Death wobble after new wheels on stock jk Help
Forum Tech Advisor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 11
From: Billings, MT
I got a set of pro comp rock crawler 97 with 4.25 bs. I had them installed on my stock jku Rubicon (waiting on lift to come in) and they used the factory lug nuts. On the way home I got my first experience with death wobble. I had the tires rebalanced and everything checked from the death wobble fix thread and nothing. Called pro comp they said it is the lug nuts that factory ones will not work and will cause the death wobble. Is this correct? I have been searching and saw plenty of people using factory lugs. Thanks in advance
Many people make the mistake of failing to remove the stock lug retainer clips when they either run wheel spacers or aftermarket wheels. This can cause a bad shimmy. The shimmy could help trigger full out, rip your front end apart death wobble, but it isn't the primary source of the problem(s).
Maybe you failed to remove the clips and it exposed other weaknesses in your system.
The lug retainer clips are flimsy and not on every stud. They are used in the assembly line process to hold the disc brakes on. They serve no purpose after initial assembly. Stock wheels have notched out spaces around the clips that still allow the wheel to sit flush on the disc.
These retainer clips absolutely must be removed in order for an aftermarket wheel or wheel spacer to sit flush on the disc/mounting surface.
JK Junkie
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 3,213
Likes: 21
From: Grand falls, Newfoundland
Correct you could only see them move with the leverage of the 2x4. No I had no clunk. Heavy vibs as I approached 50 mph and would go into full DW if I hit a bump or swerved. Weird part was if I got up to 70 mph it was smooth as glass and would not go into DW, the laws of centrifugal force I guess.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: mississippi
Just wanted to update I went and got a new set of duratracks and so far so good. I don't know if the old tires were triggering it or what. I do still have a slight shimmy starting at about 45 still but I can deal until I find out the cause. I am having a lift installed and told them to check everything over really good hopefully they will find it.
JK Newbie
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Brownstown, MI
Wow!
The factory lugnuts are fine.
Many people make the mistake of failing to remove the stock lug retainer clips when they either run wheel spacers or aftermarket wheels. This can cause a bad shimmy. The shimmy could help trigger full out, rip your front end apart death wobble, but it isn't the primary source of the problem(s).
Maybe you failed to remove the clips and it exposed other weaknesses in your system.
The lug retainer clips are flimsy and not on every stud. They are used in the assembly line process to hold the disc brakes on. They serve no purpose after initial assembly. Stock wheels have notched out spaces around the clips that still allow the wheel to sit flush on the disc.
These retainer clips absolutely must be removed in order for an aftermarket wheel or wheel spacer to sit flush on the disc/mounting surface.
Many people make the mistake of failing to remove the stock lug retainer clips when they either run wheel spacers or aftermarket wheels. This can cause a bad shimmy. The shimmy could help trigger full out, rip your front end apart death wobble, but it isn't the primary source of the problem(s).
Maybe you failed to remove the clips and it exposed other weaknesses in your system.
The lug retainer clips are flimsy and not on every stud. They are used in the assembly line process to hold the disc brakes on. They serve no purpose after initial assembly. Stock wheels have notched out spaces around the clips that still allow the wheel to sit flush on the disc.
These retainer clips absolutely must be removed in order for an aftermarket wheel or wheel spacer to sit flush on the disc/mounting surface.
JK Jedi
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 11,346
Likes: 2,086
From: Willow Park, TX
Those clips are not the cause of DW, and Planman even says as much in that post. Several things can assist in "triggering" a wobble, but a wobble is the results of loose bolts and bad joints. Regardless, those clips should be removed. I can see how if an aftermarket wheel/spacer is not sitting flush, it could throw off a balance, and THAT could start to trigger issues, but rest assured, if it does, it's because there is an underlying problem.
JK Junkie
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 3,068
Likes: 116
From: Bunnlevel, NC
Those clips are not the cause of DW, and Planman even says as much in that post. Several things can assist in "triggering" a wobble, but a wobble is the results of loose bolts and bad joints. Regardless, those clips should be removed. I can see how if an aftermarket wheel/spacer is not sitting flush, it could throw off a balance, and THAT could start to trigger issues, but rest assured, if it does, it's because there is an underlying problem.