Hi all, until recently my Rubicon 4dr was stock standard, without any problems and no hint of death wobble. At 50000km I fitted OME shocks and springs (light load front (0-90kg front and 150lbs rear) and got the very bad death wobbles that came close to killing me on several occasions.

Tried a number of things (like re-do alignment; toe in; wheel balance, heavier (Rancho) steering dampener; caster adjustment; tighten this and that but no change).

I believed the main problem was in the linear springs' frequency and height. Even though only touted as 2" lift, the real lift was closer to 3.5 inches. And, I could definitely feel a "spring wobble" that was not previously evident. The JK is stock standard.

OME/ARB blamed Jeep etc and vice versa - you know the usual shifting responsibility game.

I considered all the advice that ARB gave (mind you, initially the dealership claimed that they had never heard of this issue with JKs which is a bit amazing if it is true) and also considered my own information and much that I have gleaned from forums and engineers etc.

I decided that finding a solution would mean returning to stock springs (the shocks stayed in) and, lo and behold, after driving over the same spots that previously caused it and at the same speeds etc., NO death wobble.

I know that the DW has many causes and may occur again, but in this simple trial, res ipsa loquitor as the lawyers say in Latin (the facts speak for themselves).

The problem with the original springs is that they are quite weak re load carrying (they aren't designed for it) and sag very quickly when towing a trailer or being loaded up for camping and travel in the bush.

My idea is to have the OME springs shortened by re-setting them to a lower (that is, JK stock) height. In this way I will get the load carrying capacity that I want without the problem of DW (I hope). I think that the OME springs give more than the claimed 2 inches of lift...more like 3-3.5 inches which is too much without other changes being made to the steering and diff geometry.

I want to know - will this affect the spring frequency or other spring dynamics such as, will the springs be even firmer, will they have a bigger load capacity. Can one of the pundits out there shed some light please. I don't really want to spend even more money on other springs that may create the same problem.

Cheers.

 

subscribing to hear what people say. i have the OME set up and have had nothing but death wobble problems since it went in. interested to hear what people say. I have done everything except swap out the springs so i like that you say it went away...

 

I have felt you pain. I have had DW and have minimized it. It is almost gone.

Do you know if you have the factory front trackbar or is it aftermarket? I do not know much about this lift but do you have factory control arms?

 

what exactly does death wobble do? how did it almost kill you?

 

Take a loot at this video of my Jeep at 25 mph doing the death wobble dance. Look at the front tires. This is minor compared to what it does at highway speeds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwiv23dLhMY

 

that's your jeep?! i use that to show everyone what's going on with mine! too funny!

 

holy crap! i can't even believe that kind of thing can happen

thanks for linking. i read about death wobble many times but i never really understood what it was. have there been any reported injuries/deaths resulting from it?

 

Yes, it is mine. You could take it to a different dealer that you are use to dealing with for an alignment (Do not tell them you have death wobble). Once they are done; take it for a spin, if Death Wobble happens; immediately return it to them complaining that it never had death wobble and what did they do to your Jeep.

That might fix it.

 

good suggestion. a bit underhanded but if it gets the job done!

 

sorry....i think i got this thread off track...you were saying?