Is death wobble worth fixing???
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Is death wobble worth fixing???
Yes, I know there are a ton of threads on death wobble and, believe me, I have read a good majority of them here and on other sites. I even went to the NHTSA website and looked into a ton of complaints on death wobble in the JK, especially the 2007 4-door...which I have. I've heard many a theory, including that some of the first JK builds had a flaw(s) that is causing the problem. Others say that only modified Jeeps have the problem, yet I have also read about stock Jeeps shaking violently. 
In my case, I drove my Jeep without modification for about a year. Then, last May I put on a Teraflex 2.5" bb (stock wheels and tires). Jeep continued to run great...no problems at all. November came and I experienced my first death wobble while going 60mph on the Interstate (and, yes, this was a full on death wobble, not just a shimmy). Took to the dealership and they replaced the steering stabilizer. Then, last month it started happening again. I took it in and the dealer said that I needed a heavy duty shock. Great, I like upgrades! But the problem was 5 times worse when I picked it up. Can't even drive it on the highway at all. So I started doing my own research. I examined the trackbar, mounting bracket, bushings, etc. Can't see any problem. I took it back in and asked them to look at the trackbar and components. Presumably they did. They also retorqued the suspension a bunch of times, put on new wheels and tires, did the alignment, and who knows what else. Nothing has worked after four more trips to the dealer. Now they are saying that I have to take the lift off and that should solve it. If it doesn't, they say they will call in a Chrysler engineer to work on it.
Anyway, here's my dilemma:
Option 1: I take the lift off my Jeep so I can bring it back to the dealership for more free work. Problem with that is 1) I don't want a Jeep if it can't be lifted and 2) I don't want to do all that work. So, if I chose this route it would be with the hope that the death wobble would go away so that I can sell the vehicle.
Option 2: Take it to the 4x4 shop and see if they can find the problem. The risk here is that I don't want a whole bunch of modifications. Sure, I wouldn't mind if I just needed a new trackbar or something (and I'd love to get new wheels and tires at some point), I'm just worried that it will start with one attempt to fix it, then another, then another, and another, until I'm a couple grand or more in on a vehicle that is mainly my daily driver. What if my Jeep is fatally flawed and can only be fixed with major modifications?
What do you all think?
________________________________
UPDATE for new readers: Since writing this original post I:
*Checked torque of suspension components numerous times.
*Examined track bar again, including bushings, sleeves, mounting holes, mounting brackets, welds.
*Tried a new factory track bar in case there was something undetectable with original.
*Tried partially threaded 9/16" track bar bolts (slightly larger and fit tight) in case there was any slight wallowing of mounting holes or crush sleeves.
*Had alignment checked and toe adjusted to 0.14 left and 0.18 right
*Installed adjustable lower control arms and increased caster to ~ 6 degrees.
*Balanced tires three times
None of these measures had any effect.
So, I took it to a second dealer and they installed yet another heavy duty stabilizer. This provided relief to the problem but, obviously, didn't resolve whatever had caused the problem in the first place. Because the dealers and a couple 4x4 shops all felt that a stabilizer was an adequate fix, even though I didn't, I decided to trade this vehicle back to the dealer and start over with a new one. It was a bummer but, more than anything, I need a vehicle that is sound and safe for me and my kids.
In my case, I drove my Jeep without modification for about a year. Then, last May I put on a Teraflex 2.5" bb (stock wheels and tires). Jeep continued to run great...no problems at all. November came and I experienced my first death wobble while going 60mph on the Interstate (and, yes, this was a full on death wobble, not just a shimmy). Took to the dealership and they replaced the steering stabilizer. Then, last month it started happening again. I took it in and the dealer said that I needed a heavy duty shock. Great, I like upgrades! But the problem was 5 times worse when I picked it up. Can't even drive it on the highway at all. So I started doing my own research. I examined the trackbar, mounting bracket, bushings, etc. Can't see any problem. I took it back in and asked them to look at the trackbar and components. Presumably they did. They also retorqued the suspension a bunch of times, put on new wheels and tires, did the alignment, and who knows what else. Nothing has worked after four more trips to the dealer. Now they are saying that I have to take the lift off and that should solve it. If it doesn't, they say they will call in a Chrysler engineer to work on it.
