What the Heck is Death Wobble?

You’ll know it when it happens and this is what you need to know about it.

Have you or your buddies ever experienced death wobble while running the trails or driving on the highway at top speeds? It can be pretty scary.

Simply put, death wobble is when your rig and steering wheel starts to shake uncontrollably, which tends to impact your entire vehicle. It starts mildly, almost like a small shudder or vibration but before you know it, you're grabbing the steering wheel trying not to lose control of your off-roader.

Death wobble usually occurs at particularly high speeds. It can be very dangerous and you need to pull over immediately to avoid an accident with another vehicle or obstacle.

What are the Causes of Death Wobble?

Death wobble can be caused by a number of factors including poorly installed or maintained aftermarket parts; loose, damaged or worn steering components; improper tire imbalance and worn shocks. Some other triggers include inconsistent tire pressure and worn rod ends or bent tie rods, which are common in vehicles with modified suspensions.

Although death wobble is more common in lifted 4x4s, it can happen in rigs with stock suspensions. It usually occurs when you hit a pothole, bump in the road, or on rough terrain at speeds of more than 72 km/h (45 mph). To be fair, it may only happen with modified 4x4s but if the aftermarket systems are installed correctly and you properly maintain and inspect your vehicle, you should have nothing to worry about.

Death Wobble and 4x4 Vehicles

Death wobble is most common in 4x4s with a solid front axle and coil spring suspensions. For instance, one of the most common rigs that are known to have problems with death wobble and reoccurring suspension issues is the Ford Super Duty F250/F350. Ford Motor Company explains this is caused by a defect linked to unusual wear or loosening of the track bar bushing, ball joints, control arms, damper brackets, and shocks or struts.

Other offroad vehicles that have reported suspension problems (and the associated death wobble) are the Jeep Wrangler (specifically the 2007 model year) and Grand Cherokee. This is partially due to the bolts and hardware coming loose on the track bar, an essential component of the steering mechanisms. The 2019 Jeep Wrangler is one of the most recent models with reported problems of death wobble, specifically the 2015-2018 models.

Death wobble is problematic in Jeeps since, according to the company, many are coil-sprung with a track bar setup and owners get their jeeps lifted, modified, or have aftermarket track bars installed.

Fixing and/Preventing Death Wobble

You may have heard that steering stabilizers can fix death wobble but this is not the case. In fact, steering stabilizers and shocks wear out extremely quickly due to death wobble and, as previously mentioned, the cause may be associated with a vehicle’s tire pressure. So, be sure your tires are always inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended Psi. This is especially important during the winter since the cold weather can alter the tire pressure and cause an imbalance, which can eventually result in death wobble.

So, get your tires properly aligned when needed and if you go offroading a lot on extreme terrain, routinely inspect your undercarriage for parts that are loose or need to be repaired.

Be Proactive if Death Wobble Happens to You

It may come as a shock when the steering wheel starts jerking rapidly and your vehicle loses some control. If death wobble happens to your vehicle, remember to stay calm, keep your hands on the wheel (firmly but not aggressively), decrease your speed, and slowly pull over and stop at the side of the highway or trail. Then, thoroughly look over your rig to find the source of the problem and make sure nothing is loose on the undercarriage.

Are Lift Kits the Cause of Death Wobble?

Technically, no. Countless offroaders install a lift without ever experiencing any problems. Nonetheless, it’s been known that vehicles with a 2.5” lift kit or higher can have instances of death wobble. This can easily be prevented and/or fixed by making sure the lift is installed correctly and all components are secure and function as they should.

Final Words on Death Wobble

You can enjoy offroading for years without ever experiencing this. It’s simply a matter of properly modifying your rig (if you’re not a skilled DIY’er resort to a professional, reputable shop), routinely expecting your vehicle, ensuring all systems are intact, and completing general maintenance to ensure death wobble doesn’t happen to your prized offroader when you least expect it.

Article courtesy of TrailBuilt Off-Road. For more information visit www.trailbuiltoffroad.com