Death Wobbles with OME suspension

[Yom]

Originally Posted by Gravel

YOM,

Thought you had ditched the OME stuff and gone back to stock???

Your memory does not fault you.

[cbm8880]

Driving down the Hume Hwy at 110kmh, and hit a slight irregularity in the surface when a mild shimmy (as usually occurs and I have become accustomed to, owning a JK) increased in intensity until not only the steering wheel was shaking violently but also the entire vehicle ! ! ! !

The death wobbles didn't stop until passing 30kmh on deceleration. Hoping it was just a one off, I accelerated back up to 100kmh to have exactly the same thing happen again.

I have never experienced anything like this in any of the 4x4s I have owned/driven over the years.

Having read through the numerous threads on the issue it appears as though there are many different schools of thought/potential causes for the issue, so here are my 'facts' :

'07 JK Wrangler Unlimited
59,500km
OME Suspension since 10,000km
Cooper ST Tyres (59,000km old) - plenty of tread but a few chips/cuts and missing a few lugs.

After pulling off the freeway and taking the JK to an auto shop they suggested it may be my older tyres (80,000km guarantee from Coopers - yeah right!). To the tune of ~$1200, I then had new tyres/balance/alignment done.

Returned to the highway only to have it occur again.

I will refrain from posting my thoughts on Jeep until they have had a chance to fix the issue. Needless to say at 60K on the clock and to have this many vehicles (numerous configurations including standard) with this issue is less than acceptable.

Booked in at SVM next week, so I will let you know how it goes!

Cheers!

[Yom]

its just worn components mate.

jeep know about it, can and will fix it but you might have issues because yours is no longer stock.

[NFI]

My JK will death wobble occasionally.
Took it back to the dealer and they replaced the Steering Dapener.
Appanetly it was leaking.

Major improvment to the way it handles etc.

However, I have the stock out of the box 32" (255/75 R17) tyres at the moment.
Will be interested to see what happends when I change to 285/70 R17.
Hopefully not much difference.

[wranglertj]

Originally Posted by cbm8880

I will refrain from posting my thoughts on Jeep until they have had a chance to fix the issue. Needless to say at 60K on the clock and to have this many vehicles (numerous configurations including standard) with this issue is less than acceptable.

Booked in at SVM next week, so I will let you know how it goes!

Cheers!

again this is not a Jeep problem but a Live axle problem. People need to understand this. Unfortunately, the benefits of live axle also have consequences and worn components in a live axle setup will lead to DW eventually. All live axle vehicles experience it not just Jeeps!
My odds are on worn components and DW will more likely occur in a lifted vehicle as it it creating greater strain on components including bushes.
I have had DW in my Jeep from 2 unrelated worn parts and unfortunately this was a fact of this setup but fixed it and resolved it.
People need to stop pointing the finger at Jeep everytime something goes wrong especially in modified vehicles.
Are there some quality issues that 'may' lead to DW? ie ball joints not upto the task....probably but Jeep are fixing these.
Rant over

[4WD4FUN]

Browed my brother in-laws Coil cab Patrol the other week end and on the hi way i hit a small pot hole and the thing shook itself so much I thought i blew a front tyre pulled over crawled all over could not find anything sheepishly started off and no problem again, Told him of this and his mechanic stated the steering stabilizer was shot new one fitted and all good.
So it can happen to other vehicles.
Touch wood (plastic) Mine is still fine.

[wranglertj]

Originally Posted by 4WD4FUN

So it can happen to other vehicles.
Touch wood (plastic) Mine is still fine.

most definately. I have a friend who runs his own 4wd business who specialises in patrols and is an avid lover of patrols and the amount of times he has seen or had to fix DW in them has been countless, its unfortunate but a fact of live axle setups