2021 GladiatorSteering

[GFill]

Good morning. I’m new to the forum and new to Jeep ownership. I recently purchased a 2021 Gladiator. it is the 4dr Sport and is basically completely stock. Standard 17” wheels and 245/75 tires. Apparently the previous owner had some 35’s on it as the spare is a 35. I am experiencing the infamous death wobble at higher speeds. Wobble occurs when I am accelerating and hit a bump. I have found I cannot use cruise control. I have learned to let off the accelerator when I see road irregularities in front of me and avoid the wobble. Biggest problem is when I am accelerating on an entrance ramp and hit a chug hole. I have checked suspension and all points seem tight, checked wheel bearings and they have no play. Dealer did an alignment check and it is off. I will list the findings below. It has an aftermarket dampener on it and the dealer is going to replace that. To me that’s a bandaid, not a solution. Eventhough steering seems tight and the alignment findings I think it might be a ball joint Or joints. Appreciate your suggestions.

Driver Passenger side

camber -2.4 + 1.9
caster. +4.1. +4.0
toe. +.14 +.09

Thanks

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[GeekJT]

It's kind of hard to test alone, but can get the wheel off the ground, put a crowbar/2x4/whatever under the tire and lever it up and down, or have someone do that, and you look at the ball joints.

If there is any vertical movement at the ball joint, replace them, all of them.

It is not hard for a jeep to tear up ball joints in 2years. Death wobble is just something or a combo of things that are worn and loose with some kind of play in it.

Just did this with my son-in-law's wrangler, fixed his death wobble completely. He was getting DW at 35-40mph. Did ball joints, all the steering links, the panhard was bent, after doing all the joints, drives perfect. Then you throw on a new steering dampener

I take the steering dampener off while trying to fix DW, that way it's not masking anything worn.

 

[NC_Overland]

What is a chug hole?

 

[VA6489]

Camber is out of wack. Needs more caster.

 

[Stan H]

Good morning. I’m new to the forum and new to Jeep ownership. I recently purchased a 2021 Gladiator. it is the 4dr Sport and is basically completely stock. Standard 17” wheels and 245/75 tires. Apparently the previous owner had some 35’s on it as the spare is a 35. I am experiencing the infamous death wobble at higher speeds. Wobble occurs when I am accelerating and hit a bump. I have found I cannot use cruise control. I have learned to let off the accelerator when I see road irregularities in front of me and avoid the wobble. Biggest problem is when I am accelerating on an entrance ramp and hit a chug hole. I have checked suspension and all points seem tight, checked wheel bearings and they have no play. Dealer did an alignment check and it is off. I will list the findings below. It has an aftermarket dampener on it and the dealer is going to replace that. To me that’s a bandaid, not a solution. Eventhough steering seems tight and the alignment findings I think it might be a ball joint Or joints. Appreciate your suggestions.

Driver Passenger side

camber -2.4 + 1.9
caster. +4.1. +4.0
toe. +.14 +.09

Thanks

Ball joints, front axle hub assemblies, upper control arm axle bushings. Toe rod ends, front track bar, If you haven't jacked it up yet do so then have someone turn the wheel left and right check for slack shake the wheels. There is something loose guaranteed. Also 1 time I had a bad rim that was bent ( original aluminum) and it couldn't be seen unless it had a straight edge next to the rim edge. Additionally have tires rebalanced.

 

[Stan H]

It's kind of hard to test alone, but can get the wheel off the ground, put a crowbar/2x4/whatever under the tire and lever it up and down, or have someone do that, and you look at the ball joints.

If there is any vertical movement at the ball joint, replace them, all of them.

It is not hard for a jeep to tear up ball joints in 2years. Death wobble is just something or a combo of things that are worn and loose with some kind of play in it.

Just did this with my son-in-law's wrangler, fixed his death wobble completely. He was getting DW at 35-40mph. Did ball joints, all the steering links, the panhard was bent, after doing all the joints, drives perfect. Then you throw on a new steering dampener

I take the steering dampener off while trying to fix DW, that way it's not masking anything worn.

This is solid guidance.

 

[GI Grandpa]

Good morning. I’m new to the forum and new to Jeep ownership. I recently purchased a 2021 Gladiator. it is the 4dr Sport and is basically completely stock. Standard 17” wheels and 245/75 tires. Apparently the previous owner had some 35’s on it as the spare is a 35. I am experiencing the infamous death wobble at higher speeds. Wobble occurs when I am accelerating and hit a bump. I have found I cannot use cruise control. I have learned to let off the accelerator when I see road irregularities in front of me and avoid the wobble. Biggest problem is when I am accelerating on an entrance ramp and hit a chug hole. I have checked suspension and all points seem tight, checked wheel bearings and they have no play. Dealer did an alignment check and it is off. I will list the findings below. It has an aftermarket dampener on it and the dealer is going to replace that. To me that’s a bandaid, not a solution. Eventhough steering seems tight and the alignment findings I think it might be a ball joint Or joints. Appreciate your suggestions.

