Death wobble...!

[Nekked]

Hi Guys,

Last week i was driving along Bells line of road, on my way to do some wheeling with some mates, i was sitting on about 90km/hr when i hit a small bump on the road (typical off the Bells Line) and my JK went into a Crazy Death Wobble.

Being my first DW we pulled over to see what the problem was, and after a quick inspection and finding no faults we continued along, there were no issues after this, we got to the trails and as usual the JK performed superbly, no isses.

Yesterday i was driving home from the beach along the M2, again sitting on about 80km/hr, coming through the toll Plaza when i hit a bump with the road works, and again she went into a crazy DW, i slowed down and corrected her, and continued along, just before the M2 tunnel (before the beecroft rd exit) she went into a DW again, i pulled over and inspected, Everything seemed to be in order, so again i continued and there were no issues again.

Has anyone encountered this issue before? know what to look for? and how to fix it?

Cheers.

[reyzor]

check your panhard rod for movement...that'd be my first port of call

[sfedek]

Its one of thoses JEEP things. Youtube it & see how people fixed theirs & don't forget GOOGLE is your friend!

Eddy

[Miraz]

Usual culprit is the bolt at the upper end of the panhard rod.....you should be able to see marks if it has been moving around, check that it is impossibly tight..

[Hunty]

Hi Mate
IMHO
Assuming that your upper & lower ball joints are OK and your control arm bushes are good! - if your Jeep has low km's as does yours they should be fine!

The Bolts that secure the track bar (also known as panhard) are secured with threaded bolts from the factory and eventually these bolts work loose (imperceptible to normal inspection), as soon as you hit a bump these threaded bolts eat out the holes they are in , kinda like a rats tail file. The slightest play in the trackbar bolts will cause DW and if not fixed immediately will cause damage to many other components!

The best way to inspect for DW is to remove the trackbar and (assuming your Jeep is not under warranty - or is modified/lifted and not eligible for warranty) then with the track bar off the vehicle reinsert the bolt and check for looseness - even half a mm of play will end in tears (DW) LoL

Ways to repair;
Go to Wooders and buy a better trackbar.
Replace the useless factory bolts with slightly larger 9/16th shanked bolts i.e the thread is only on the end
Weld plates to your mounts with holes that are exactly 9/16th

I'd be happy to take a look for just give me a call on my Mobile - which I will PM you.

I changed my trackbar first, then put in the 9/16th bolts and just recently I welded in the plates.
I tried using giant washers - they worked well for a while - the best thing I did was to weld on the reinforcing plates!


http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/ashunty/Huntys%20Jeep%20JK/DSC_4140.jpg
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/ashunty/Huntys%20Jeep%20JK/DSC_4135.jpg
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/ashunty/Huntys%20Jeep%20JK/DSC_4133.jpg
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/ashunty/7bed4cce.jpg
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/ashunty/9b2ea28f.jpg
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/ashunty/c499c023.jpg

[SteveC]

I dont think i have heard of death wobble on any standard jeep. Seem to affect some and not others but one thing for sure is, it happens once you start to lift a vehicle and change the original geometry

[reyzor]

it happens to stockers aswell........

[glend]

Wasn't there a problem with JK steering dampeners (leading to DW) which led to them being replaced (if asked). My son had his replaced under warranty and his JK was stock at the time.

[Miraz]

Yup, but it isn't the main issue....they used a 9/16 threaded bolt in a 14mm hole to secure the top of the track bar!

[reyzor]

steering dampeners only mask the problem........DW is caused by worn components, the upgraded SD only prolongs the time before you crack it and go in search....

[Wolfe]

Hi Mate

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/ashunty/c499c023.jpg


Gosh sparks WORST CASE OF DEATH WOBBLE EVER

[SteveC]

There is a goof write up on www.ironrockoffroad.com. See link bottom left