Tire shake v. Death Wobble

Mighty Thor · 10-02-2009, 12:14 AM

This last several days I have had to put a few hundred highway miles on my XJ and discovered that I have an unpleasant tire shake at 52 MPH. In researching this on the forum I see that there are lots of discussions about what is or is not considered to be Death Wobble vs Tire Shake. Having experienced both I thought I would just add this description so that future searchers could have an easier time figuring out their problem and then their solution.

Tire shake is when you are driving and a vibration starts to occur. It may be consistent, happening at the same speed, or inconsistent. It can happen front or back and felt in the seat or the steering wheel or both. If you feel it and can still drive down the road it is probably some form of tire shake. Tire shake can also happen in concert with other mechanical issues that contribute to bad vibrations.

Death Wobble is when YOUR FREAKING JEEP IS TRYING TO COME APART AROUND YOU It is absolutely terrifying and when it happens you have no idea what to do next. The whole vehicle shakes so bad and you can't do anything to control the shake except come to a near complete stop. Death Wobble always has some sort of mechanical component that should be fixed. tire issues can be a factor but not the cure.

Holder350 · 10-02-2009, 09:11 AM

I say tire shake....I'm working on a wrecked xj that has a death wobble at 50mph and it feels like the doors are about to fly open....its seriously that bad.

A light shake is not death wobble.

KINGJB · 10-02-2009, 09:40 AM

exactly .

99Greenmachine · 10-02-2009, 09:59 AM

Interestingly enough, I was having some REALLY BAD vibrations coming from the front end and I checked my air pressure and it was like 22 psi in the front

I filled up my tires to 32 and when I drove back to college last weekend, the vibration/shaking of the front end was GREATLY reduced. I guess air pressure is one of those things I just let slip my mind.

Holder350 · 10-02-2009, 10:12 AM

yep and a tire rotation can help alot also.

jkh · 10-02-2009, 01:06 PM

I have some shaking at 50ish as well. Everything under the Jeep is tight, so I'm thinking it's tire shake. If I happen to hit a bump while the tires are shaking, then it gets really bad and I have to hit the brakes to get it to stop, but I only have to slow down to 40-45 for it to go away.

440_Magnum · 10-02-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkh

I have some shaking at 50ish as well. Everything under the Jeep is tight, so I'm thinking it's tire shake. If I happen to hit a bump while the tires are shaking, then it gets really bad and I have to hit the brakes to get it to stop, but I only have to slow down to 40-45 for it to go away.

That sounds more like the beginnings of DW to me. Hitting a bump generally won't make a tire shake get WORSE, unless maybe you've got really bad shocks also.

440_Magnum · 10-02-2009, 03:05 PM

After reading this thread, I was watching some YouTube videos where guys have put webcams under their jeeps and captured video of the trackbar and other components during "death wobble." One thing that struck me is how much the *engine block* moves around on some of those videos- have any of you guys ever had a case where fixing broken/worn/loose engine mounts cured DW? It seems to me that if the engine movement is too free, then it would be really easy to get a situation where the engine and chassis are "swinging" in opposite directions and resonating, and that by itself could likely cause something that feels much like "death wobble."