*Mild* Death Wobble?

[Maverickxeo]

Recently, I've had the odd "case" of death wobble on my 23 Overland. It doesn't happen often, and I normally have to really "try" to hit a rough spot to cause it to happen. When it does, it's not very violent - I mean, I've experienced pretty severe death wobble, and this is nothing compared to that. It does NOT stop on it's own - I have to slow down quite a bit for it to stop, so I'm certain it is still death wobble.

The "mods" I have for the suspension are Bilstein 5100 shocks, and a 1" teraflex level spacer. I have Load Range E tires (Motomaster All Terrain). These are all new (less than 10,000k KM). Tires have been rebalanced. Death wobble seems to be a newer issue - it came about several thousand KM after doing these.

I have checked the torque and for play on ALL components - everything is good. I did NOT do any alignment after doing the 1" spacer - I don't know if A) Toe would cause death wobble at all and B) if it would be out enough to cause an issue. I've checked my caster, using two different tools (manual angle gauge and my cell phone) - both seem to show 5-6* which does NOT sound right to me.

I DO notice the OEM steering stabilizer is a little "wet" on the end closest to the center of the vehicle, but I really don't think a stabilizer could cause this.

Basically, I am looking for next steps. I am going to check the toe this weekend, I think, but beyond that, I don't know what to do. I'm considering ordering the 2" Mopar LCA, and maybe a new steering stabilizer (aftermarket), but I don't like throwing parts at a problem. I don't think that either of those parts will fix this issue though based on what I know of death wobble.

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[MPMB]

Check the steering box bolts (you'll see the heads on the frame in front of the LF suspension). Can't recall the specs off top of my head, but search the site for them, they've been posted.

If loose, tighten & torque, and test it.

If still get wobble, swap tires around. Make sure the wheel is centered and tight. Sometimes tires lose weights, hit something and get a bulge or have some other defect that develops.

The steering stabilizer only masks the problem, it doesn't solve it.

How'd you check the caster? Caster is the angle of the imaginary line from vertical that goes through the center of the upper and lower ball joints of the spindle, right? It's pretty difficult to "eyeball" it and get a repeatable/reliable number.

Stock caster can be anywhere between 6-7 degrees. After a lift with longer LCAs, my alignment showed ~5.5*, iirc.

 

[Maverickxeo]

Check the steering box bolts (you'll see the heads on the frame in front of the LF suspension). Can't recall the specs off top of my head, but search the site for them, they've been posted.

If loose, tighten & torque, and test it.

If still get wobble, swap tires around. Make sure the wheel is centered and tight. Sometimes tires lose weights, hit something and get a bulge or have some other defect that develops.

The steering stabilizer only masks the problem, it doesn't solve it.

How'd you check the caster? Caster is the angle of the imaginary line from vertical that goes through the center of the upper and lower ball joints of the spindle, right? It's pretty difficult to "eyeball" it and get a repeatable/reliable number.

Stock caster can be anywhere between 6-7 degrees. After a lift with longer LCAs, my alignment showed ~5.5*, iirc.

I did actually find the steering box bolts a little loose prior and torqued them - hoping that was the issue but it really didn't.

I haven't swapped the tires around, but I just had them rebalanced last Saturday (tech said the front right was a little out). I thought that would've fixed it too.

I figured with the stabilizer - I do see what looks like some leaking, so I might just throw a decent one on... or run without it and see what happens (I can run my heavily modified TJ without one).

I checked the caster on the bottom of the knuckles - on the "flat" spots, and on the flat "circles" on the front of the diff. The front of the diff shows more like 4* - so I think that is more accurate, but still not 100% in the slightest.

Is it possible that with the higher load range tires, and stiffer shocks, that this is the natural result? I mean, stiffer suspension could "bounce" more, couldn't it?

 

[JTGuy]

If the steering stabilizer leaks all , it's probably shot. Get a Fox ATS stabilizer and be happy. Make sure you have at least 6 degree of caster.

 

[ChrisNLA]

If the stabilizer is leaking, I'd go ahead and replace it. It should not be the cause, though.

Was your inspection strictly visual and torque or did you put your hand on some of parts while having someone shake the wheel?

My truck has mild death wobble as you would call it. I can only replicate it on particularly unsettling bumps, and not all the time. I checked the torque on the drag link ends, tie rod ends, ball joints, track bar, etc. All good. Visual inspection I could not see any play, but if I held my hand on the upper and lower drag link ends I can feel a clunk while my ole lady cranked on the steering wheel. I could not feel this clunk at all in the tie rod ends.

