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Jeep Wrangler Wheel Wobble

54 messages,  Last post on Jul 09, 2012 at 4:26 PM

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What is this discussion about? Jeep Wrangler, Jeep, SUV

Messages Page 6 of 7

#43 of 54 Re: Death Wobble - Caused by worn TRACK BAR [jeepguy19701] by claymore53

Dec 04, 2011 (6:55 pm)

Replying to: jeepguy19701 (Jun 13, 2011 10:45 am)
I can relate to everything you describe. My first jeep was a 1994 Jeep Wrangler Renegade....I ordered it brand new and kept it until 2008. I loved that Jeep but needed a newer model. I never had any problems with it, changed the battery every few years, and replaced the radiator. I put 160,000 miles on the engine. I traded it in on a 2005 Rubicon that had 14,000 miles on it. About six months after I got the Rubicon as I was driving down the road the front end started shaking violently, thought I had a front tire blow out, so I eased it to the side of the road. I got out expecting a flat tire, but everything was fine. I got back in the Jeep and continued mission. Didn't think twice about it.....then it happened again a few weeks later, it started shaking so bad my elbows and wrists started hurting as I tried to gain control of the vehicle. Soon it became common and I just decided that my jeep had seizures. I took it to the dealership and they could not replicate the problem. I have replaced most of the front end components.....and the problem still exists. Always occurs around the 50 mph range. If I drop below 50 or increase speed above 50 it will level off. I was so ticked off one time when the "wobble" kicked in........I just braced myself and decided to ride it out at 50 until it stopped, or the tires fell off. The wobble won out....thought I was going to have to go see a chiropracter. My wife never believed me because it never happened when someone was with me. She had to drive it one day.......almost crapped in her pants when it happened.....it was that bad.
I like my jeep to much to get rid of it......maybe someday there will be a recall, just hope no one gets injured or killed for it to happen.

#44 of 54 Re: Death Wobble - Caused by worn TRACK BAR [claymore53] by mac24

Dec 05, 2011 (2:19 pm)

Replying to: claymore53 (Dec 04, 2011 6:55 pm)
I traded it in on a 2005 Rubicon that had 14,000 miles on it. About six months after I got the Rubicon as I was driving down the road the front end started shaking violently.................I have replaced most of the front end components.....My wife never believed me because it never happened when someone was with me.
 
So for six months it was fine, then the wobble appeared, which would suggest that as is the case with all TJs, it's a wear rather than an design issue, .
 
You've replaced most of the front end components, but I'm guessing you haven't yet hit on the one joint or bearing that's triggering the issue.
 
It doesn't happen when someone is with you, suggesting that a balanced load supresses the tendency, so I'll take a guess that the worn item is on the passenger side (50% chance of being correct anyway )
 
However, I guarantee you that there will never be a recall for this issue on TJs.
It's not an uncommon issue on these models, but it's always associated with worn components and/or a lift.
 
On the other hand, Jeep are starting to take the same issue on JKs more seriously as it's a design problem.

#45 of 54 Re: Death Wobble - Caused by worn TRACK BAR [claymore53] by tiger094

Dec 26, 2011 (11:44 am)

Replying to: claymore53 (Dec 04, 2011 6:55 pm)
replace struts unless the track bar fixed it

#46 of 54 Re: Death Wobble - Caused by worn TRACK BAR [tiger094] by mac24

Dec 26, 2011 (7:44 pm)

Replying to: tiger094 (Dec 26, 2011 11:44 am)
No struts on a Wrangler. Regular coil-over shock / solid axle.

#48 of 54 Re: The Wobble [tired_old_dave] by tired_old_dave

Jan 08, 2012 (4:18 pm)

Sorry Mr. Marchionne. The to hell and back comment in the post, I thought, popped into my head while typing. I believe it may have been a link from Ed at inside automotive that took me to your address to your employees where you stated that phrase again and which you stated had been used in a commercial. I immediately change the channel when a mopar commercial comes on the tv.
 
Please read my old posts. I went to a dealer in Dallas County and a dealer in Tarrant county with the same service request. That is, please inspect the front end and do a complete alignment. Paid twice and got a report that everything was fine. I knew better from the way the vehicle was now getting very loose at times on the interstate.
 
Now to Discount tire for a tire check because it had to be my Duratracs. The local Discount dealer said the tires were too bad to balance as they were. I exploded. Two of your dealers gave it their blessing. The tires were originally purchased and road forced balanced by a manager who I have followed around the metroplex for twenty years. The local Discount dealer had to break the bead and rotate the tires to be able to balance them. It was obvious to them it was serious. Remember I told two dealers to inspect the front end - it was obvious something was wrong.
 
Went to the Discount Tire where the tires were purchased and thank goodness my friend wasn't there. I ripped the acting manager for no reason because it wasn't the Goodyear tires. I still owe them one heck of an apology.
 
Now if you've been reading, life has been mostly driving one interstate back and forth. Only because Rusty the local jeep service manager would sit down and talk with Sean of Screamin Lizard, I got the needed new parts. Just shy of 60K miles and the jeep feels good and the tires have smoothed themselves out. Haven't even rotated them since the new parts.
 
So to hell and back. I will keep mine as stock as possible and keep my paid for lifetime warranty in addition to the lifetime power train warranty that came with the jeep. And time permitting, I will ask and pay Rusty to have my favorite mechanic at his dealership, replace my Tribe 4x4 transmission cooler with your new Jeep tranny cooler so no one can say "Sorry" to me at a later date if Rusty and that mechanic someday become unavailable.
 
Just for the record, I have been reading about the Thai Colorado. Also reading about the new Trailblazer. Keeping the H3 and the JK as long as possible but some guys are always looking down the road.

#50 of 54 Re: The Wobble [park8] by erickpl

Jan 11, 2012 (6:58 am)

If you haven't already checked it, check the upper control arm bushings on the front axle. If they're shot/dried out, replace them. They are often overlooked in Jeeps.
 
Now if it is a newer JK, not too sure, but I'd look there if everything else has been addressed. A tire out of balance should never cause the death wobble. It just serves as a symptom indicating SOMETHING is out of whack.
 
-Paul

#51 of 54 Re: The Wobble by jffwrd

Feb 15, 2012 (4:52 pm)

I had this problem with my 04. It would shake at 45 mph, but go away if I slowed down or increased speed. I had a shop look at it and they adjusted the front end. It didn't help it changed the shake to 55 mph. A friend suggested having the tires balance. Since I was wanting to put bigger tires on it, I changed the tires, knowing that the new ones would be balanced. The shack went away. Before paying a crap load of money, have the tires balanced.

#52 of 54 Re: 2007 Jeep Wrangler DEATH WOBBLE.....good news FINALLY =) [cyndi76063] by hoagies

Feb 20, 2012 (10:00 pm)

Replying to: cyndi76063 (Nov 28, 2011 10:17 am)
I know what you are talking about, got the dw in our 07 jeep. Been checking things out and found the bolts
in the track bar are all threads and they are .022 too small and the track bar bushing rides on the threads.
This lets the track bar shift back and forth. Can you imagine that coming out of A factory ? I am in the process
of making the correct size bolts. Will test drive tomorrow, 2/21/2012.
Something else, They keep insisting that the bolts be torqued down to 125 pounds, that is just crushing the tabs
and they hope that will keep the slack out, thats my thought.
 
Jim
  
Jimhoggardyahoo.com

Messages Page 6 of 7

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