Death Wobble ?

[Steve Wasteney]

I was wondering if there was a 'perfect storm' where you can suffer DW.
I experienced this yesterday and the circumstances were as follows. I had just come round a fairly sharp curve with some steering lock still on when I planted one front wheel heavily into a large deep hole in the road surface. I thought the front end was trying to shake itself to destruction but it stopped shaking almost as quickly as it started.
I have checked all steering components and wheels and tyres with nothing showing up. I have tried to repeat the circumstances but it has not done it since. Question is, was it just circumstances or should I be looking for a fault.

 

[Stinger]

If this was a one time deal and there are no other symptomsI would say don't worry about it. However, get a helper to move that steering wheel back and forth while you put your hand on everything in the steering and front suspension. You will be able to feel stuff that is loose that you can't see nor can hear. Don't forget the check the ball joints!

 

[Steve Wasteney]

If this was a one time deal and there are no other symptomsI would say don't worry about it. However, get a helper to move that steering wheel back and forth while you put your hand on everything in the steering and front suspension. You will be able to feel stuff that is loose that you can't see nor can hear. Don't forget the check the ball joints!

Net move I think. Will call into a freinds garage tomorrow and try and get it up on the inspection ramp. I did have a thought overnight that because all my wheels are balanced with Dynabeads maybe the sudden jolt sideways upset the dynamics in some way.
I have never come accross this DW problem in a 4 wheel vehicle before but I am very much aware of it in motorcycles.
Thanks for your input, I welcome any help from you guys with more knowledge of the Tj.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

No need to put it up on someone else's equipment to check for possible things that could have allowed that DW to happen. As suggested by Stinger, do that steering test. With the tires on one ground, have a helper repeatedly turn the steering wheel back & forth while you watch the steering components closely for signs of unwanted movement where there shouldn't be. Especially at the track bar where there should be exactly zero (!) side-to-side movement where it is bolted to the axle and frame when the steering wheel is moved back & forth. Nothing else should have any side-to-side slop/movement either. The tie rod and drag link will normally have rotational play since they are mounted on ball joints but that is it.

 

[VirtualRussel]

I have never come accross this DW problem in a 4 wheel vehicle before but I am very much aware of it in motorcycles.

I've experienced it in a Jeep before but I was quick on the brakes and off to the emergency lane before I had any concerns. Now, if I experienced it on a motorcycle I would have soiled myself.

 

[Steve Wasteney]

A couple of weeks on and I have had time to check everything listed. It has not happened again since.
Although I found no slack I did find the tyre shop who fitted tyres to my new rims over inflated by about 10psi. I am now wondering if that may have contributed to this episode.
At least I know my way round my Tj's running gear now and found a problem on the rear. Sitting on all four wheels the rear axle was out of line by 1-2 inches. I found that when the suspension was raised 2" they did not put an extension bracket on the panhard rod which wouldn't allow the axle to centre.
Learning new stuff all the time which sorte of enhances the Jeep experience.