DUBarado

Hello all,

I know i'm not the first (or last) to experience such a sketchy phenomena, but today it was really bad. That being the death wobble!

I always known around 55 my jeep would wobble then it would go away after 60... That was after getting new tires because the previous owner had on 235 and 225 size tires on it for who knows how long. As i drove it more and more, 8000 miles later it is worse than what it was prior to tires.

I got underneath, everything looks tight, but I've noticed when I turn the wheel full lock either way in a parking lot, sometimes it feels like it doesn't catch maybe a half turn, or when I'm fully locked it doesn't fight to straighten back out after letting go of the wheel.

Well today on the way to work, as I backed out of my spot I noticed as I backed up the steering wheel would slightly jerk, like a bumping feeling... Fine I thought, I went out to the main street and accelerated... around 40mph the wobble kicked in, and got worse and worse I almost shat my pants! I went to pull over and slow down, and it stopped.

Basically steering is limp at times, new tires only helped for a bit, and the wobble is getting worse the more I drive it... Any ideas?

EDIT: I forgot to mention that it doesn't do it every time, sometimes if I have passenger(s) or if I'm certain roads (mostly with wheel slightly turned a degree or 2) it doesn't do it at all, or just has a slight shimmy...

Xj88

TRE's, trac bar bushing or loose bolts.

DUBarado

My buddy said it could be the wheel bearings... but that would only cause the wobble, not the awkward steering?

Lw2044

The bumping feeling in the steering wheel could be the axle u-joints seizing up. I had that problem with mine. Im not sure if it would fix the problem of the death wobble. But if you want to check you can lift the front tires off the ground, turn the steering wheel all the way to one side, and spin the tires by hand to see if its seizing.

DUBarado

Yea, I'll have to check that, altho it felt more like the steering was 'catching' I'm horrible at describing w/o hand gestures and soundfx.

Lw2044

Haha i understand. Does it kinda feel like having 4WH on and turning on dry pavement?

DUBarado

Not as harsh, but the same concept. It only did it once today, while backing out.

gdavenport0701

check the steering shock as well when they go bad that will cause the death wobble.

DUBarado

How would one check that? I mean it looks old and stock. But not sure if it still works or not.

DUBarado

Well the wobble has been really tame lately (a faint vibration of the wheel rather than near violent shaking) until tonight I aired the tires back up to 32-33psi and now its back to going rampant at 55-60. But it doesn't happen all the time. I feel it depends on if the road is smooth or has a slight bend in it that it effects it in different degrees. I wish I could have someone else more experienced in this subject than me, I am a newb to this solid axle steering/susp stuff.

Tfox671

I replaced my drag link because it was failing. Mine hasn't wobbled since.

playbass

Mine does the exact thing. If my tires are low, the slight DW happens at around 55, if I air up to 32-33psi, it's at 60-65.

DUBarado

So today I was in Margate and got stuck in some sand (on a road, thanks to hurricane sandy) so I put it in full time 4hi, and as I turned the wheel slightly left it sounded like all hell. So I guess it is my CV joint that is shot which is what's causing the wobbling, as well as when I have the wheel full lock it feels like it jumps, almost as if I was turning in 4x4. So. Is it a DIY job, or something better left to a shop? Any good brand of one I should go with? A little weary of autozone crap.

DUBarado

Anyone? Is it a CV a part that can be greased up and fixed or once its gone its gone? I've had them fail on RC cars but this is a whole 'nother level. Thanks guys