Jeeps are built tough to tackle basically any type of terrain, and the scope for modification is enormous. If you own a Jeep, you know how capable it is off the assembly line — and, if you're interested in modifying it, be warned that it's a never-ending rabbit hole. In fact, JEGS carries everything under the sun that can make your Jeep better, tougher, and more capable.
Today, we are going to talk about something that many Jeep owners may have come across or heard of. This is the infamous Jeep death wobble. The death wobble occurs due to issues in steering components, and can be pretty frightening if you don't know what the cause is or if you encounter it and were totally unaware of its existence. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about the Jeep death wobble, and, most importantly, what to do when it occurs and how to fix it.
Jeep Death Wobble
The Jeep death wobble usually manifests itself as a rapid oscillation within your steering components. This can result in your steering wheel being tugged quickly from side to side. It may feel like your Jeep has suddenly become self-aware, frustrated at the intricacies of life, and is trying to tear itself apart. The Jeep death wobble typically manifests above speeds of 45 mph, and can be triggered by something as regular as hitting a bump or pothole.
If you think the shaking is similar to what you would get from an unbalanced wheel, brace yourself for a shock. Jeep death wobble causes oscillations several magnitudes greater than even the most unbalanced wheel can manage. It’s necessary to slow down, and may even be crucial to come to a complete stop and take a breather, as it can not only shake your Jeep to bits, but your nerves too.
Let us bust one popular myth, that it doesn’t happen to unmodified, stock Jeeps, and only those that have received suspension and steering system modifications. That’s not true. In fact, it can happen to any vehicle with a solid front axle. Having said that, poorly modified Jeeps can in fact be more susceptible to death wobble, among an entire diary of issues.
What Are The Causes of a Death Wobble?
What causes this serious condition? The death wobble can be caused by a variety of issues on your Jeep, so here's the list for you to work through at your next service or inspection — or as soon as possible, if you haven't checked these components in a while.
- Ball joints
- Upper control arms
- Lower control arms
- Front track bar
- Suspension bushings
- Steering stabilizer
- Steering knuckles
- Drag links or tie rod ends
While an unbalanced wheel and tire or poor wheel alignment can't cause death wobble on its own, it can contribute towards, and amplify the effects once death wobble starts.
Diagnosing a Death Wobble
How can you diagnose a death wobble? The best way is to comprehensively check the areas that we’ve described in the previous section. Here are some things, in particular, to watch out for.
- Check track bars, including track bar welds, bolts, and anchoring points. The track bar should remain in place, even when the steering wheel is turned. If it moves, you’ve got a problem.
- Check all ball joints to ensure that they are in good condition and not leaking grease.
- Check tie rod ends, which is easy to do — just jack up your Jeep and try to wiggle a wheel from side to side.
- Check control arms and wheel bearings.
- Check your tire pressures and if any wheels have lost weights. These can contribute toward severe death wobble.
What To Do When a Death Wobble Occurs
We suggest that every Jeep owner should read this section, regardless of if you’ve encountered death wobble before, or not. It’s always best to be prepared, rather than wait for it to happen and then conduct a post-mortem on how the situation could have been handled. Here’s what you’ve got to do when death wobble rears its ugly head.
- Don’t totally let go of your steering wheel, but don’t white-knuckle it either. Maintain a light grip.
- Focus on ensuring that your Jeep’s trajectory remains where you want it to go, especially if you’re surrounded by traffic.
- Slow down safely and evenly. Do not mash the brake pedal to the floor, and trigger a skid or the ABS system.
- As you shed speed, death wobble may reduce or even disappear. Don’t take this for granted. Find a place to pull over and inspect the components mentioned in the causes section.
- If you are knowledgeable enough and have the right tools, you can ensure that all necessary bolts are tightened, and limp your Jeep home at low speed.
- If you’re not confident to do a DIY diagnosis, your best bet is to call a tow truck and have your Jeep taken to a workshop for professional assistance.
How To Fix It
How do you fix it? There’s no single Jeep death wobble fix, but a few areas are to install a new steering stabilizer and replace any worn-out suspension and steering components. Don’t think that it won’t come back, or accept any quick fixes from a workshop. It’s safer for everyone if the relevant components are replaced with new ones, especially if they’ve passed their recommended lifetimes, or your Jeep has seen a tough life and these components are visibly worn. Don’t forget that you need to perform an alignment and re-check wheel balancing after suspension and steering system repairs.
Everything Jeep And Off Road From JEGS
Jeg Coughlin was sick and tired of the absence of automotive aftermarket part retailers and founded JEGS in 1960 to combat that. Since then, this family-owned business has become one of the leading online retailers of off-road components, but true to its roots, JEGS maintains a physical store in Columbus, Ohio.
With extremely competitive prices, knowledgeable experts on hand, and a great array of renowned parts, it's a no-brainer really. If you're looking to fix the death wobble or enhance your Jeep, other off-roader or truck, just come to JEGS and join a community of delighted customers.
