Jeep handling issues

[Snapdragon]

Oh great. "Death wobble". Whatever it is, it doesn't go away at high speeds. At 65mph I feel like it's going to fling me off the road.

 

[lovemachine]

Death wobble isn't just a jeep thing. It happens on other vehicles as well.

 

[1911ly]

Oh great. "Death wobble". Whatever it is, it doesn't go away at high speeds. At 65mph I feel like it's going to fling me off the road.

Get it in to a shop you trust. And someone that knows Jeep's. If they don't know about the death wobble they aren't that familiar with the Jeep's.

 

[1911ly]

Oh, And I have been it one when it goes in to it, it's pretty scary! I know your pain!!

 

[1911ly]

Death wobble isn't just a jeep thing. It happens on other vehicles as well.

True, but there is a Jeep specific issue. It is a design flaw.

 

[woowoo2]

True, but there is a Jeep specific issue. It is a design flaw.

Or a speed control feature.... Depends on how you look at life.

 

[1911ly]

Or a speed control feature.... Depends on how you look at life.

That's a fact!

 

[ruger1800]

I'm with Sam on this one, tie rod ends or worn bushings. Not familiar with the Jeep, but 48K seems low for the rod ends to be going bad in a pickup.

Crysler products are natorius for early balljoint failure among other things.

 

[churchmouse]

An out of spec idler arm will cause the death wobble.

 

[Bigtanker]

The last 2 Chrysler non-pick-ups I've owned had bad tie rod ends at 50k. 04 neon and 2010 caravan.

 

[lovemachine]

True, but there is a Jeep specific issue. It is a design flaw.

I wouldn't necessary call it a design flaw.

It could even be a loose track bar bolt. Or the track bar bolt hole is wobbled out. It could be crappy control arm bushings. The front end could be out of aligned. Maybe bad tie rod ends.

I had the death wobble before on my jeep. It was a combination of the track bar and bad control arm bushings. Haven't had it since I installed a whole new suspension.
My brother has had it twice on his truck.

 

[SSGSAD]

Believe it or not, this is common, on Dodge products .....

When Dodge "fixed" this, they changed the name of their trucks, to RAM .....

Ball Joints, tie rod ends, struts, and other front end parts, cause this .....

Go to a trusted shop, and get it checked .....

 

[Leo]

My sons Jeep was one of the production runs where they recalled it due to defective ball joints from Daimler's chinese supplier. I am pretty sure they fixed it free, but that was a couple years ago.

 

[PGRChaplain]

Steering Rack, check the Jeep Forums, its a common problem. Could be covered in your Warranty.

 

[public servant]

Oh great. "Death wobble". Whatever it is, it doesn't go away at high speeds. At 65mph I feel like it's going to fling me off the road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjd-0XYB1Y0

 

[Snapdragon]

They're fixing a leak in the rack and pinion steering and changing the tie rod ends. I have a rental for now.

 

[Leo]

I am pretty sure the modern Jeeps fall into this category, it seems that most if not all cars have front end components that are not able to be greased. I know the seals are better, so for a person that would never take the car to get greased, the sealed ones probably last longer. But if a person was disciplined enough to keep up with regular maintenance, the components that can be greased would last a lot longer. For a while front end components had plugs you could unscrew and install zerk fittings. My last 4 or 5 cars could not be greased at all.

Glad Snapdragon is getting fixed up. Lots better to get it fixed now than to wreck a car and have it towed in to be fixed.

 

[eldirector]

Nothing on my wife's Saturn could be greased. Even aftermarket replacements lacked the fittings. My Jeep TJ and my GMC truck have fittings on pretty much every major joint. I hit 'em with the grease gun at each oil change.

Glad the dragon is getting fixed up and back on the road.

 

[Snapdragon]

OK. Picked it up last night. Replaced tie rod ends, rack and pinion gear, rear pinion seal, repaired leak in rack and pinion, repaired leak in front crank seal, repaired leak in front timing cover gasket, performed front end alignment. My extended warranty has a deductible of $100, so that's what I paid. It also cost me the price of the rental liability waiver for three days, since I will not go without it (any more... don't ask.)

Total cost to me, $155.

 

[BugI02]

But enquiring minds want to know! Did it take the wobble out of death wobble?