So anyway, I haven't proven the theory yet but I'm assuming the drag link ends have developed just enough play to allow the front end to wobble under particularly rough conditions. These trucks are very sensitive and I figure if I can feel it, it can too.

I do have a new drag link here waiting to go in and see.

 

[Maverickxeo]

If the stabilizer is leaking, I'd go ahead and replace it. It should not be the cause, though.

Was your inspection strictly visual and torque or did you put your hand on some of parts while having someone shake the wheel?

My truck has mild death wobble as you would call it. I can only replicate it on particularly unsettling bumps, and not all the time. I checked the torque on the drag link ends, tie rod ends, ball joints, track bar, etc. All good. Visual inspection I could not see any play, but if I held my hand on the upper and lower drag link ends I can feel a clunk while my ole lady cranked on the steering wheel. I could not feel this clunk at all in the tie rod ends.

So anyway, I haven't proven the theory yet but I'm assuming the drag link ends have developed just enough play to allow the front end to wobble under particularly rough conditions. These trucks are very sensitive and I figure if I can feel it, it can too.

I do have a new drag link here waiting to go in and see.

I did do torque, visual and felt the points while someone was turning the wheel.

 

[Wharton]

Sounds like you're on top of things, but yeah, the steering stabilizer could be part of the issue, even though it's not always the root cause. Since you've checked torque and play, and your caster seems off (5-6° isn’t ideal), I’d say the alignment and possibly the caster need more attention. The spacer likely changed the geometry enough that it could throw things out of whack. Toe could also be contributing, so definitely check that. The Mopar LCA might help with caster, but don't expect the stabilizer to solve it entirely. Maybe give the alignment a proper check, focusing on caster, and then recheck everything after.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Recently, I've had the odd "case" of death wobble on my 23 Overland. It doesn't happen often, and I normally have to really "try" to hit a rough spot to cause it to happen. When it does, it's not very violent - I mean, I've experienced pretty severe death wobble, and this is nothing compared to that. It does NOT stop on it's own - I have to slow down quite a bit for it to stop, so I'm certain it is still death wobble.

The "mods" I have for the suspension are Bilstein 5100 shocks, and a 1" teraflex level spacer. I have Load Range E tires (Motomaster All Terrain). These are all new (less than 10,000k KM). Tires have been rebalanced. Death wobble seems to be a newer issue - it came about several thousand KM after doing these.

I have checked the torque and for play on ALL components - everything is good. I did NOT do any alignment after doing the 1" spacer - I don't know if A) Toe would cause death wobble at all and B) if it would be out enough to cause an issue. I've checked my caster, using two different tools (manual angle gauge and my cell phone) - both seem to show 5-6* which does NOT sound right to me.

I DO notice the OEM steering stabilizer is a little "wet" on the end closest to the center of the vehicle, but I really don't think a stabilizer could cause this.

Basically, I am looking for next steps. I am going to check the toe this weekend, I think, but beyond that, I don't know what to do. I'm considering ordering the 2" Mopar LCA, and maybe a new steering stabilizer (aftermarket), but I don't like throwing parts at a problem. I don't think that either of those parts will fix this issue though based on what I know of death wobble.

I doubt your caster is 5-6 degrees with coil spacers in the front. It's probably closer to 4 degrees.

Sounds like you're on top of things, but yeah, the steering stabilizer could be part of the issue, even though it's not always the root cause. Since you've checked torque and play, and your caster seems off (5-6° isn’t ideal), I’d say the alignment and possibly the caster need more attention. The spacer likely changed the geometry enough that it could throw things out of whack. Toe could also be contributing, so definitely check that. The Mopar LCA might help with caster, but don't expect the stabilizer to solve it entirely. Maybe give the alignment a proper check, focusing on caster, and then recheck everything after.

4-5.5 degrees is the spec for a stock Gladiator. 5-6 degrees is often ideal for a Gladiator with a little lift and slightly bigger tires.

There are quite a few threads here talking about it. Here's one:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/what-caster-do-you-like.58210/

 

[Redfour5]

Recently, I've had the odd "case" of death wobble on my 23 Overland. It doesn't happen often, and I normally have to really "try" to hit a rough spot to cause it to happen. When it does, it's not very violent - I mean, I've experienced pretty severe death wobble, and this is nothing compared to that. It does NOT stop on it's own - I have to slow down quite a bit for it to stop, so I'm certain it is still death wobble.