Driver Passenger side

camber -2.4 + 1.9
caster. +4.1. +4.0
toe. +.14 +.09

Thanks

I'm not saying you don't have death wobble, but I've ridden in several Gladiators that had lose steering, liked to wander in the lane and feel very unsettled over uneven pavement and bumps, but they didn't actually have death wobble. My 21 Mojave started doing that around 60k miles when I added the AEV 2" lift and went to 35x12.50 tires. I replaced the steering with Steer Smarts Yeti set up and it drives better than new. I just did an oil change and tire rotation and everything is still solid and tight.

 

[GeekJT]

I'm not saying you don't have death wobble, but I've ridden in several Gladiators that had lose steering, liked to wander in the lane and feel very unsettled over uneven pavement and bumps, but they didn't actually have death wobble. My 21 Mojave started doing that around 60k miles when I added the AEV 2" lift and went to 35x12.50 tires. I replaced the steering with Steer Smarts Yeti set up and it drives better than new. I just did an oil change and tire rotation and everything is still solid and tight.

Solid and tight is a thing on a jeep? I thought loosy and goosey was how they do it

 

[Stan H]

Solid and tight is a thing on a jeep? I thought loosy and goosey was how they do it

Only on the ones rode hard ya know.

 

[GFill]

It's kind of hard to test alone, but can get the wheel off the ground, put a crowbar/2x4/whatever under the tire and lever it up and down, or have someone do that, and you look at the ball joints.

If there is any vertical movement at the ball joint, replace them, all of them.

It is not hard for a jeep to tear up ball joints in 2years. Death wobble is just something or a combo of things that are worn and loose with some kind of play in it.

Just did this with my son-in-law's wrangler, fixed his death wobble completely. He was getting DW at 35-40mph. Did ball joints, all the steering links, the panhard was bent, after doing all the joints, drives perfect. Then you throw on a new steering dampener

I take the steering dampener off while trying to fix DW, that way it's not masking anything worn.

Thanks. I did not check for vertical movement. Will check it this weekend.
thanks again

What is a chug hole?

Definition
Chughole (noun): A particularly deep or troublesome pothole in a road, often large enough to cause significant damage to vehicles.

Etymology
The term “chughole” is a combination of “chug” and “hole.”

• Chug - potentially emanating from the onomatopoeic term representing the sluggish sound of a machine struggling or working hard, similar to how a vehicle might sound trying to escape a pothole.
• Hole - a gap or hollow part of a solid object or surface.

• What is a chug hole?

• I'm not saying you don't have death wobble, but I've ridden in several Gladiators that had lose steering, liked to wander in the lane and feel very unsettled over uneven pavement and bumps, but they didn't actually have death wobble. My 21 Mojave started doing that around 60k miles when I added the AEV 2" lift and went to 35x12.50 tires. I replaced the steering with Steer Smarts Yeti set up and it drives better than new. I just did an oil change and tire rotation and everything is still solid and tight.

  Thanks for all the replies. Just got the jeep back from the dealer with a “Gen 2” steering stabilizer installed. Seems to have tightened up the steering. Going to lift the tires and check for vertical movement in the steering components. Appreciate the advice.

 

[NC_Overland]

Thanks. I did not check for vertical movement. Will check it this weekend.
thanks again

Definition
Chughole (noun): A particularly deep or troublesome pothole in a road, often large enough to cause significant damage to vehicles.

Etymology
The term “chughole” is a combination of “chug” and “hole.”

• Chug - potentially emanating from the onomatopoeic term representing the sluggish sound of a machine struggling or working hard, similar to how a vehicle might sound trying to escape a pothole.
• Hole - a gap or hollow part of a solid object or surface.
• 
  Thanks for all the replies. Just got the jeep back from the dealer with a “Gen 2” steering stabilizer installed. Seems to have tightened up the steering. Going to lift the tires and check for vertical movement in the steering components. Appreciate the advice.

I honestly wasn’t sure if it was a typo or not. lol

 

[@Vodiator_JTR]

What is a chug hole?

Pot hole LOL

 

[Stan H]

Pot hole LOL

Is that like taking a drink and hitting a pothole at the same time.

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