Death Wobble

[Bruce]

I have an Overland that I have had for a year and have about 24K miles on it. In March I installed a Rubi take off suspension and a Teraflex leveling kit. I did not install the slightly longer lower control arms and I am wondering if that is my issue. I have had no issues until recently but lately at highway speeds if I hit a bump that impacts the tires asymmetrically I will sometimes get death wobble. Usually it is minor and dissipates quickly. The truck tracks straight but sometimes it will buck like a bronco while I get it slowed down and apply some steering input to help get it back to normal. If any experts can weigh in on what I may do to resolve it I would appreciate it. My current theory is that since I didn't put in the slightly longer LCAs, my caster is off.

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[Jeeperjamie]

The control arms on a Rubicon suspension are not longer they are the same as all the other gladiators I would suspect that you have something loose like your track bar or sway bar links something like that. I would check those things out first.

 

[CTFriel]

My questions and comments:

Did you install the lift?

Have you retorqued your trackbar (most likely culprit)?

what wheels and tires are you running and at what air pressure?

have you had them balanced?

been wheeling and bent anything (tie rod)?

had an alignment completed? If so what are your numbers?

I’m leaning to something is loose or severely out of balance.

 

[Bruce]

To answer the questions above. I have retorqued the TB but will check it again. The wheels and tires are stock but I have not had them balanced since I bought it. I did install the Rubi suspension and leveling kit. I don't take it wheeling but live in a rural area so am often on unpaved roads which is really my interest vs. crawling. I have checked for loose items but will again when I get home. Still have 800 miles to go tomorrow before I can do so other than visually now.

 

[Bruce]

Drove about 820 miles home today. One incident of death wobble where I had to slow down to about 60 (from 72) to get it to subside. I plan to put on new shoes shortly and then will be getting it aligned and try to add more caster. I am fairly confident that is my problem but I will be retorquing it this weekend to make sure that is not the problem. What is funny is that I can see it coming. If there is a bridge with a big expansion joint bump running diagonally to the lane I know I need to be on my game. If it is a subtle bump, no issue, if it is bigger, I will be riding the bronc.

 

[Bruce]

Follow up: Two days ago I really tightened up the track bar and got nearly a full turn into it. Since then no wobble but too small of a sample size thus far to call the issue solved. Hoping it will be ok until I get new tires and get it aligned.

 

[Andy29847]

First of all. You do not have death wobble. Death Wobble feels like the truck is coming apart and you have to stop or slow to a crawl before it goes away.

Slightly longer lower control arm will increase the caster of your front axle and make the steering more stable. Do this.​

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Tire shimmy and shake is often about the wheels and tires. You don't sat what, if any, changes you have made regarding this.​

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