Death wobble or death from uhaul

[mcd2484]

Hey everyone long time help needed member lol.

instslled the Bds 3in lift core 4x4 arms all around and rear track bar. About 5 weeks and 1500 miles with no issues.. few concerns I posted about and with all the help got straightened out.

Friday my friendly neighborhood fedex man delivered by fox through design steering stabilizer. Instal was easy. Drove 90 miles this morning heading to pick up some pipe for a future project. My plan was to rent a utility near the pipe place so I didn’t have to haul an empty trailer. The trip up was all winding back roads then about 60 miles on 95 speeds topping around 80 as I95 in maine speed limit is 75. Jeep drove amazing. Got the 5x9 uhaul and loaded the pipe.. about 120 pounds of insulated Pex. Just awkward load (pic attached)

95S got the death wobble when a semi passed me and I hit a bump. Scary but the truck driver was alert and slowed behind me and let me basically stop to get the vehicle under control. I was doing about 65 trailer said 55mph max my fault. Happens again going around 50 when I hit a bridge bump and is absolutely terrifying.

only thing New to the suspension was the stabilizer and when I installed Friday it I decided it was a good time to re torque my suspension, jam nuts etc. everything is tight and to the naked eye nothing looks off.

is this a common problem with lifted Jeeps and utility trailers? User error? I don’t see the stabilizer causing the issue as people install them to fix (or bandaid) a preexisting wobble.

I know there’s a lot at play here and only suggestions can be given but I used decent parts and professional installation and full computer alignment after. Only thing new was the trailer and stabilizer… heading to Vermont for work at 3 am that’s about 200 miles of mountain roads and highway going to be a very interesting ride.

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[same_O_G]

Did it feel like the wobble was coming from the front wheels? Could you feel it in the steering wheel? Here's a pretty good video that explains death wobble:



If it felt like it was in the rear, then it was probably trailer sway. Small, unloaded trailers can do that at higher speeds.

 

[Blade1668]

As you said check all bolts, to add to that check all control arms bushings ball joints, tie rod ends. Check steering gearbox and pitman arm too. A steering stabilizer is a "band-aid" that doesn't fix it. I'd add checking drive line too but it's more likely within the covered parts
If the control arms was torqued not setting under weight of vehicle that could be it. I went through this on my XJ. The steering linkage was a problem with it. The control arm bushings was a part too. The bushings can tear or be worn and rattle (heim-joints) the steering linkage and track bar needs to be parallel especially. This is a big part of eliminating D.W.
A out of balance or out of round tire(s) can also do it.

 

[mcd2484]

Makes sense! The stabilizer was a part of the kit just arrived way late being out of stock. I mentioned it was installed just a few days ago. I’ve never had DW before so the stabilizer wasn’t to correct it it’s just been a day by day lift as parts come sporadically . Honestly I felt it in the front wheel but I did see the trailer swaying prior. Thing is I have not experienced trailer sway and I’ve never had DW before yet I feel swaying would feel differently than db? It was violent across the vehicle

all control arms were torqued to spec upon install and then a couple weeks later again by the shop who did the alignment I was under there and just made sure noting was loose especially the jam nuts. Jeep has 14300 miles though I know hee parts break and lifts make parts wear out faster i wouldn’t think it was a ball joint or tie rod yet.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Did it feel like the wobble was coming from the front wheels? Could you feel it in the steering wheel? Here's a pretty good video that explains death wobble:



If it felt like it was in the rear, then it was probably trailer sway. Small, unloaded trailers can do that at higher speeds.

Yes, and it's one reason the TOWING speed limit in many states is 65 regardless of the posted limit for non-towing..........


Maine
One site says the towing speed limit is 65 mph while another says up to 75 so who the heck knows....

The pipe was high on the trailer, not helping either. Can't tell from the pics how far back or forward that load was on the trailer. If it was more than 50% behind the axle it could have been rear-heavy.

