[2003TJMatty]

Hi guys, I am new here, but have been lurking for a a couple of weeks. I have read all the posts I could find on the death wobble here on the forum. All great info. I wanted to take a moment and put up my issue, and fix, for others who are about to deal with this issue.

For starters mine is a 2003 TJ Sport, with 31x10.50 BFG ATs (tires have 60,000 highway kms on them), on stock rims, no lift, 138,000kms. It is my daily driver, with very limited off-roading (for now)

Wobble ONLY occurred at about 80kph. Sometimes, slight, sometimes mirror vibrating, everything rattling, "holy crap" wobble.

I found a TSB for 97-06 models (19-003-06), confirmed by the dealer that it was for a steering stabilizer. Ball joints, tie-rod ends are all good, all nuts/bolts were checked and tight. No leaks, nothing loose. Tires were balanced, no lost weights, good alignment. Bought a Skyjacker Hydro 7000 stabilizer, rotated the tires, wobble is gone. Steering seems tighter. When we rotated the tires, we noticed a "very slight" uneven wear on the drivers front tire.

This is just my two cents, and thought it might be worth something to someone who is dealing with what I just dealt with.

Mat

[Brice014]

Steering stabilizer and tire balance are just cheap ways to try to diagnose the problem. When I had DW, I replaced the stabilizer, and the problem was solved. I think I read correctly that you are running the factory one, so that would be the first thing that I would do is swap it out for a new one. As far as the uneven wear on the tires: Make sure that your tire pressure is equal in all four corners, and you should be alright. Good luck

-Brice

[RVA_TJ06]

Death Wobble at 80???? If it was all out DW then you would've **** yourself. I had DW and it happened at anything over 30. Shook the whole jeep, took my buddy out to show him, and scare the crap out of him. Maybe you had a slight wobble. Steering stabilizers usually just mask a slight wobble. From what I've heard a lot of people don't even run them.

[john NC]

Originally Posted by RVA_TJ06

Death Wobble at 80???? If it was all out DW then you would've **** yourself.

km/hr, that's about 50 MILES per hour

pretty standard DW speed

[HTOR]

yeah my death wobble happens around 40-50 mph

[Rigged]

Originally Posted by RVA_TJ06

Maybe you had a slight wobble. Steering stabilizers usually just mask a slight wobble.

This is definitely true. If you had loose tie rod ends or any other problem putting a new steering stabilizer could have just "masked" the problem. Just something to keep in the back of your head, but you say that everything was checked and tightened so that was probably it. I know that my wheels/tires gave me some DW at those speeds also.

[djt283]

A properly functioning TJ (mine excluded) should ride smooth without the steering stabilizer. The stronger shock just dampens vibrations so you don't notice them, but they're still there. It does the same thing as the rest of your shocks. Just because it rides smooth, doesn't mean you didn't just drive over a bump.

[XRussoX]

Tire Balance.

Russo

[LunchBoxx]

I have an 03 TJ with 96000. I bought it in September and it seems to be pretty much factory. I made 2 trips from Cincinnati OH to Topeka KS (1200 mi round trip) between Nov & Dec. After the second trip, the day after I got home the wobble started. It gradually got worse and I finally had the tires balanced in January. Tire Discounters said the balance was way out.

The balancing made no difference. As it continues to get worse, for lack of a better term, there is a grabbing as I am stopping. I went back and had the tires rebalanced. One was out again, but they said the front rotors may have gotten hot and have "hard" spots making the brakes not grab properly. Although this should not cause the wobble at speed, it makes some sense for the stopping issue. They also said the tires are chopping.

My question is should I fix the brakes first or start with the trackbar? The tires have maybe 6-8000 left so I'm not ready to replace them yet, but is that a place to start?

[fromme]

Never mind, this is an old thread.

[RaggedOleMan]

About two years ago I installed some Dunlop MT, (crummy tire, don't buy it) 32x11-/2 R15's on my 05x with a stock suspension. The Goodyear dealer I buoght them from balanced & installed them. I never had the d/w before. Now, the d/w appeared at 45-55 mph.

So I bought a Pro-comp steering stabilizer, but, it didn't help. Others on the Forum said that a really good balance job would likely go a long way in solving the problem. I never had it re-done.

About two weeks ago, I bought a new set 33x12.5 r-15 BFG KM2'S. I drove out of the shop and onto the highway and the d/w was gone...go figure...

There was no change to my suspension system whatsoever since the time I bought those Dunlops and now. (I recently ordered a lift kit, BL + MML and LCA's) Consequently, I have this thought: Good quality tires and a good balance job minimize d/w occurance. That was my experience and thus my opinion...

[Copboy4090]

I've got a twist. My wobble ONLY occurs when I hit a bump in the road. Thing drives smooth as silk, I hit a bump in the road or a seam on a bridge and the freakin thing shimmies like it's in self destruct mode! I'm ready to sell. I can't have my wife drive this thing. She'll panic and wreck! Any suggestions????

[Imped]

Originally Posted by Copboy4090

I've got a twist. My wobble ONLY occurs when I hit a bump in the road. Thing drives smooth as silk, I hit a bump in the road or a seam on a bridge and the freakin thing shimmies like it's in self destruct mode! I'm ready to sell. I can't have my wife drive this thing. She'll panic and wreck! Any suggestions????

Check the tires and get them balanced perfectly. Check all tre's and bushings in the front, especially the track bar. Have someone sit in the drivers seat and turn the steering wheel back and forth while you examine each TRE on the tie rod, drag link and track bar frame mount. None of them should have any play 'around' the end.

[Wheelin98TJ]

Originally Posted by imped4now

Check the tires and get them balanced perfectly. Check all tre's and bushings in the front, especially the track bar. Have someone sit in the drivers seat and turn the steering wheel back and forth while you examine each TRE on the tie rod, drag link and track bar frame mount. None of them should have any play 'around' the end.

Good advice, that is the first place to start when you have a wobble in the front end.

Do this test with the front tires on the ground and the Jeep turned off so there is no power steering assist.

Also watch both ends of the trackbar while doing this. If there is slop in either end, that is a problem.

[Roadhawg]

Its weird.
I never had DW problems. Even after my BB and 32's went on. Nothin.

Then I decide to take my 32's off and go back to the skinny stockers and alla sudden I have DW. Its irritating.

Good reason to stick to Muds hehe