Americas Death wobble at 90-100km/h

[constantin]

I have a 2024 Grenadier with a post-market Fox stabilizer bar, odometer 8300km.

Yesterday, while driving on a highway at around 90-100km/h, I hit a moderately-sized pothole and the car went into a prolonged wobble, I had to use all my force and nerves to keep it straight and brake. Luckily I was on the right lane. I returned home driving at less than 90km/h, nothing happened afterwards.

Is it a case of death wobble? Solutions? I bought the car new last autumn and haven't even drove it offroad yet...

Thank you all for any infos,

Constantin

 

[DoubleDoom]

You should get the car inspected to see if the pothole has damaged anything. That is abnormal in a new vehicle and a Grenadier in good working order and maintained should not suffer it.

 

[Dokatd]

I have a 2024 Grenadier with a post-market Fox stabilizer bar, odometer 8300km.

Yesterday, while driving on a highway at around 90-100km/h, I hit a moderately-sized pothole and the car went into a prolonged wobble, I had to use all my force and nerves to keep it straight and brake. Luckily I was on the right lane. I returned home driving at less than 90km/h, nothing happened afterwards.

Is it a case of death wobble? Solutions? I bought the car new last autumn and haven't even drove it offroad yet...

Thank you all for any infos,

Constantin

If you have the non adjustable FOX then it's likely just a perfect storm. Get the FOX ATS adjustable and run on the stiffer side of things. Or worst case get a factory stabilizer.

People don't want to admit it but he Grenadier does have a tendency to death wobble in the right situations. I used to to joke about why Ineos chose such a heavy steering stabilizer, but I am afraid the real reason is a bit more troubling. Regardless, death wobble is ultimately tameable on the Grenadier.

 

[MileHigh]

High speed and rough pavement/potholes is going to unbalanced a lot of vehicles. Especially if damage has been done. I find the Grenadier actually tracks very well. It did have some issues when I was over speed going downhill and on rough payment I 70 but that’s a Colorado thing not a Grenadier thing.

 

[Dokatd]

High speed and rough pavement/potholes is going to unbalanced a lot of vehicles. Especially if damage has been done. I find the Grenadier actually tracks very well. It did have some issues when I was over speed going downhill and on rough payment I 70 but that’s a Colorado thing not a Grenadier thing.

Death wobble and unbalanced are two different things in my book. Unbalanced suggests the vehicle becomes a bit harder to control. Death Wobble means the truck is virtually uncontrollable outside of braking or accelerating. You are mostly just along for the ride when Death Wobble kicks in.

 

[Shopkeep]

I have a 2024 Grenadier with a post-market Fox stabilizer bar, odometer 8300km.

Yesterday, while driving on a highway at around 90-100km/h, I hit a moderately-sized pothole and the car went into a prolonged wobble, I had to use all my force and nerves to keep it straight and brake. Luckily I was on the right lane. I returned home driving at less than 90km/h, nothing happened afterwards.

Is it a case of death wobble? Solutions? I bought the car new last autumn and haven't even drove it offroad yet...

Thank you all for any infos,

Constantin

Type “death wobble” into the search bar and you will find the issue has been extensively discussed on the forum. It seemed more common a while ago when the vehicle was first launched in the US and dealers were enthusiastically fitting the fixed Fox stabilizer to improve the steering feel. It has died down for a while, probably due to the a switch to variable rate stabilizers and others just accepting the factory setup.

 

[Dokatd]

Type “death wobble” into the search bar and you will find the issue has been extensively discussed on the forum. It seemed more common a while ago when the vehicle was first launched in the US and dealers were enthusiastically fitting the fixed Fox stabilizer to improve the steering feel. It has died down for a while, probably due to the a switch to variable rate stabilizers and others just accepting the factory setup.

I think much of that also may have been from people not knowing what Death Wobble really was. Lots of people mistakenly think some minor shudders of the steering wheel is Death Wobble.

 

[Tazzieman]

Death wobble does instil the fear of impending death.
Probably a bit like when a parachute doesn't properly deploy.

 

[AWo]

A real death wobble means something got loose at the front axle which leads to too much play.
- a bolt
- play in wheel bearings
- play because of damaged or weared bushes

Check the panhard, radius arms, steering rod, tie rod, kingpin bearing, stabilizer, steering dampee. Bushes should not be inspected just visibly but with a lever.

Of course does the Grenadier tends to death wobbles. It has a four link suspension at the front axle, like the Jeep Wrangler which also tends to death wobbles. Four link suspension do not self-stabilize. They articulate very easy with nearly no opposite force. Good for offroad driving, not so goid for street driving. They always need a stabilizer to generate force against articulation.

Cars without four link suspension can face a death wobble, as well, but Jeep Wranglers and seemingly the IG, now, sre more pronevto it.

AWo

 

[Dokatd]

A real death wobble means something got loose at the front axle which leads to too much play.
- a bolt
- play in wheel bearings
- play, damaged or weared bushes


AWo

This statement is inaccurate.

 

[Shopkeep]

 

[Stealthn]

This is like the 5th or 6th time it’s been brought up, I think every time it’s with an aftermarket damper, no?

 

[Tazzieman]

Death wobble can be a result of under or overinflated tyres. Hit a pothole and...