DW is absolutely 100% felt up front, not in the rear, and the steering wheel wobbles.

Trailer sway is like a tiny dog wagging a big tail. Your butt sways to the music. The steering wheel doesn't wobble in your hands.

 

[Zero_Accel]

Yes, and it's one reason the TOWING speed limit in many states is 65 regardless of the posted limit for non-towing..........

The pipe was high on the trailer, not helping either. Can't tell from the pics how far back or forward that load was on the trailer. If it was more than 50% behind the axle it could have been rear-heavy.

DW is absolutely 100% felt up front, not in the rear, and the steering wheel wobbles.

Trailer sway is like a tiny dog wagging a big tail. Your butt sways to the music. The steering wheel doesn't wobble in your hands.

Yup, recently had this experience. My family was heading up to MOAB for summer, my Jeep, my old man's JTR, and my sisters JKU.

Well halfway between Truth or Consequences and Albuquerque, the JK's torque converter decided that it didn't want to be a torque converter anymore, and it went out. Had no movement, no matter what gear you put it in.

Had to flat tow her back 150 miles, and I would get sway going faster than 55 mph. Trailer sway and death-wobble feels different.

 

[Lunentucker]

Maybe it's just the angle but your front wheels look to be off center rearward under the body, which could indicate some issues in geometry changes with the lift. Check your wheelbase specs and adjust the lower arms accordingly. Then check caster and adjust the upper arms accordingly. About +6 seems to be a good setup for a good handling Jeep.
Adjustable arms are great, but some relocation brackets also may be in order of the arms can't fix things by themselves.
Longer arms can't correct the effects of road bumps and dips being directed rearward instead of upward.
Also makes sure you're properly centered after the lift on the trackbar.
I seriously doubt it's the stabilizer, but it's an easy swap to put the old one back on and test it with the trailer.
U-Haul is top notch well maintained equipment, so I'm certain there's nothing going on with the trailer ?.

 

[same_O_G]

I would probably drop the trailer and see if you can recreate what you felt. If it happens without the trailer attached, it's definitely something with the suspension. If not, then it's probably the trailer.

 

[mcd2484]

Haha tru!
The wheels are within 1/4 both front and rear and full computer alignment since any changes/adjustments. Granted that doesn’t make a difference when a problem arises. Absolutely felt it in the wheel it was like abs on steroids. The pipe was almost weightless and yea it was pushed back against the rear ramp. A perfectly tru suspension can go without a stabilizer so I don’t know why a new one would cause it

 

[Mac]

My guess is your setup is on the verge of death wobble and having the trailer weight on the rear lightened up the front enough to cause it to happen. Doubt the steering stabilizer could have caused it, I have had the same one on for over 20k miles and tow pretty frequently around 3k lbs with 300+lbs of tongue weight.

 

[bd100]

(As an aside, the trailer chains are hanging pretty low. To make each chain shorter, you can twist it in place a few turns before connecting it to the hitch. Leave some slack for turning.)

 

[mcd2484]

Absolutely, there’s no way they would sell any lift or component and say “once installed no towing or hauling,” so yes must have been on the cusp. Also makes sense as the front end and weight was holding back the set off and once I pushed say 20% of driveline weight to the rear axel the gremlins came out. I may do testing in a controlled setting like in an industrial park with some small holes.

 

[Lunentucker]

This is one the best videos I've seen on death wobble.

 

[Chocolyle]

Trailer weight distribution. Simple video that helped me understand.

 

[mcd2484]

This video ^ actually showed perfectly what happened. Granted as another user said my setup is probably ready to D/W and the trailer set it over the edge. I definitely felt it in the wheel but it happens as a tractor trailer passed me (thus passing my the trailer) and I know they can be turbulent.. also never mentioned however it was raining pretty bad… again I’m not trying to sell myself and say nope no problem here. But I drove 90 miles at 50-80mph an hour before picking up the trailer and I was very happy with the handling. . I know everything runs great until it doesn’t lol.

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