Steering Wobble Paranoia

[Jteakus]

Rotating and balancing your tires is a good place to start.

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[KAT$JT]

Rotating and balancing your tires is a good place to start.

^ This. I have a slight shimmy when I hit a bump at high speed that only appears every other tire rotation or so. I figure one of my tires is slightly off-balance. I'll get around to rebalancing at some point, but after 5+ years on the tires, it's time for a new set soon, so I'll deal with it till then most likely.

 

[imallcrawl]

When I first drove my lifted Jeep with larger tires, it wandered and shaked but never had death wobble, so to me I just figured it was because I was driving a lifted vehicle with larger tires. I guess I never expected it to feel like a normal car.

Nowadays If I get a small wobble or wander I don't get bothered by it. Personally, I think if all your steering components are solid, everything is torqued, tires are balanced to zero and your axles are dead center, don't be too paranoid, its a lifted truck

 

[ShadowsPapa]

When I first drove my lifted Jeep with larger tires, it wandered and shaked but never had death wobble, so to me I just figured it was because I was driving a lifted vehicle with larger tires. I guess I never expected it to feel like a normal car.

Nowadays If I get a small wobble or wander I don't get bothered by it. Personally, I think if all your steering components are solid, everything is torqued, tires are balanced to zero and your axles are dead center, don't be too paranoid, its a lifted truck

With the correct configurations, they can still be made to handle quite well. It's when people toss parts on and strive for appearance or impact, and damn the geometry, that they get into trouble.
Wobble means a problem, regardless of the size of the parts.
Shimmy means a problem, regardless of the size of the parts.
Wandering can also be resolved.

 

[professorkx]

I’ve posted on other threads that when my JK steering started to feel a little “loose”, I replaced all the ball joints, both hubs, track bar, tie rod and drag link. I have a well equipped shop so do all the work myself, and cost has been less than $800. I suspect this will be similar cost for the Gladiator when it’s time, as I will take the same approach. The first time on the Gladiator I will also replace the aluminum steering knuckles with steel to eliminate this potential failure point.

My 37 inch tires get balanced and rotated every 4,000 miles, as being out of balance can ruin a set of tires long before the tread is gone.

I’ve learned over the years that chasing the root cause of steering issues is a dry well, especially if it’s getting close to our 4-5 month winter trip to chase the sun.

 

[Stormtroopin]

Need some help/opinions on death wobble. I put a 1.5 teraflex spacer on about a year ago mabey more and when I initially had it done my alignment guy had me install a set of castor bolts to adjust the stock control arms. I had a brief experience with death wobble and he installed them and didn’t have a problem for a while. About 4 months ago it came back after wheeling and I took it to him agian to check it out. He told me the BFG 37s are tough to balance in the stock Mojave rims because of the rim width and recommended beads in the tires to fix the issue, said the alignment checked out A okay. Jeep drove great since then, would hit pot holes in the free way and had no issues. Today after getting some shock extensions(2 inch) I installed and had deathwobble on the free way at 50+, severe DW. So now I’m questioning if I messed up the castor and that’s what’s causing it. I’m taking it to him tomorrow but want to get some thoughts from the jeep world. Could the shock extensions cause DW to return? Should I get adjustable control arms? I’m more than likely gana take the SE off tomorrow and see if it helps but open to thoughts and opinions/options. TIA.

 

[imallcrawl]

Have you checked the torque on your trackbar and double check if your axle is centered?

 

[imallcrawl]

Need some help/opinions on death wobble. I put a 1.5 teraflex spacer on about a year ago mabey more and when I initially had it done my alignment guy had me install a set of castor bolts to adjust the stock control arms. I had a brief experience with death wobble and he installed them and didn’t have a problem for a while. About 4 months ago it came back after wheeling and I took it to him agian to check it out. He told me the BFG 37s are tough to balance in the stock Mojave rims because of the rim width and recommended beads in the tires to fix the issue, said the alignment checked out A okay. Jeep drove great since then, would hit pot holes in the free way and had no issues. Today after getting some shock extensions(2 inch) I installed and had deathwobble on the free way at 50+, severe DW. So now I’m questioning if I messed up the castor and that’s what’s causing it. I’m taking it to him tomorrow but want to get some thoughts from the jeep world. Could the shock extensions cause DW to return? Should I get adjustable control arms? I’m more than likely gana take the SE off tomorrow and see if it helps but open to thoughts and opinions/options. TIA.

Have you checked the torque on your trackbar and double check if your axle is centered? Honestly, you should pretty much check your entire front-end and see if everything is torqued to spec.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Caster bolts? Hope they are heavy and can handle the massive torque these control arms require.

 

[Stormtroopin]

Caster bolts? Hope they are heavy and can handle the massive torque these control arms require.

These are what I installed and after setting the alignment I took it back to my shop and welded them in. I was going the quick and easy route because I really want the Metalcloak control arms all around(mainly for the gold zinc) but they were not available for a month or so.
https://www.extremeterrain.com/jeep-wrangler-front-caster-cam-bolts-82375.html

 

[Stormtroopin]

Have you checked the torque on your trackbar and double check if your axle is centered? Honestly, you should pretty much check your entire front-end and see if everything is torqued to spec.

I plan on checking everything tomorrow. Got a trip planned in a couple weeks and want to get this solved asap.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

These are what I installed and after setting the alignment I took it back to my shop and welded them in.

Just a personal thing - not a fan.............

 

[imallcrawl]

I plan on checking everything tomorrow. Got a trip planned in a couple weeks and want to get this solved asap.

I'm sure you have the specs, but just in case

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/-2020-2023-jt-gladiator-torque-values-all-of-them-in-one-place.67915/

 

[Stormtroopin]

Just a personal thing - not a fan.............

Totally agree with you I wasn’t a fan either but it was the quick an easy route at the time.

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