Death Wobble Kit

[MuddFlapp]

I was at the dealer today for a recall and they looked over my steering linkage and told me I would benefit from the "Death Wobble Kit" which for $491 would replace my linkage from the Pitman arm out to the wheels including a new stabilizer. Now I don't have a problem with the death wobble but my steering is loose, seems to have a lot of play in it. They said it would "tighten everything up". So my question is, what do you think? Is this the '09' upgrade I've read about in other posts? Would it help? And can I find a better product in aftermarket sales?

This is my 2007 5.9 3500 SRW 4wd with 141k miles. I replaced the track bar at 100k and added a BD STEERING BOX STABILIZER.

Thanks,

Gene

 

[Ozymandias]

Yes it is.
If your steering needs replacement then do it, if not then walk away.

 

[cerberusiam]

Death wobble kit, that is funny. Probably the t-type steering replacement. If your old parts are worn then replacement is a good thing, whether it is better is a big question. Make sure they check the steering box for wear and end play also, that will contribute a lot to loose steering.

 

[MuddFlapp]

Death wobble kit, that is funny. Probably the t-type steering replacement. If your old parts are worn then replacement is a good thing, whether it is better is a big question. Make sure they check the steering box for wear and end play also, that will contribute a lot to loose steering.

Thanks, that is the kind of info I need. My steering parts are worn so replacement will be a good thing. As for the steering box can I watch as the steering wheel is turned to see how much the Pitman arm moves or must it be a more precise measurement?

 

[cerberusiam]

Once you get all the other pieces replaced you have to see if you still have slack in the box when turning. You can check the box for up and down play in the sector shaft and tighten that with the set screw. If you can tighten and get the slack out of the box then you still have some wear left. If you take the vertical play out of the sector shaft and it starts feeling tight when going thru the center that means the rack is probably worn and time for a new box.

 

[RDeFayette]

Death wobble kit, that is funny. Probably the t-type steering replacement. If your old parts are worn then replacement is a good thing, whether it is better is a big question. Make sure they check the steering box for wear and end play also, that will contribute a lot to loose steering.

agreed. If there was any "death wobble" kit available there wouldn't be somewhere around 15.9M threads asking how to fix it.

 

[sbjones0112]

What they are referring to is he 08 steering upgrade kit that can be bought in many places. This upgrades the steering linkages from the pitman arm down.

I am not saying this would be considered a death wobble fix. but it for sure helps.
When my tie rod ends had play, I did the upgrade kit ( bought it thru amazon) I was impressed how good it steers now. I also would recommend adding a steering brace.

 

[Ozymandias]

What they are referring to is he 08 steering upgrade kit that can be bought in many places. This upgrades the steering linkages from the pitman arm down.

I am not saying this would be considered a death wobble fix. but it for sure helps.
When my tie rod ends had play, I did the upgrade kit ( bought it thru amazon) I was impressed how good it steers now. I also would recommend adding a steering brace.

Install the all new steering gear and you don't need that brace.

 

[brods]

What they are referring to is he 08 steering upgrade kit that can be bought in many places. This upgrades the steering linkages from the pitman arm down.

I am not saying this would be considered a death wobble fix. but it for sure helps.
When my tie rod ends had play, I did the upgrade kit ( bought it thru amazon) I was impressed how good it steers now. I also would recommend adding a steering brace.

Are you sure it helps? I'd like to hear how the snake oil service manager would explain away the following quote from a Jeep engineer. Remember the 08 upgrade has a wheel to wheel tie rod instead of the Y design that your truck came with. That conversation ought to be amusing.

So here’s the ‘techno-speak’ dissertation on shimmy: "It is an imbalance of the gyroscopic forces generated by the spinning front tire/wheel assys…when the ‘setup’ of the front end is ‘vulnerable’ to starting shimmy, it happens due to an asymmetrical force (i.e. one tire hits a bump that the other doesn’t) or also it can happen when the bump-force is not even side-side (in this case it usually happens at higher speed due to say a ‘swell’ on the highway). The problem is worst with wheel-wheel tie-rods (which is why the TJ and most late Jeeps use the Haltenberger linkage – aka ‘inverted Y’ design) because the tires can ‘crosstalk’ directly to each other."

BTW I had the 08 upgrade and it did not impress for performance or longevity. Back to the Y linkage for me.

 

[inlinesix3million]

I kept my original style system. After I installed new tires a couple years ago, I went in for an alignment. Was told I had some play in the steering. Had them install some new tie-rods
and it has been tight and trouble free ever since. The recall is not for Death Wobble.That can still occur with the new system. It is for catastrophic loss of steering due to improper
repair or replace of some steering components. You can search the site to be able to visually inspect your steering after any repairs are made. I forget the exact details, but you can
easily spot whether or not you're good.

 

[sbjones0112]

I installed 2 new tie rod ends, mopar replacements. They didn't last 2 years. I had an alignment done right away when they were replaced. Also installed new tires at same time.

I after having wobble in the front end again, I upgraded to he 08 steering set up like 2 plus years ago. no problems since then. I also installed the brace 2 days after the upgrade.

My truck does not see off road conditions, and I do not tow much at all. I would think a factory style tie rod end should last more than 2 years. But that was not the case.

In my personal opinion, I would do the 08 upgrade. just my 2 cents.

 

[RDeFayette]

I installed 2 new tie rod ends, mopar replacements. They didn't last 2 years. I had an alignment done right away when they were replaced. Also installed new tires at same time.

I after having wobble in the front end again, I upgraded to he 08 steering set up like 2 plus years ago. no problems since then. I also installed the brace 2 days after the upgrade.

My truck does not see off road conditions, and I do not tow much at all. I would think a factory style tie rod end should last more than 2 years. But that was not the case.

In my personal opinion, I would do the 08 upgrade. just my 2 cents.

on the opposite end of the spectrum I have all the original (from the factory,"Y" steering) steering components still on my '04.5. The only steering part I've replaced is the trac bar bushings (dry rot). Haven't aligned the truck in 4 years (it very rarely goes off road and I don't beat on it) and the BFG's on the truck right now have 87k miles on 'em with probably another 20k left in 'em.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I've upgraded three different trucks I've owned to the 08 and newer tie rods. I also installed the 4th gen steering gear box on too. They are both great upgrades when compared to original equipment.

 

[crispyboy]

My truck had the steering upgrade as a recall. It seems to steer the same as before.
If the parts are worn then you should get them replaced with the newer designed kit. I would also have them replace the track bar if you have many miles on your truck as a preventative maintenance.
I put the steering brace on my truck very early on as a preventative maintenance for the steering gear box. I figured that extra bracing is always going to help. The truck seemed to steer slightly better after the brace.