Death wobble
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Death wobble
Hey everyone!
I have a 2011 JKU and this Saturday I had my brakes changed. After it was done my jeep is getting the death wobble every time I go 45-50 MPH. I haven't had a chance to check it out it's been parked in the garage I will get to it this weekend. Any ideas on what can be causing it? I've never had a death wobble till now.
Thanks!
I have a 2011 JKU and this Saturday I had my brakes changed. After it was done my jeep is getting the death wobble every time I go 45-50 MPH. I haven't had a chance to check it out it's been parked in the garage I will get to it this weekend. Any ideas on what can be causing it? I've never had a death wobble till now.
Thanks!
JK Newbie
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
It seems that you might be experiencing heavy vibration rather than death wobble. I experienced death wobble once and I almost ran off the road, but I have had shaking and vibration due to balancing problems. They could have knocked a wheel weight off while doing the brake job. I wold start there after checking torque settings.
JK Freak
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 896
Likes: 5
From: Ventura, CA
I doubt it is "death wobble", the most mis-diagnosed malady in the motoring universe.
When EXACTLY is this symptom presenting itself?
Do you have any idiot lights illuminated?
Do more little lights illuminate when it happens?
Are you accelerating?
Braking?
Driving in a straight line?
How fast?
Is your steering wheel centered?
Most likely your steering wheel is off-center and you have a speed sensor issue. You are hitting a bump and irregularity in the pavement and your traction control is engaging.
When EXACTLY is this symptom presenting itself?
Do you have any idiot lights illuminated?
Do more little lights illuminate when it happens?
Are you accelerating?
Braking?
Driving in a straight line?
How fast?
Is your steering wheel centered?
Most likely your steering wheel is off-center and you have a speed sensor issue. You are hitting a bump and irregularity in the pavement and your traction control is engaging.
JK Junkie
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,199
Likes: 218
From: Over the hill
Like others already mentioned, this may be vibration rather than full blown death wobble. Since it happened after the brake job it may be something related to proper wheel mounting and run-out. This sort of problem might even trigger death wobble from loose suspension/steering that was otherwise dormant.
A quick run-out check is to jack each wheel up and spin it by hand with something like a pencil or welding rod taped to a block of wood -- The pencil tip is set close to the tire sidewall, and also the tread, and note how much the gap changes as the tire rotates. Less than 1/16" is what I think is good, but what really stands out as bad is a tire that has a lot more run-out than the others.
edit: Also check for loose lug nuts. Obvious, but I know a guy who left a tire shop with one wheel's lug nuts hand tight!
A quick run-out check is to jack each wheel up and spin it by hand with something like a pencil or welding rod taped to a block of wood -- The pencil tip is set close to the tire sidewall, and also the tread, and note how much the gap changes as the tire rotates. Less than 1/16" is what I think is good, but what really stands out as bad is a tire that has a lot more run-out than the others.
edit: Also check for loose lug nuts. Obvious, but I know a guy who left a tire shop with one wheel's lug nuts hand tight!
Last edited by Mr.T; Jun 11, 2016 at 05:01 AM.
