Cold weather = Death wobble

[NachoRuby]

I had a touch of dw a few weeks ago. I went back through the suspension and tightened down the track bar, control arms, sway bar, and shock mounts. They were all a bit loose. Then it went away entirely.

I wonder how much cold weather and shrinking metals might contribute to loose nuts and bolts? Maybe the real issue is loose components that show up when it gets cold?

Sponsored

 

[vf171]

Same thing here. I drive from NE Ohio to SW Ohio twice a month. My bone stock '21 Gladiator Overland with 44K miles is in the shop now for the same issue. This is the 2nd time for this vehicle. My '18 JL had the exact same issue (twice)and would show up once temps dropped in the late fall through winter. Funny thing is they keep just replacing the steering damper but it keeps coming back. Everyone knows that isn't the problem but Jeep refuses to issue a TSB or any other guidance to dealer service centers (that I am aware of) so it's left to the hilljack you get and what they "think" the cause is. My dealer likes to replace the steering damper. I have the MaxCare extended warranty so once I hit 75K miles I'll take it to local Jeep shop and get have it properly diagnosed and any parts replaced or upgraded as needed.

It's fun being the guy who has to slow down to ~50 MPH on the highway every time I hit a big enough bump to set it off. It was REAL fun when it happened in a construction zone and I couldn't get off on the shoulder to slow down. Lucky I didn't loose control and wreck it.

At this rate I'm genuinely considering trading it on a Bronco. Tired of the bullshit.

 

[vf171]

I also have a bad shimmy. The temps were at 20 degrees and while driving around 75 mph on the interstate.
It happened when transitioning from an overpass to the highway. I could slow down to 65 or take my hands off the steering wheel to correct it.
I have a Terraflex level and stock 18" Bridgestone tires at 38 psi.
Once the temperatures warmed up I had no issues. This was during a 900 mile road trip.

And it will likely get worse and worse. I've had it 4 times on two different Jeeps now and each time it starts out fairly mild and gets progressively worse. This time (last week) I didn't wait until it was really bad. I went ahead and took into the shop Monday. I'll be back there next winter too and each after until they either fix the underlying problem or my warranty is up (75K miles).

 

[vf171]

I had a touch of dw a few weeks ago. I went back through the suspension and tightened down the track bar, control arms, sway bar, and shock mounts. They were all a bit loose. Then it went away entirely.

I wonder how much cold weather and shrinking metals might contribute to loose nuts and bolts? Maybe the real issue is loose components that show up when it gets cold?

Did you just snug everything up or torque to recommended specs?

 

[vf171]

I'd like to see how many experience this with 100% stock Gladiators. Stock tires, inflated per stock recommendations, stock height, stock wheels, etc.



??
So if you completely let go, it settles down and is smooth and goes STRAIGHT down the road? Not to one side or the other, but straight, and the shimmy is gone?

I'm bone stock, '21 Overland, 44K miles, new damper last winter.

You don't just let go of the steering wheel, you let off the gas too (try not to brake or at least not too hard). It will generally wonder a bit but because the wheels are oscillating left and right so fast it is a generally straight path. Turning the steering wheel while it's happening to get off onto the shoulder and out of traffic is a religious event for me. But if I have traffic up my ass I have to get off tot he side or cause/be in an accident.

 

[NachoRuby]

Did you just snug everything up or torque to recommended specs?

I torqued everything down to recommended specs, which I found on here somewhere. And good thing too. What I thought was "snug" for the control arms was nowhere near the 185-200 ft. lbs. (dependent on location) on the sheet.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I torqued everything down to recommended specs, which I found on here somewhere. And good thing too. What I thought was "snug" was nowhere near the 185-200 ft. lbs. (dependent on location) on the sheet.

Did you use the FACTORY specs or others that keep getting posted that are actually, ironically LESS than what the true factory specs are.........?

You don't just let go of the steering wheel, you let off the gas too

That changes everything. You said take hands off the wheel and it settles down.
It's really the speed reduction in most cases.

I'd bet on something loose, damaged, or a wheel giving troubles.

My car I mentioned here and there - bent wheel. No one could figure it out. Big-O tires had the thing twice - as I bought tires from them. They spun things and balanced things twice. No joy.
I had a Chevy dealer shop look it over (because they did a great job on alignment and balance on my 70 Javelin), I had a dedicated chassis axle and wheel shop look it over, they couldn't figure it out........... in the end, it was a wheel.

 

[Larry1962us]

I'd like to see how many experience this with 100% stock Gladiators. Stock tires, inflated per stock recommendations, stock height, stock wheels, etc.



??
So if you completely let go, it settles down and is smooth and goes STRAIGHT down the road? Not to one side or the other, but straight, and the shimmy is gone?

Yes sir. I have not had the wobble since I have been back to Texas and warmer weather. I am going to crawl under her this weekend and make sure nothing is loose.

 

[Britton]

Mine is stock from the factory and have the same issue with 4,900 miles on the odometer. It has happened on warmer days too.
I’ve taken it to two dealerships. They both were very familiar with the issue. Makes me think that Jeep should have a recall or something. Problem is neither can-get to it for 5 weeks. Frustrating

 

[Britton]

Same thing here. I drive from NE Ohio to SW Ohio twice a month. My bone stock '21 Gladiator Overland with 44K miles is in the shop now for the same issue. This is the 2nd time for this vehicle. My '18 JL had the exact same issue (twice)and would show up once temps dropped in the late fall through winter. Funny thing is they keep just replacing the steering damper but it keeps coming back. Everyone knows that isn't the problem but Jeep refuses to issue a TSB or any other guidance to dealer service centers (that I am aware of) so it's left to the hilljack you get and what they "think" the cause is. My dealer likes to replace the steering damper. I have the MaxCare extended warranty so once I hit 75K miles I'll take it to local Jeep shop and get have it properly diagnosed and any parts replaced or upgraded as needed.

