NM-XJ

Can death wobble show up as a minor wiggle in the steering wheel?

Only happens between 55 and 60mph. Goes away quickly outside that speed range. Does not get worse if I stay in that speed range.

I can feel a wobble, but passengers aren't quick to notice. The steering wheel wiggling back and forth is obvious. Does NOT feel like I'm going to loose control.

Just did new pads, rotors, U joints and rebuilt the front drive shaft. Tires balanced and rotated.

Is this death wobble or something else??

Also, FYI: stock height, 235/75R15 tires in good condition. Everything up front is tight when I push/pull on it.

XJwonders

That probably is a bump steer. When the death wobble occurs, everyone would notice. Lol. The whole jeep shakes and bounces.

Dumajones

Here is a vid showing death wobble on a 99 Cherokee.. Shakes the **** out of the Jeep
Im just leaving a vid so you can see what its like,, at time 0:20 it starts.

NM-XJ

Well, I don't think I have death wobble. It's more like driving over a rumble strip without the rumble...


Anything to do about a bump steer?

Waynerd

Possiy it's just starting to get bad. Back when I had my 88 it had crazy death wobble. Shop I go to couldn't find anything loose. I replaced the track bar anyway and it ended up evry time I hit a bump just right over 45 it would start to wobble but it would only do it for a few seconds and not violently then stop on its own. On rare occasions it would stil turn violent. Never had the chance to figure it out because the trans went then I sold it

BOOMroasted

I'm having the exact same problem you are. At around 60mph my cherokee has a serious case of the shakes but it's nothing like the death wobble videos I've seen. When I'm getting on the interstate I can accelerate through it to 70+ and not notice a problem but when I'm forced to drive around 60-65 it can be pretty rough. Smooth downgrades seem to alleviate the problem though even when I'm going 60. It's when I'm on the gas or going uphill that the problem is at it's worst.

I'm hoping to get the front end on jackstands very soon and see if I can find anything at all. I might just go in and replace all the bushings in the entire front end.

NM-XJ

Before I assume this is an early case of death wobble, is there anything else it could be?

Front drive shaft? It was off the vehicle and rebuilt.

Do I need an alignment if I pulled the hubs and axle shafts?

howellrobby

Proably not your problem but figured I'd share..when I first got my jeep did the same thing long story short got new tires/balanced fixed it!! The I went in the mud a week or so later. No issue drove fine afterwards. Well decided to wash my mud off the next week and on the way back to work the wobble at 50-55 was back!??! Looked all the tire weights were still on so then I got to thinking MUD still in my rim sure enough it was only on top where I didn't spray.. Sprayed it out real well and all was good. Has happened 3 times since. Never heard of this before even after looking up my issue online, figured I'd share Good luck be safe.

bryanintowson

Following.

NM-XJ

In response to howellrobby: good insight. I checked and the wheels are nice, clean and recently balanced.

Took off the front drive shaft tonight and drove around. Wiggle persists, though *maybe* it's less intense. Which is odd, since having more mass in the system usually dampens vibrations. Anyway. To those wondering, it IS a vibration not bump steer.

The wiggle is so minor and predictable I'm pretty sure it's not impending doom. Next steps I'm thinking:
1) Alignment
2) Track bar
3) Control Arm bushings

Dumajones

Just something to check with your other steps>>Have you looked for mud or junk build up inside the rotors?? Ive seen this cause a vibration that drove ppl mad trying to find the cause.

NM-XJ

I like your thinking, Dumajones! That is an idea anyone trying to find a vibration should follow up on.

Unfortunately, my rotors are brand spanking new as of last week. Not even had a chance to get muddy yet!

NM-XJ

Pretty sure this is the precursor to death wobble, as a 400 mile road trip this past weekend showed that going over bumps and such initiate the wiggle...

Starting to get pricing and such on front end parts. I had a guy tell me that it's better to put in new control arms since the factory ones have the bushings vulcanized in. I suspect that's BS. Can anyone confirm?

NM-XJ

I wanted to follow up on this in case anyone was following with interest.

I replaced my track bar, ALL tie rod ends, and got an alignment. The shimmy is still there.

1) It's NOT death wobble. Nor death wiggle, I think
2) Original shocks with 102k miles are getting replaced, maybe that will help
3) Starting to think it may be the tires, though they have been balanced and rotated

93_xjcherokee

You will know if its death wobble. Trust me. Its called death wobble for a reason. You hit a bump and the whole jeep shakes back and forth causing you to either speed up or slow way down. What you have sounds like an out of balance tire or a bent wheel.