Death Wobble Explained: Why Tire Upgrades Can Trigger It and How to Stop It

At Justice Off-Road here in Hagerstown, we get asked about “death wobble” more than almost anything else. Usually by someone who’s had a pretty terrifying ride. If you’ve ever felt it happen, you already know the feeling. The front end starts shaking violently, the steering wheel jerks back and forth, and for a moment you’re convinced the whole Jeep is about to come apart. It often hits at highway speeds, and once it starts, it feels completely out of your hands. This is what we call death wobble. And it’s basically your front tires fighting each other. One of the first things that can set it off—especially after moving up to larger wheels and tires—is an alignment that’s even slightly off. Bigger tires exaggerate everything. That’s why anytime you upgrade tires, an alignment is the very first step to keeping your 4X4 driving straight and stable.

If you come into Justice Off-Road we start by checking every bushing and joint that holds the axle and steering together. Anything that’s supposed to keep the axle located—and anything that moves when you turn the wheel—has to be tight and in good condition. That means inspecting the tie-rod ends, drag link ends, control arm bushings, and especially the track bar bushings.

Whether it’s a simple alignment after a tire upgrade or tracking down a worn bushing, we’ve seen it all here at Justice Off-Road.

Getting all the loose parts back to new and your alignment correct makes all the difference in bringing your Jeep back to a smooth, confident ride."