Anyway, here's my dilemma:
Option 1: I take the lift off my Jeep so I can bring it back to the dealership for more free work. Problem with that is 1) I don't want a Jeep if it can't be lifted and 2) I don't want to do all that work. So, if I chose this route it would be with the hope that the death wobble would go away so that I can sell the vehicle.
Option 2: Take it to the 4x4 shop and see if they can find the problem. The risk here is that I don't want a whole bunch of modifications. Sure, I wouldn't mind if I just needed a new trackbar or something (and I'd love to get new wheels and tires at some point), I'm just worried that it will start with one attempt to fix it, then another, then another, and another, until I'm a couple grand or more in on a vehicle that is mainly my daily driver. What if my Jeep is fatally flawed and can only be fixed with major modifications?
What do you all think?
________________________________
UPDATE for new readers: Since writing this original post I:
*Checked torque of suspension components numerous times.
*Examined track bar again, including bushings, sleeves, mounting holes, mounting brackets, welds.
*Tried a new factory track bar in case there was something undetectable with original.
*Tried partially threaded 9/16" track bar bolts (slightly larger and fit tight) in case there was any slight wallowing of mounting holes or crush sleeves.
*Had alignment checked and toe adjusted to 0.14 left and 0.18 right
*Installed adjustable lower control arms and increased caster to ~ 6 degrees.
*Balanced tires three times
None of these measures had any effect.
So, I took it to a second dealer and they installed yet another heavy duty stabilizer. This provided relief to the problem but, obviously, didn't resolve whatever had caused the problem in the first place. Because the dealers and a couple 4x4 shops all felt that a stabilizer was an adequate fix, even though I didn't, I decided to trade this vehicle back to the dealer and start over with a new one. It was a bummer but, more than anything, I need a vehicle that is sound and safe for me and my kids.
Last edited by Finn; Apr 8, 2009 at 10:16 AM.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 15,170
Likes: 0
From: .
They don't call it death wobble for nothing. If you plan on keeping and using your jeep you sould have it fixed. Your other option is to take it back to stock, let the dealer fix it and trade it for another. If it were my jeep I would fix it. My JK is an October '06 build and I have not had that problem to date.
JK Freak
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
From: Louisiana
I have a May 07 build date ( I bought it 6-20-07 ) ! I have a lift , tires, even upgraded the front axle myself, and installed my supercharger myself and my steering stabilizer is trashed ( dented and bashed in from rocks ) and I do not have any death wobble ( should I find some WOOD to knock on ????)
I have not heard of any inherant deadly flaws in the early builds. I have many mechanic friends @ the local dealer ( since I worked there many moons ago ) and have heard nothin from them about this !!!!
Good luck ..... I hope someone else has better info for you !!!
I have not heard of any inherant deadly flaws in the early builds. I have many mechanic friends @ the local dealer ( since I worked there many moons ago ) and have heard nothin from them about this !!!!
Good luck ..... I hope someone else has better info for you !!!
JK Junkie
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 0
From: New France
The trackbar is tightened at 130 lbs? All other parts also?
What is the Caster? If you have less than the stock caster (4.2 deg) it will help contribute to death wobble. To have a good caster you need adj. front lower arms, because the stock front lower arms are not long enough to give you back the stock caster. 5 to 6 deg of caster is the best.
What is the Caster? If you have less than the stock caster (4.2 deg) it will help contribute to death wobble. To have a good caster you need adj. front lower arms, because the stock front lower arms are not long enough to give you back the stock caster. 5 to 6 deg of caster is the best.
JK Jedi
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,168
Likes: 1
From: texarkana,tx
Death Wobble is an easy fix through process of elimination.
It is the result of worn or loose suspension components--or a really bad alignment.
If the death wobble persists, then suspension components and/or mounting holes and/or brackets can be damages. Holes can be wallowed out by loose bolts and brackets (& their welds) can be brocken.
The source cannot be diagnosed by looking at the vehicle setting on the ground. It needs to be rocked/shaken by someone while you are looking for the source. Or, in some cases/sources (like bad ball joints) has to be done with the tires off the ground.
