Why did new springs get rid of my cold-weather (not full on death) wobble? Help me figure this out. :)

[Bonanza]

I've been chasing a "not full on DW but significant and unsettling" tire wobble for years. Since I've had my gladiator really. It only comes in the winter cold, like clockwork. It happens only in the morning, only for the first 2 miles.

I'm on 37s (happened also with the last 37s from a different brand), JKS 3.5" lift with 1" teraflex spacer, vertex shocks, adjustable lower front controls with 6 degrees castor, metalcloak steering brace, fox ATS stabilizer, and synergy balljoints.

As I alluded to in another thread, I really have begun disliking driving my gladiator. The wobble is the worst part of it, but I also grew tired of how the front end just seems to smash into things, and it never felt like it "soaked" up anything. Maybe, I thought, the springs were the issue, and for $200 and some time I'd know. I did just that, and switched out the JKS springs to 3" Synergy springs with no spacer.

It still isn't smooth, but it's smoother. The front is 1/2" shorter. Meh. Whatever. But then.... and I can't explain it.... the tire wobble has completely gone away. I can't replicate it to save my life. The weather is the same, the road is the same, the tires are the same. How is this possible? It can't be the springs, can it? It wouldn't make sense to me. I can't explain why springs would completely remove the tire wobble I've had, so perhaps someone here might be able to help me solve the mystery.

Any thoughts?

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[In3briatedPanda]

my first guess is you retorqued whatever the issue was adding the new springs. Everything is tight, no more play in the front end somewhere

Not being a smartass.

 

[tobyw]

You effectively changed your caster angle with the lower spring height... I had an old TJ that would full tilt boogy death wobble with the hard top installed, but taking it off would raise the back up just enough to alter the front suspension geometry to keep things together. Of course there were a bevvy of worn out parts leading to all of it, but that alone made a difference every single time.

 

[Bonanza]

my first guess is you retorqued whatever the issue was adding the new springs. Everything is tight, no more play in the front end somewhere

Not being a smartass.

Only bolts that loosened were the lugs and the lower shock bolts. And the front end (imo) isn't loose anywhere. It never is full death wobble; only a substantial wobble from the tires but is controlled at a certain point. I've never had full blown DW on this Jeep.

 

[Bonanza]

You effectively changed your caster angle with the lower spring height... I had an old TJ that would full tilt boogy death wobble with the hard top installed, but taking it off would raise the back up just enough to alter the front suspension geometry to keep things together. Of course there were a bevvy of worn out parts leading to all of it, but that alone made a difference every single time.

This was my guess, but the change was so small I didn't think it could be. Just a 1/2" difference in fender to tire height before and after. I'll slap my gauge on the pinion tonight and see what I'm at now.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

Only bolts that loosened were the lugs and the lower shock bolts. And the front end (imo) isn't loose anywhere. It never is full death wobble; only a substantial wobble from the tires but is controlled at a certain point. I've never had full blown DW on this Jeep.

My bet is the front end was re-torqued, ending the wobble.

You said you also got new tires, correct? That also could have been the wobble, especially when only cold... the tires could have been flat-spotted overnight, especially cold causing a wobble, accentuated by something not quite to torque...

 

[Bonanza]

My bet is the front end was re-torqued, ending the wobble.

You said you also got new tires, correct? That also could have been the wobble, especially when only cold... the tires could have been flat-spotted overnight, especially cold causing a wobble, accentuated by something not quite to torque...

No, I didn't- same tires. I didn't retorque anything aside from the lower shock bolts and the lug nuts. But that does remind me I should have loosened the track bar and re-torqued it on the ground at the new ride height. But now I'm also hesitant to do so, as I don't want to change a single thing. It's riding perfectly.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

I've gotten the same thing. Nice and warm and everything is good, now that it's cold everything gets annoying. I've had one episode of full death wobble but mine appears to be in the 35-55 degree range.

I picked up some geometry relocation brackets to hopefully fix it but I've got to find the time to install them.

 

[Hootbro]

If you did not loosen the front control arms and replaced the springs, that only leaves caster or tension on the control arms bushings is different.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

What tires are you, @Alpine Warthog and @Bonanza running? I have 35” Baja Boss M/T’s, and they flat spot (not bad, but noticeable) overnight, especially cold.

 

[Escape.idiocracy]

my first guess is you retorqued whatever the issue was adding the new springs. Everything is tight, no more play in the front end somewhere

Not being a smartass.

^^ this. So many times it’s just something loose that allows the shimmy to transpire…

If not this, then it’s because the Jeep gods were not satisfied with the standings of your wallet and demanded $$$ be thrown at new springs!!!

My opinion, we hear about DW with jeeps more than most solid axle vehicles because “we” play with them more than most other solid axle vehicles- lifts, tires etc. (I know full size trucks like to throw bigger tires on too- but from a wear perspective- they usually have significantly larger components the tires are attached too…..)

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Only bolts that loosened were the lugs and the lower shock bolts. And the front end (imo) isn't loose anywhere. It never is full death wobble; only a substantial wobble from the tires but is controlled at a certain point. I've never had full blown DW on this Jeep.

You changed springs and ride height and did not loosen and retorque any other bolts?
Not good idea.
You should always loosen both ends of upper and lower control arms, etc. when making any change to ride height and then set it back on the ground and re-torque them.
You've put a load on the bushings if there's much of a change at all.
Even if I expect very little to no change, I do loosen and retorque.

I don't know why you think you only need to do the track bar.
You should include control arms and track bar.

Like already said - you changed caster, but you've also now put a slight twist on the rubber bushings.
If the caster was too high - you may have had caster wobble and reduced out of it.

 

[Alpine Warthog]

What tires are you, @Alpine Warthog and @Bonanza running? I have 35” Baja Boss M/T’s, and they flat spot (not bad, but noticeable) overnight, especially cold.

Just the Normal BFGoodrich All Terrain KO2. They're a little old at this point but I just had them balanced (twice)

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