It's fun being the guy who has to slow down to ~50 MPH on the highway every time I hit a big enough bump to set it off. It was REAL fun when it happened in a construction zone and I couldn't get off on the shoulder to slow down. Lucky I didn't loose control and wreck it.

At this rate I'm genuinely considering trading it on a Bronco. Tired of the bullshit.

I feel you 100% I am not happy about this at all. A 4,000 mile vehicle should not have these issues.

 

[AlGator4]

Well, I'm in Ohio for the week and with the temps in the 20-35 range I'm having Death Wobble again. I haven't encountered this since last winter in Ohio when I moved to TN.
What's others experiencing?

I had a 2020 Gladiator with 20k. Had driven from Orlando to Chattanooga uneventful. Next leg of trip was Chattanooga to Nashville. 10 min on the road and started getting this front end shudder. At first thought it was my imagination then hit another slightly uneven roadway and it reappeared, only worse. Forced to slow down to 35 on interstate for it to subside. It only got worse and I honestly wasn’t sure I’d make it into Nashville. Long story but found a very knowledgeable Jeep service tech who said it’s a known issue and caused by a factory bolt connecting the damper. He said the shoulder of the bolt was not long enough and there was a bolt fix with the longer shoulder as it goes into damper. The damper is basically ruined so they replaced the bolt and the damper and it’s not reoccurred. By the way the temps were in 50’s and 60’s so don’t see that as a contributing factor. (this is a correction-I pulled the service record and it was the damper not the stabilizer they replaced.) Anyone who needs the detail on the "fix" bolt I'll connect them with the dealer that provided it. My vehicle is stock.

 

[seven30]

I had a 2020 Gladiator with 20k. Had driven from Orlando to Chattanooga uneventful. Next leg of trip was Chattanooga to Nashville. 10 min on the road and started getting this front end shudder. At first thought it was my imagination then hit another slightly uneven roadway and it reappeared, only worse. Forced to slow down to 35 on interstate for it to subside. It only got worse and I honestly wasn’t sure I’d make it into Nashville. Long story but found a very knowledgeable Jeep service tech who said it’s a known issue and caused by a factory bolt connecting the damper. He said the shoulder of the bolt was not long enough and there was a bolt fix with the longer shoulder as it goes into damper. The damper is basically ruined so they replaced the bolt and the damper and it’s not reoccurred. By the way the temps were in 50’s and 60’s so don’t see that as a contributing factor. (this is a correction-I pulled the service record and it was the damper not the stabilizer they replaced.) Anyone who needs the detail on the "fix" bolt I'll connect them with the dealer that provided it. My vehicle is stock.

My Mojave steering stabilizer/damper failed during -19 deg F. It started leaking and a couple of days later in warmer weather server shimmy/DW started occuring for the firt time ever. It was severe enough that I was forced to pull of the road or risk hitting oncoming traffic.

The dealer said damper was backordered so I just got a Fox non-adustable replacement. The instructions did note TWO different bolt types. Seems like an A or B model. Mine had the later style bolt already.

The truck has 40k on it and the Fox has been there for about 12K. So far no hint of shimmy.

 

[AlGator4]

My Mojave steering stabilizer/damper failed during -19 deg F. It started leaking and a couple of days later in warmer weather server shimmy/DW started occuring for the firt time ever. It was severe enough that I was forced to pull of the road or risk hitting oncoming traffic.

The dealer said damper was backordered so I just got a Fox non-adustable replacement. The instructions did note TWO different bolt types. Seems like an A or B model. Mine had the later style bolt already.

The truck has 40k on it and the Fox has been there for about 12K. So far no hint of shimmy.

That is good information as the other threads suggest the fix could be short-lived. To be quite honest, I was super paranoid and even though the trip home was fine, when I got back I traded it for a Genesis GV70 . I put 250 miles on the Genesis and then drove it to the Jeep dealer and traded for a new Gladiator High Altitude. I missed the Jeep - warts and all. My decisions are getting costly....

 

[berb]

Those of us who tow Jeeps behind our motorhomes have a fear that death wobble will occur. This is a Jeep Cherokee, but a great example of Death Wobble. It is so bad in this video it shakes the motorhome that's towing it.

 

[In3briatedPanda]

Well, I'm in Ohio for the week and with the temps in the 20-35 range I'm having Death Wobble again. I haven't encountered this since last winter in Ohio when I moved to TN.
What's others experiencing?

same experience. MC true dual lift. bfg ko2s 315/75r17. mammoth wheel -6mm offest

I only drive 8 miles to and from work. When I got to mile 7, i had to brake really hard from 50 mph (racing the light, i ran it. Forgot what vehicle i was in) and when i applied the brakes i got death wobble, steering wheel did not stop shaking until vehicle came to stop.

Deep pot holes or uneven patches in the road cause it for me. hitting a railroad crossing does it. I never get above 55mph, city driving.

All seems to be related to cold weather but that doesnt make sense. Im going to air up my tires and see if that helps. I seem to only have issues when its cold and my tires are set to 33psi or less. I didnt have any death wobble until after my lift. I doubt its related, but just adding for information purposes. Tires probably have 15k miles on them or so.

Sponsored