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the dreaded Death Wobble!

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Old Mar 16, 2009 | 01:50 PM
  #1  
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From: kellogg, idaho
Angry the dreaded Death Wobble!

HELP!!!
I have a 2007 Wrangler Unlimited. In 2007 I had a 2" spacer lift kit put on. In the summer I put my 33" tires on but take them off in the winter and put the stocks back on.

Christmas day 2008, (with my stock tires on), I was on the freeway, went over a bridge and my Jeep shook like all 4 tires blew out. I thought the whole thing was going to shake apart!

i had to pull over on the freeway and STOP the jeep completely before going again. Its been doing it steadily since.

I took it back to dealership, they said i needed an "after market stablilizer". Had one put on. Didnt do any good. Now they are saying they don't know whats causing it and pretty much "oh well".

ANY help would be appreciated! Its freaking me out and I dont even have my summer tires on yet!
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Old Mar 16, 2009 | 01:55 PM
  #2  
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SEARCH DEATH WOBBLE
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Old Mar 16, 2009 | 01:57 PM
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I did . I took the "could-be causes" back to dealership and they said it couldnt be any that were listed cause everything looked good
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Old Mar 16, 2009 | 01:59 PM
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Dude, I totally feel your pain. I have a 2007 Wrangler Unlimited as well. I put on a 2.5" lift in May 2008. In November 2008, I started experiencing death wobble. Dealership did the exact same thing....put on a heavy duty stabilizer and now can't figure anything out. Vehicle is virtually undriveable now. They told me I have to take off my lift.

I haven't figured it out yet but I'm trying. The first thing to check (according to people who are helping me) is your track bar. Make sure the bolts are torqued to 125lbs. If they are tight, or if this doesn't help, then take your track bar off and examine the mounting brackets (look for cracks or broken welds), mounting holes (look for them being wallowed out), track bar bushings and crush sleeves. Look for signs of wear and failure. From what I understand, this is the number source of death wobble. If this doesn't work, check back in for more ideas.

(FYI - there are a lot of threads on this. I have one going in Modified JK section right now if you want to follow along and/or jump in.)
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Old Mar 16, 2009 | 02:02 PM
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Thanks Finn...I will check out your thread.
Odd that it happens to some and not others? And still under warranty too...

ETA: they told me i had to take off my lift too, get it back to "factory specs" and then see if it does it again.

Last edited by dawnmichael; Mar 16, 2009 at 02:07 PM.
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Old Mar 16, 2009 | 03:29 PM
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It is not the lift, mine did it before I added the 2.5 inch lift.
I still get it once in awhile and it is mostly after coming off a bridge/overpass. The difference in grade and the bumps is just enough to toss it about.
Lay off the throttle and hold on, stay left or right of the regular tracks, and you should be ok.
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Old Mar 16, 2009 | 03:42 PM
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OK something you both have in common... you are going to a dealership. take it to a reputable 4x4 shop Dealships are clueless... they will force feed a sterring dampener down you throat. If you can't resolve it and a REAL 4x4 shop then you know something is really fuxored!
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Old Mar 16, 2009 | 03:46 PM
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For me, dealership first (could be a free fix), then try to fix it myself, then a reputable 4x4 shop. Why go straight to a 4x4 shop when you can try some stuff yourself???
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Old Mar 16, 2009 | 04:07 PM
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Originally Posted by dawnmichael
HELP!!!
I have a 2007 Wrangler Unlimited. In 2007 I had a 2" spacer lift kit put on. In the summer I put my 33" tires on but take them off in the winter and put the stocks back on.

Christmas day 2008, (with my stock tires on), I was on the freeway, went over a bridge and my Jeep shook like all 4 tires blew out. I thought the whole thing was going to shake apart!

i had to pull over on the freeway and STOP the jeep completely before going again. Its been doing it steadily since.

I took it back to dealership, they said i needed an "after market stablilizer". Had one put on. Didnt do any good. Now they are saying they don't know whats causing it and pretty much "oh well".

ANY help would be appreciated! Its freaking me out and I dont even have my summer tires on yet!
you need to start with the basics - check your track bar mounting bolts to make sure they are tightend to 125 ft. lbs. of torque with the weight of your jeep on the ground. do that and let us know.
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Old Mar 16, 2009 | 04:16 PM
  #10  
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Another one?!?!

I suggest to create a "Death Wobble" section

I Don't know whether to laugh or cry
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