Death Wobble: How to Diagnose and Fix Death Wobble

Are you aware of the strange phenomenon that a lot of jeep and car owners go through with their vehicle called ‘Death Wobble’? It can be a pretty serious issue that your vehicle can suffer from especially if you own a Jeep. Though there are various solutions that can help fix the death wobble, it is important to look for a trusted professional to avoid any future issues. Let’s learn more about it in detail!

What is the Death Wobble?

The death wobble occurs in the jeep where it starts shaking uncontrollably in a dangerous manner. Often people mistake it to be vibration occurring due to the broken road. The death wobble affects the entire vehicle, along with the steering wheel. In such cases, it is difficult and challenging to control the vehicle which can lead to a serious safety threat for you and others on the road. When you start experiencing the death wobble, make sure to stop the vehicle as soon as possible and contact a professional car repair service.

Causes of the Death Wobble

Majorly, the death wobble will happen when driving at velocities of no less than 45 miles each hour and can be set off by hitting a knock or pothole. The most common reason for the death wobble to occur is the ineffectively introduced suspension parts or faulty parts. If by any chance you have adjusted your Jeep’s suspension or any other parts, you might be bound to encounter the death wobble.

How to Diagnose the Death Wobble?

The effects of death wobble are easy to detect, however, it is a bit challenging to find the reason behind it. One of the major causes of an extreme death wobble is damaged or loose parts connected throughout the entire steering and suspension system. Even one damaged or faulty part also has the ability to wobble the entire vehicle. If you witness such a problem, you can refer to the car repair centre to get it fixed on time.

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Fixing The Death Wobble

The death wobble occurs due to faulty steering or suspension components. You can experience death wobble while driving on the road. However, you need to get under your jeep to see if there is any broken or bent part in the vehicle. Then take a look at the other suspension components to figure out the major cause of the death wobble.

Front Track Bar

Before anything else, you need to keep an eye on the front track bar. Any damage in the part can cause maximum damage. With the help of a torque wrench, ensure that every bolt is at 125 lbs/ft.

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Ball Joint: To check the ball joint, you will need the jack to lift the front wheel and move the wheel with your hands to see if everything is fine or not. If there is any damage or fault, it’s time to replace it.

Tie Rods: Get the help of a friend to move the wheel back and forth. While this is being done, examine the tie rods. If these rods tend to wiggle while the rod is stationary, be ready to replace the part.

Wheel Bearing

You might be clueless but worn-out wheel bearings are enough for your car to wobble. While your car is still lifted up, grab the tire at the top and bottom and check thoroughly. The signs of a worn-out wheel bearing are movement inside the tire, clunking noise and many more.

Apart from these major reasons, some other common reasons are the poor or improper alignment of tires. This can be the major cause of why your car is wobbling.

The Side Effects of Death Wobble

The major reason behind such damages is the violent oscillation that happens when death wobble occurs. This can make suspension components lose.

If the death wobble was caused due to a blown bushing in the front track bar, you can get it fixed or replaced instantly. However, depending on how bad the death wobble was, you need to check other bushings to see if there was any damage or not.

Bottom Line

A car death wobble is a major issue that a few vehicle owners go through. Since death wobbles are fixable, it is important to detect them at the right time before they turn out bad. Seek help from a professional to avoid any future inconvenience.