The "mods" I have for the suspension are Bilstein 5100 shocks, and a 1" teraflex level spacer. I have Load Range E tires (Motomaster All Terrain). These are all new (less than 10,000k KM). Tires have been rebalanced. Death wobble seems to be a newer issue - it came about several thousand KM after doing these.

I have checked the torque and for play on ALL components - everything is good. I did NOT do any alignment after doing the 1" spacer - I don't know if A) Toe would cause death wobble at all and B) if it would be out enough to cause an issue. I've checked my caster, using two different tools (manual angle gauge and my cell phone) - both seem to show 5-6* which does NOT sound right to me.

I DO notice the OEM steering stabilizer is a little "wet" on the end closest to the center of the vehicle, but I really don't think a stabilizer could cause this.

Basically, I am looking for next steps. I am going to check the toe this weekend, I think, but beyond that, I don't know what to do. I'm considering ordering the 2" Mopar LCA, and maybe a new steering stabilizer (aftermarket), but I don't like throwing parts at a problem. I don't think that either of those parts will fix this issue though based on what I know of death wobble.

 

[Redfour5]

Recently, I've had the odd "case" of death wobble on my 23 Overland. It doesn't happen often, and I normally have to really "try" to hit a rough spot to cause it to happen. When it does, it's not very violent - I mean, I've experienced pretty severe death wobble, and this is nothing compared to that. It does NOT stop on it's own - I have to slow down quite a bit for it to stop, so I'm certain it is still death wobble.

The "mods" I have for the suspension are Bilstein 5100 shocks, and a 1" teraflex level spacer. I have Load Range E tires (Motomaster All Terrain). These are all new (less than 10,000k KM). Tires have been rebalanced. Death wobble seems to be a newer issue - it came about several thousand KM after doing these.

I have checked the torque and for play on ALL components - everything is good. I did NOT do any alignment after doing the 1" spacer - I don't know if A) Toe would cause death wobble at all and B) if it would be out enough to cause an issue. I've checked my caster, using two different tools (manual angle gauge and my cell phone) - both seem to show 5-6* which does NOT sound right to me.

I DO notice the OEM steering stabilizer is a little "wet" on the end closest to the center of the vehicle, but I really don't think a stabilizer could cause this.

Basically, I am looking for next steps. I am going to check the toe this weekend, I think, but beyond that, I don't know what to do. I'm considering ordering the 2" Mopar LCA, and maybe a new steering stabilizer (aftermarket), but I don't like throwing parts at a problem. I don't think that either of those parts will fix this issue though based on what I know of death wobble.

Adding the spacer other mods might affect my answer, but I had it on my Freedom Edition the first 500 miles and Jeep was all over themselves to fix it. I took it into my dealership, they had already been contacted by "Jeep Cares" and were ready. The service manager said they had an entire standard checklist for it with the specs and had to check each and every component for correct torque and they replaced the stabilizer. He said the factory "often" didn't get it right... You could tell this wasn't his first death wobble rodeo... Jeep cares then re-contacted me had me do a survey pretty detailed...

That was Jan 2023...I purchased Dec 2022.

Not a problem since.

 

[JAPE]

I have no issues, but know someone who does.....

Is this " entire standard checklist for it with the specs and had to check each and every component for correct torque" available?

 

[MPMB]

I have no issues, but know someone who does.....

Is this " entire standard checklist for it with the specs and had to check each and every component for correct torque" available?

The stickied post in the suspension subforum:
Death Wobble, DW, Death Wobble, DW, Death Wobble, Shimmy, Wander, Drift, Bump Steer | Jeep Gladiator (JT) News, Forum, Community - JeepGladiatorForum.com

 

[Maverickxeo]

I've ordered the extended lower control arms... Figured it's a cheap 'upgrade' either way.

Now to figure out stabilizer brand...

 

[JAPE]

The stickied post in the suspension subforum:
Death Wobble, DW, Death Wobble, DW, Death Wobble, Shimmy, Wander, Drift, Bump Steer | Jeep Gladiator (JT) News, Forum, Community - JeepGladiatorForum.com

Thank you!

 

[Redfour5]

I have no issues, but know someone who does.....

Is this " entire standard checklist for it with the specs and had to check each and every component for correct torque" available?

Mine was a MOPAR OEM checklist of some sort. Look online here there are lots of threads on this with specs after doing after market changes etc.

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