Death wobble (shudder) survivor...not all heroes wear capes

[Ankh]

2021 high altitude all stock (minus stubby antenna mod!)
14,500 miles
Tire rotation yesterday
I79 cruise set at 73, hit a pennsylvania pothole which caused instant shuddering of steering wheel. Immediately tapped brake and coasted for about 10-15 seconds and it quit shaking. Back up to speed, drove additional 40 miles and nothing else of note.

Did I experience the dredded death wobble or is this a different issue? Am I still a survivor/hero???

Sponsored

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

You likely have a tire balance issue.

Probably more accurate to call it a steering wheel shimmy based on your description of the problem. Death wobble is a violent steering wheel shake.

 

[In3briatedPanda]

You likely have a tire balance issue.

Probably more accurate to call it a steering wheel shimmy based on your description of the problem. Death wobble is a violent steering wheel shake.

mine does the same thing. I called it DW but i have another issue somewhere. If i lower my tire pressure, the shimy gets worse. I either have a wheel or tire issue.

Only twice has it done the 'shimy' and i had to get under 15 mph to get it to stop.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

You likely have a tire balance issue.

Probably more accurate to call it a steering wheel shimmy based on your description of the problem. Death wobble is a violent steering wheel shake.

exactly. Death Wobble will necessitate the need to check your pants for soilage... anything loose in the cab will get tossed around... it will not go away by coasting or slowing a little bit, you need to come almost to a complete stop to get it to stop. If you think you have had DW, you did not... you know it when you get it!

 

[Cburd61]

I’ve had the same “shimmy” about 4 times in 2 years. The last time was about an hour ago. It’s been consistently in the same 1/4 mile stretch of highway, which isn’t in the best shape. I’ve already tightened up all the known suspension points, ball joints, etc. tires are due to be rotated this week, and I had just checked the pressure before I left. I’ve experienced true “death wobble” in the past, between my old CJ5, and my CJ2. Bit of a different animal. It still gets your attention though.

 

[sharpsicle]

You likely have a tire balance issue.

Probably more accurate to call it a steering wheel shimmy based on your description of the problem. Death wobble is a violent steering wheel shake.

exactly. Death Wobble will necessitate the need to check your pants for soilage... anything loose in the cab will get tossed around... it will not go away by coasting or slowing a little bit, you need to come almost to a complete stop to get it to stop. If you think you have had DW, you did not... you know it when you get it!

100%.

It's called death wobble for a reason. It's not slightly odd wobble.

 

[AmishMike]

My only ?experience with 'death wobble' was in my wife's '71 Super Beetle. It has been said that the geometry of those front ends is on knife's edge.
Then came the 'death ear' as I heard it from my wife. ?

 

[Ankh]

exactly. Death Wobble will necessitate the need to check your pants for soilage... anything loose in the cab will get tossed around... it will not go away by coasting or slowing a little bit, you need to come almost to a complete stop to get it to stop. If you think you have had DW, you did not... you know it when you get it!

Technically there was a little soilage involved but it may have been last night's backyard venison chili washed down with an iron city "light" or 2 to keep it healthy. Nothing did fly in the cab sans a few f bombs.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

100%.

It's called death wobble for a reason. It's not slightly odd wobble.

What about coma wobble?

 

[Jeep-A-Kneez]

I get that at times as well, my experience started when I went from 285s to 315s. I too believe it is a balance issue and I also believe the alternative shop I used wasn't capable of balancing a 35" tire, yet I was assured they could. No wheel weights to be found, bet beads were used. Get what ya pay for at times, and no need to go back to complain, sure they couldn't fix anyway.

Have some new rims for Christmas, so hopefully those, along with a fresh balancing will fix the issue. Also installed a Fox through shaft stabilizer tonight, hope to nip it in the bud.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I get that at times as well, my experience started when I went from 285s to 315s. I too believe it is a balance issue and I also believe the alternative shop I used wasn't capable of balancing a 35" tire, yet I was assured they could. No wheel weights to be found, bet beads were used. Get what ya pay for at times, and no need to go back to complain, sure they couldn't fix anyway.

Have some new rims for Christmas, so hopefully those, along with a fresh balancing will fix the issue. Also installed a Fox through shaft stabilizer tonight, hope to nip it in the bud.