Vehicles like ours shake and shimmy as we offroad and through regular driving. Our shocks, springss, and steering stabilizers mask most of this. However, over time, suspension component bolts and nuts have a way of working themselves loose. Ball joints and component bushings are wear items.
There is no question that a competent shop (or even weekend do-it-yourselfer) should be able to diagnose & fix the death wobble.
With a TF 2.5" BB, there are no additional components you need that would affect death wobble. Your caster is not off enough to cause a problem.
You might need ball joints (if they are bad). You might need a new, repaired, or re-welded control arm or track bar bracket if the death wobble has been left too long. You might need new swaybar links if yours have been damaged from the death wobble. You might need new tie rod end or drag link end if the death wobble damaged yours.
You do not need a different lift.
It is the result of worn or loose suspension components--or a really bad alignment.
If the death wobble persists, then suspension components and/or mounting holes and/or brackets can be damages. Holes can be wallowed out by loose bolts and brackets (& their welds) can be brocken.
The source cannot be diagnosed by looking at the vehicle setting on the ground. It needs to be rocked/shaken by someone while you are looking for the source. Or, in some cases/sources (like bad ball joints) has to be done with the tires off the ground.
Vehicles like ours shake and shimmy as we offroad and through regular driving. Our shocks, springss, and steering stabilizers mask most of this. However, over time, suspension component bolts and nuts have a way of working themselves loose. Ball joints and component bushings are wear items.
There is no question that a competent shop (or even weekend do-it-yourselfer) should be able to diagnose & fix the death wobble.
With a TF 2.5" BB, there are no additional components you need that would affect death wobble. Your caster is not off enough to cause a problem.
You might need ball joints (if they are bad). You might need a new, repaired, or re-welded control arm or track bar bracket if the death wobble has been left too long. You might need new swaybar links if yours have been damaged from the death wobble. You might need new tie rod end or drag link end if the death wobble damaged yours.
You do not need a different lift.
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JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 714
Likes: 0
From: Daytona, FL.
I hope I never experience anything like you described, I think I would go with option 2 if they have fixed it in some JK’s they should have an idea as what to look for and repair it quickly, They should also be able to give you some type of an estimate on cost as well. The dealer is just grabbing at straws they have no idea what is wrong so blame it on the lift, I do not have a lift (yet) but TERAFLEX is near the top of my wish list From what I understand they are one of the best and they would not be selling a product knowing that it caused any life threatening problem….Let alone this Forum would be lit up like a Christmas tree with complaints and there would be members out there with pitchforks and torches looking for them.
Wish you luck on a quick and inexpensive repair, please let us know what you find!
Wish you luck on a quick and inexpensive repair, please let us know what you find!
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 301
Likes: 1
From: Thee Great Pacific Northwest, US
Hmmm... perhaps but... I have recently installed the 2.5" FT BB on my JK and it has very loose & darty handling. I am nearly 100% certain that I will now need a rear track bar reloction bracket. The rear axle is off. This is seemingly tugging the Jeep to the right, even though the steering wheel has been centered numerous times. I just wish that to prevent this from happening, the aftermarket suppliers would simply say "This kit isn't exactly 100% complete. Many users have needed reloc brackets etc."
I am sure the TF kit is fine and it is a nice HD build (not to mention, it looks great now too) but, their various third party vendors selling it as a safe & complete kit is a bit of a stretch.
Sponsoring Manufacturer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,824
Likes: 3
From: Utah
Hmmm... perhaps but... I have recently installed the 2.5" FT BB on my JK and it has very loose & darty handling. I am nearly 100% certain that I will now need a rear track bar reloction bracket. The rear axle is off. This is seemingly tugging the Jeep to the right, even though the steering wheel has been centered numerous times. I just wish that to prevent this from happening, the aftermarket suppliers would simply say "This kit isn't exactly 100% complete. Many users have needed reloc brackets etc."
I am sure the TF kit is fine and it is a nice HD build (not to mention, it looks great now too) but, their various third party vendors selling it as a safe & complete kit is a bit of a stretch.
I am sure the TF kit is fine and it is a nice HD build (not to mention, it looks great now too) but, their various third party vendors selling it as a safe & complete kit is a bit of a stretch.