masland (interior components for Chrysler), GM Corvette Group (C5 mule prototype design), Harvard Industries (engine fans for GM, door frames for Chrysler)
• Chrysler Corporation Jeep/Truck Engineering, 1987-1992, including Senior Designer, 4x4 Vehicle Suspensions - responsible for all 4x4 suspension design concepts on Dodge BR (full size RAM pickup); Jeep Motorsports race team assistance.
• AM General - senior suspension design for FMTV and HMMWV; GM Truck Group - Military Vehicles Operations; GM Truck and Bus Group, International Harvester TSPC and Scout Group

Yes Ive seen DW back in the 70s on an old Willys truck that was pretty beat. DW is nothing new. Just the forums and such. Before the web only dealers knew how many owners were complaining.

 

[RoamingJT]

Had steering shimmy over most of the winter (MJT @25k miles). It was definitely worse on colder days. Last month put on new tires and haven't had a problem since, even at lower temperatures. Probably didn't rotate my stock tires as much as I should have. Uneven tread wear appears to have been the main cause of my issue, perhaps by magnifying the oscillation from the suspension working to handle bumps in the road. Checking torque of steering components just to be safe as I know the cold can cause bolts/ nuts to contract. Don't forget to rotate your tires!

 

[seven30]

I agree. I rotate at each oil change. Really extends tire life.

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