 

[smbennett]

Suffered the same issue a few times with the Fox non-adj stabilizer from Agile. After about a year, at highway speed after hitting a pothole with the passenger front wheel. No lift, Fox 2.0 shocks F&R. Very bad wobble to the point of loss of steering, hard pull right, and major vibration where I thought I dropped my driveshaft or a wheel came loose. I was able to slowly deaccelerate and drift right to the shoulder. It happened every 1-2 weeks.

I switched back to the factory stabilizer. No wobble on same stretches of highway, same lane, similar speed (unscientifically).
After 6 weeks of that, I installed the Fox adjustable stabilizer from Owl, tested on same stretches, same lane and similar speeds (again, unscientifically). No wobbles over the last 2 months.

Luckily, it happened on a very quiet stretch of I-91S in VT about halfway between St J's & Derby line, so it was easy to retest. It did happen once on 95S at the Rt 1 split just north of Boston during drive time which was harder to test and way more nervewracking.

Friend of mine has the non-adjustable and experienced the uncontrolled wobble in a similar situation going over expansion joints at highway speeds.

From the Jeep world originally, and on those vehicles the stabilizer was rarely the root cause of the issue so I was dubious. But did not experience wobble with the OEM pre-non adj and post-non-adj, or with the Fox adjustable. Maybe the Fox non-adj softened up or wore over time ? I do have the Fox adjustable set to pretty firm at the moment, roughly the same as the OEM.

Your experience may vary, but slap the OEM back on and try.

See my post here:

S

Thread 'Possible Fox non-adj steering stabilizer fail'

Dec 31, 2025

I installed the Fox non-adj stabilizer from Agile about a year or so ago. It has been fine, until I experienced 2 severe cases of death wobble this month. Both times, on the highway between 70-75mph and I hit a decent pothole/bump on the right (passenger) front. Roads were clear otherwise. The truck started violently shaking (once bad enough that the rear door open alarm triggered) and lost most of my steering. I was able to drift to the right and get off to the side. I took a peek under both times, and everything looked fine. Started it up, and steered fine immediately after. I...

• smbennett
• fail stabilizer steering steering stabilizer
• Replies: 13
• Forum: 4. Steering and Suspension

• 

 

[Dokatd]

This is like the 5th or 6th time it’s been brought up, I think every time it’s with an aftermarket damper, no?

You aren't wrong in your thinking. That said, there have been quite a few more reports. All are directly related to the steering stabilizer as best I recall. But....it has happened with stock units. I believe the conclusion was that the stock unit failed. The others largely focus around the Fox non adjustable.

Keep in mind that FOX doesn't or at least didn't design a unit for the Grenadier. Companies like Owl and Agile just grabbed off the shelf units for Jeeps and made them fit. So the valving was not tailored for the Grenadier. Thus why it's important to get the adjustable unit so you can dial in just the right amount to prevent Death Wobble.

The truck is prone to death wobble in stock form. The only thing that keeps it from happening is the steering stabilizer. This is almost certainly due to the low caster design and the bent tie rod.

 

[AWo]

Is the Carraro Axle designed for the Grenadier or something from the stock?

AWo

 

[abbeyroad]

I regularly drive 85 mph on the 10 here in the heart of LA which has numerous bumps in turns with other cars driving at 85+ mph.

Zero issues, rock solid, bone stock to date from new. Zero interest in modifying the steering system in any way, shape or form.

Drive safe, y'all.

 

[constantin]

Thank you all for the info/advice!

From what I understand this is a known issue, shared with other 4x4s. I will have my car inspected and the FOX adjusted (or, if not adjustable, replaced with the stock stabilizer - which is quite annoying when driving on paved roads). I will post an update.

Now, I have to share with you my disappointment in the dealer's response: trying to minimize/deni, then offering non-solutions, them saying that the warranty was voided by the installation of the FOX stabilizer by THEM! I'll have to pay for an independent inspection and solution. Needless to say I regret buying this car.

 

[smbennett]

I am a bit disappointed that the dealer used "voiding the warranty" as reasoning to not help you. Installing the stabilizer is pretty trivial, and can be done in a driveway or garage. I would personally throw the OEM back on for a bit and try it out before spending any money - assuming you still have the OEM one. If not, I am sure there are all sorts of OEM take-offs people may donate to the cause. Heck - I am about 90 minutes from Montreal in northern VT and would gladly let you have mine. Yeah, it will be a little less comfortable for a bit, but will at least allow you to isolate the issue. Feel free to DM if you want.

 

[Dokatd]

Thank you all for the info/advice!

From what I understand this is a known issue, shared with other 4x4s. I will have my car inspected and the FOX adjusted (or, if not adjustable, replaced with the stock stabilizer - which is quite annoying when driving on paved roads). I will post an update.

Now, I have to share with you my disappointment in the dealer's response: trying to minimize/deni, then offering non-solutions, them saying that the warranty was voided by the installation of the FOX stabilizer by THEM! I'll have to pay for an independent inspection and solution. Needless to say I regret buying this car.

You won't regret buying the FOX ATS adjustable stabilizer. If I was in the business of selling them I would send you one with a full refund guarantee if it didn't fix your problem immediately.