Hey everyone I bought a 2004 TJ this last weekend and when I drive it home I experienced what seems to be the so called death wobble. I called the dealer on my way home and the guy giggled and said its a usual thing for lifted jeeps, (lifted on 35's). But anyway doing some research it seems something is actually wrong. I've experienced the DW every day so far sometimes twice a day it usually happens around 30-35 mph when I hit a bump in the road wrong. It even wobbles in the front end when hitting 30-35 but when I pass that speed it stops. I was just wondering if anyone could give me some advice on what to look for or what to do first. I was told the jeep was actually a rock crawler and most likely did not have an alignment or balance so I don't know if that's the only thing doing it. I'll attach a photo of the jeep. Thanks in advance!
New owner with a question
- Thread starter Natevaz22
- Start date
Nice looking rig. Welcome!
Do a search for a dry steer test
I haven't had to do it, but that's what I always see recommended to check for worn parts (tie rod ends, ball joints, track bar, etc...). I think it is also crucial to get your tires balanced, and possibly aligned (see attached pdf if you are willing/able to turn a wrench).
Good luck, and be sure to let us know what you find.
Do a search for a dry steer test
I haven't had to do it, but that's what I always see recommended to check for worn parts (tie rod ends, ball joints, track bar, etc...). I think it is also crucial to get your tires balanced, and possibly aligned (see attached pdf if you are willing/able to turn a wrench).
Good luck, and be sure to let us know what you find.
Attachments
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Ramon
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2016
- Messages
- 16
Welcome Natevaz22!
When I experienced the "Death wobble" I searched all over the net for an answer. Turns out It could be a variety of things or it could be one thing.
So, for me..a 2005 rig with, 17+k on the clock still had original tires on a 10 yr old jeep. When I did a mild 2in level kit, it death wobbled. I added my 32in tires and balanced them and it stopped.
For safe measures, I added a poly bushing to the bottom of the front track bar. Oh, also got an alignment.
So, long story short, make sure you tires are balanced properly and ck for play in the front track bar and the alignment.
Hope this helps!
Ramon
When I experienced the "Death wobble" I searched all over the net for an answer. Turns out It could be a variety of things or it could be one thing.
So, for me..a 2005 rig with, 17+k on the clock still had original tires on a 10 yr old jeep. When I did a mild 2in level kit, it death wobbled. I added my 32in tires and balanced them and it stopped.
For safe measures, I added a poly bushing to the bottom of the front track bar. Oh, also got an alignment.
So, long story short, make sure you tires are balanced properly and ck for play in the front track bar and the alignment.
Hope this helps!
Ramon
That dealer guy who "giggled" and said it's a normal Jeep thing was just being an ignorant a**h***. In 20 years of Wrangler TJ ownership, I have only had fully developed DW once 17-18 years ago and a partial 'almost' DW several years ago.
Both times the root cause of the DW was imperfect tire balance. How susceptible to DW a Jeep is also depends on if there are worn parts that aren't able to dampen out DW before it happens. Loose/worn track bar mounts, shock mounts, control arms, etc. that can usually be spotted by the above recommended dry steering test.
First, I'd take the Jeep into a good tire shop and tell them you want them to spend the time to get the tires perfectly balanced. Most shops only take the time to get them balanced 'good enough' which is not usually good enough for a vehicle that has a front-end like the TJ does... which is also common on Ford, Dodge, and Chevy pickup trucks that are also susceptible to DW. It could also be that there's simply a bad tire causing the DW that balancing won't help.
Before or after that, do this which is the dry steering test. With the tires on the ground and a helper in the driver's seat, have the helper repeatedly turn the steering wheel back & forth while you examine everything in the front-end while it's moving. Look for any side-to-side slop where anything is bolted together, look for unwanted movement anywhere between anything. Know ahead of time that the tie rod and drag link are mounted on ball joints so you will be able to rotate them back & forth on their ball joints. There should be absolutely ZERO side-to-side movement where the track bar is mounted, especially at its passenger-side mount. Look there especially while the helper is turning the steering back & forth.
Here's the front-end so you can identify the parts like the track bar...
Both times the root cause of the DW was imperfect tire balance. How susceptible to DW a Jeep is also depends on if there are worn parts that aren't able to dampen out DW before it happens. Loose/worn track bar mounts, shock mounts, control arms, etc. that can usually be spotted by the above recommended dry steering test.
First, I'd take the Jeep into a good tire shop and tell them you want them to spend the time to get the tires perfectly balanced. Most shops only take the time to get them balanced 'good enough' which is not usually good enough for a vehicle that has a front-end like the TJ does... which is also common on Ford, Dodge, and Chevy pickup trucks that are also susceptible to DW. It could also be that there's simply a bad tire causing the DW that balancing won't help.
Before or after that, do this which is the dry steering test. With the tires on the ground and a helper in the driver's seat, have the helper repeatedly turn the steering wheel back & forth while you examine everything in the front-end while it's moving. Look for any side-to-side slop where anything is bolted together, look for unwanted movement anywhere between anything. Know ahead of time that the tie rod and drag link are mounted on ball joints so you will be able to rotate them back & forth on their ball joints. There should be absolutely ZERO side-to-side movement where the track bar is mounted, especially at its passenger-side mount. Look there especially while the helper is turning the steering back & forth.
Here's the front-end so you can identify the parts like the track bar...
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A bad or loose steering damper (aka steering stabilizer) has no affect on being the root cause or preventing DW.
Sometimes installing a new steering damper can temporarily mask the symptoms of DW and make some people think it cured their DW but that's never the fix or cure. Like placing a band-aid on a skin cancer hides it from view but the underlying problem is still there and it remains uncured.
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My death wobble was a track bar bolt not being torqued down to the correct spec. Seems many death wobble issues can be traced back to the track bar.
I took it to a shop today and they said the front tires wore very bad with the previous owner and that's what's causing the death wobble from the tires fighting each other
john arata
Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2015
- Messages
- 69
TheFrenchMan
TJ Enthusiast
I agree. My friend just bought a lifted XJ 2 months ago and he got death wobble on his way home. He drove it to some dumb mechanic that told him it was his steering stabilizer. He called me asking if that sounded correct. I told him to have the mechanic turn his steering wheel back and forth while he looked at the track bar. Guess what? It was very loose at the track bar mount at the axle. The bushing was completely gone. How anyone could miss diagnose this is crazy. Be sure to take you jeep to a quality mechanic! This could have been life threatening!
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