Death Wobble?

Hey group, I am experiencing a wobble in the front end of my 86 CJ7. It is slight and I don't feel it until I hit about 65 mph. I think it's probably a wheel balance problem but just in case....... What causes the dreaded "Death Wobble" commonly associated with short wheelbase 4X4's? I heard of it and seen it on Jeeps, Broncos and IH Scouts, usually at speeds in the 40-50 mph range, but have never heard a definitive answer on the cause or the fix. I'm sure somebody out there has the answer. Thanks, Charles

Reply to
Ervin Charles
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Can't speak for the CJ, but when it happened in our ZJ it nearly scared us to death. It was a combination of loose stuff in the front end. Had to replace the steering stabilizer, track bar, tie-bar ends and drag links. That solved the wobble. The last fix was to replace the stabilizer bar link bushings. It's like new now. I'm sure your problem is somewhere in the same areas. A good front-end man can tell you by watching things move while someone turns the steering wheel back and forth.

Dick

Reply to
Dick

Ervin Charles did pass the time by typing:

Tire balance. Steering damper. Shocks. (in that order)

Run your hand around the tire. If you feel edges going one way and not the other or cupping it's time for new shocks.

DW at a specific speed it 99% balance. Rotate the tires front to back and got for a drive. IF the DW goes away have the tires balanced.

If the DW stays, replace the stabilizer.

Reply to
DougW

I had a bad case of this in my TJ late last year and the guys here recommended new tires. I went out and got a set and the difference was UNREAL. Like a new Jeep! When I looked at the 4 old ones next to each other, one of them was pretty far from round.

Matt

Reply to
mhammer8

Yours sounds like it bounces at one speed only. That is usually tires, either out of balance, cupped, or out of round. As others noted: balance the tires, new, tires, shocks.

Real Death Wobble is a side to side shake that starts at a certain speed and won't go away until you slow way down, sometimes to a complete stop. The shake is BRUTAL, you feel like you can't control it at all. Usually starts with an out of balance (and probably oversize) tire, you need a bum steering stablizer and worn ball joints or tire rod ends to really get a good case. You can mask the problem with a new steering stablizier, you really need to find the loose parts in the steering and front suspension.

Erv> Hey group,

Reply to
RoyJ

Thanks for the replies guys, New Stabilizer and re-balance solved it, looks like every thing else is tight. Appreciate the input. Charles

Reply to
Ervin Charles

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