"death wobble" at 52 mph???

elkriverjeep · 07-17-2002, 08:55 AM

My 98' (80k miles) has a bad shudder or wobble between 52 and 55 mph, but then smoothes out again after that. There was a post and a long thread on this forum once that described a 'death wobble' at those speeds and what a number of people said it was. (No joy trying to find it again, I think the search feature has been changed.)

I think one guy said that the play in the drive shaft loosened the whole thing and it dropped to the ground while he was taking an off-ramp... sure wish I could find that post again.

Any ideas? Somethin' ain't right. I would really appreciate your suggestions.

d

cptyarderho · 07-17-2002, 10:14 AM

is your Jeep lifted at all? Death wobble is usually the byproduct of some form of lift, where the angles are no longer to factory spec. I get a bit of it around 50-55 mph, even after realignment and balancing, checked eveything for tightness, etc...

Grady · 07-17-2002, 10:27 AM

Mine shook at 43-47 mph. Only thing that worked to get rid of it was a steering stabilizer. Works like new again.

elkriverjeep · 07-17-2002, 11:02 AM

Thanks for the responses so far... I don't have a lift on it so everything is to specs. I replaced two broken front sway bar links earlier this summer... I'll check the steering stabilizer...

Please keep the suggestions coming, I have a lot to learn.

drtjmpr17 · 07-17-2002, 11:02 AM

I have to live with my death wobble....

38 Tsl super swapers --- bias--- try going 60 when one of them have a chunck taken out. Wobble, wobble.... I can look at my drivers front tire and see that sucker go. the other 3 tires are just fine. Its not a death wobble for me... this thing will bounce me off the road at 70

Torn66 · 07-17-2002, 02:34 PM

i have had it forever- but just corrected it- since you just did your Sway bark links- thats sometimes it- Re-balance the tires- get an alignment- and at 80k it's prob time for a new steering stablizer as well.

I started with the most inexpensive fix and worked my way to the most expensive...hoping i wouldnt have to get there....

Front tires rebalanced - 20 bucks
Alignment (needed it anyway- hant been done since the lift)- $60

- its virtually gone...but i know new sway bar links and a steering stablizer are near....but those $$$ drops can wait.

jeep thrills · 07-17-2002, 04:28 PM

i have the same wobble between 50 and 55 but it doesnt do it all the time everything is stock and i have had my tires balanced and all that fun stuff im waiting to replace the tires there might be a seperation between the layers of rubber or a broken belt im just gonna run it till i replace the tires in about a month also check the air pressure and make shore the tires are not cuped bad that might cause it also but not for me my tires are still the stock ones with 20k miles on them i think it is in my tires but dont quote me on that

Grady · 07-17-2002, 04:33 PM

I'm still convinced the aftermarket (proComp) steering stablizer fixed mine. I had the wheels rebalanced (they only had about 300 miles on them) and a front end alignment (the toe and caster was out due to my two inch lift). Nothing worked till the stabilizer, now it's as good or better than before.
BTW, my Jeep only has 10,000 miles on it.

bigolefatguy · 07-17-2002, 05:17 PM

How about just rotating the tires?

K9JEEP · 07-17-2002, 05:29 PM

It's a good thing it's not at 48Mph, or else you're looking at a hefty repair bill.. J/k

Regardless of the condition of the steering stabilizer, something else is throwing it off. Replacing the Stab does not fix the problem, it only dampens it. The real problem is probably in the tires (Balance.) Switch them to the rear and see what happens.

I got DW anytime I corner at 70Mph, and thats because I have bent control arms, bad stabilizer, tires that have never been balanced, and everything has been aligned by eye.

weslaine · 07-17-2002, 05:41 PM

elkriver, got the same problem here. 97 Sahara stock, started wobbling at 80K miles between 55 and 60 mph. 1,000 miles later, still haven't figured it out. When u do, let me know!!!

Soon I too will be replacing my tires which have 40,000 miles on 'em. I hope this solves the prob.

Grady · 07-17-2002, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by K9JEEP

Regardless of the condition of the steering stabilizer, something else is throwing it off. Replacing the Stab does not fix the problem, it only dampens it. The real problem is probably in the tires (Balance.) Switch them to the rear and see what happens.

If the tires have been rebalanced then switching them to the rear can help how? Maybe move the problem to the rear and cause the tires to wear out faster in the rear instead of the front. Sure the front end wobble is gone.

As far as I am concerned, I replaced the steering stabilizer along with the tire rebalance and alingment and now the wobble is gone . Probably all three things together is what it needed.

Quote:

Originally posted by K9JEEP
I got DW anytime I corner at 70Mph, and thats because I have bent control arms, bad stabilizer, tires that have never been balanced, and everything has been aligned by eye.

ROFLMAO!!!!!

cajun1 · 07-18-2002, 03:27 AM

hey talking about a death wobble try driving 70 and have the track bar come off

That was a ride from you know where!! So check the track bar and the tire pressure. Take care and good luck

elkriverjeep · 07-19-2002, 01:14 PM

Well... bought four new tires (Remington Wide Brutes 30x9.50 R15 LT) and had the Jeep aligned (wasn't too far out on the left, barely out on the right) - the wobble is gone. Had the exact same tires on it but with about 45,000 miles on them. I am ashamed to admit it but I only rotated them three times in that time... so that might have been part of the problem.

Thanks everybody for adding your two cents. I appreciate it.