Beads are crap for bigger, heavier tires and for lateral imbalance. They may sort of work sometimes and under some conditions.
The bigger the tire, the wider the tire, the heavier the tire - they more you need a pro to do it right.

 

[Mash5]

Check your joints. There are six of them. Both ends of the pan hard bar, Both ends of the drag link, and both ends of the tie rod. Have your lovely assistant (an ugly one will do in a pinch) move the steering wheel back and forth a few inches as you put fingers across the moving part of the joint to check for play. There should ideally be no play. I would address any looseness by replacing the joints before doing anything else. It could also be the control arm ends, but those are a bit harder to test and somewhat less likely to be the cause in my estimation. Check the easy stuff first.

 

[flipmcgee]

2021 high altitude all stock (minus stubby antenna mod!)
14,500 miles
Tire rotation yesterday
I79 cruise set at 73, hit a pennsylvania pothole which caused instant shuddering of steering wheel. Immediately tapped brake and coasted for about 10-15 seconds and it quit shaking. Back up to speed, drove additional 40 miles and nothing else of note.

Did I experience the dredded death wobble or is this a different issue? Am I still a survivor/hero???

I have a 22 JT overland and had the tires rotated yesterday at the dealership. This is the second time they have been rotated since new. On the way home, following the same route I drive twice a day, I crossed a bridge and the front end started violently wobbling. I had to pull over as it kept getting worse. My first thought was they didn't tighten the lugs. Checked it out, lugs were fine and I started driving again and about a mile down the road it happened again. I limped home at 55 in a 70 with no more problems but it happens every time I get over 65 on the highway now. No question it has to be related to the tire rotation since i drove over that same spot on the way to the dealership before. It was also the coldest day we have had so far. This is another common thing that people say the cold affects this. I called the dealer and they said they have seen this many times and I need a new stabilizer. Sounds good but I've done a ton of reading on the subject in the last couple days and wheel balance keeps being mentioned. Now I'm afraid I've fallen into the crack as so many others have where the dealer starts replacing steering components without any long term fix. One video I watched from a shop that claims to have a fix said its all about the track bar and the alignment and it goes into fine tuning that no dealership would do on its own.
I owned a liberty bank in 2003 and they had drive shaft vibration problem that caused steering wheel vibration at highway speeds that would make your hands numb on a long drive. Never resolved after replacing the drive shafts and nearly every steering component. I went from loving this gladiator to feeling like I bought a lemon In one day.

 

[abe57]

I have a 22 JT overland and had the tires rotated yesterday at the dealership. This is the second time they have been rotated since new. On the way home, following the same route I drive twice a day, I crossed a bridge and the front end started violently wobbling. I had to pull over as it kept getting worse. My first thought was they didn't tighten the lugs. Checked it out, lugs were fine and I started driving again and about a mile down the road it happened again. I limped home at 55 in a 70 with no more problems but it happens every time I get over 65 on the highway now. No question it has to be related to the tire rotation since i drove over that same spot on the way to the dealership before. It was also the coldest day we have had so far. This is another common thing that people say the cold affects this. I called the dealer and they said they have seen this many times and I need a new stabilizer. Sounds good but I've done a ton of reading on the subject in the last couple days and wheel balance keeps being mentioned. Now I'm afraid I've fallen into the crack as so many others have where the dealer starts replacing steering components without any long term fix. One video I watched from a shop that claims to have a fix said its all about the track bar and the alignment and it goes into fine tuning that no dealership would do on its own.
I owned a liberty bank in 2003 and they had drive shaft vibration problem that caused steering wheel vibration at highway speeds that would make your hands numb on a long drive. Never resolved after replacing the drive shafts and nearly every steering component. I went from loving this gladiator to feeling like I bought a lemon In one day.

Check tire pressure ...they may have changed it ...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Check tire pressure ...they may have changed it ...

I've had two Jeep dealers and a tire shop all jack the pressure up to 40-41 after they worked on my Gladiators.
The door sticker plainly said 38 - and the tires on it now should only be 36 according to the tire company engineer.
WTH is up with that magic 40 number, anyway?

Sponsored