As the DW seems to be a problem encountered by many, I propose to build a database of experiences by collecting infos from anyone who had the DW.
Hopefully this database will (maybe) helps other find the solution.

Here is the check list. Please feel free to add what you feel pertinent to improve it.

What do you think ?
Fabrice

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Size and brand of wheels :
Size and brand of tires :

Type and brand of lift system :
Type and brand of suspension :
Type and brand of steering damper :

How many miles has your JK ? :
How many miles since your lift ? :
How many miles have you driven your JK before the DW happened ?:
At what speed the DW happens ? :
Did you had shimmy before the DW happens ?:

Have you done some 4WD in the 7 days before the DW happened ?
If yes :
- how long have you been offroad ?
- at what maximum speed ?
- on what kind of terrain ?
- fast trails : at what speed ? Rocks, sand, snow, mud or gravel
- rock crawling
- Trial

Since how long have you balanced your wheels before the DW ?
Since how long have you check your geometry before the DW ?

Now since the DW, have you ?

1) Check Sway bar Link
2) Check Drag link
3) Check Upper Control Arm
4) Check Lower control arn
4) Check Tie Rod
5) Check Pitman Arm
6) Check Upper and lower Ball joints
7) Check brackets (weld)
8) Check front geometry
9) Done Dynamical balance of the wheels
10) Check steering damper
11) Check for cracks in the front trackbar bracket on the axle.

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At what stage did your DW stop ?
What did you find or what was your solution ?

Other comments.

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My experience ... and still no solution

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Size and brand of wheels : 18" stock or 17" Hutchinson Rockmonster
Size and brand of tires : GY Dueller 255x75x18 (stock) or STT 265x70x17

Type and brand of lift system : 3,5' AEV Nth Degree
Type and brand of suspension : 5100 Bilstein c/o AEV
Type and brand of steering damper : OME c/o AEV
How many miles has your JK ? : 15.000 miles
How many miles since your lift ? : 9.000 miles
How many miles have you driven your JK before the DW happened ?: 14.800 miles
At what speed the DW happens ? : 42 - 48 miles/h
Did you had shimmy before the DW happens ?: a little bit

Have you done some 4WD in the 7 days before the DW happened ? YES
If yes :
- how long have you been offroad ? 3 days
- at what maximum speed ? 50 miles
- on what kind of terrain ?
- fast trails : yes (rocky and gravel)
at what speed ? 50 mph
- rock crawling : no
- Trial : yes, mud and river

Since how long have you balanced your wheels before the DW ? 2 months
Since how long have you check your geometry before the DW ? 2 months

Now since the DW, have you ?

1) Check Sway bar Link : Yes
2) Check Drag link : Yes
3) Check Upper Control Arm : Yes
4) Check Lower control arn : Yes
4) Check Tie Rod : Yes
5) Check Pitman Arm : Yes
6) Check Upper and lower Ball joints : Yes
7) Check brackets : No
8) Check front geometry : yes done today
9) Done Dynamical balance of the wheels : yes done today
10) Check steering damper : yes but maybe change the steering stabilizer.
11) Check for cracks in the front trackbar bracket on the axle. Not yet

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At what stage did your DW stop ? No stage I still have DW

What did you find or what was your solution ?

Other comments.
- next step I'll check the bracket and change steering stabilizer.
- drive me crazy !
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Fabrice

 

I think this is an excellent idea given the difficulty in troubleshooting the dreaded DW and the dangers it poses.

This questionnaire is lengthy, but having experience DW on TJ, I can say it is one of the few problems for which I would take the time to fill it out.

A couple of suggestions:

If you get enough responses, this could lead to a very valuable source of information. But the amount of information you can extract is going to be dependent on how easy it is to analyze.
A lot of the questions are open ended, so every answer will/can be different which makes them difficult to compare.
You could use the tool used for polls to keep many of the confined to discrete ranges.


Some additional useful information would be:

1. If you have lift kit installed, did you talk to manufacturer and what was their advice?

2. In the area where you check components, I think the torque setting should be spelled out explicitly, not just visual and inspection for play.

3. In the final section (maybe a prompt under Other comments), request input on any other things steps taken towards finding a solution: e.g. reinstall the lift, replace bushings, install dual SSs, ...


Just my $0.02.

Either way

 

AMEN!

Everyone installing a lift should read this, specially if you are doing it yourself for the first time.

In addition if your JK is not relatively NEW, check every joint and bushing BEFORE you install the lift.