manningmode

Glad I found this site and I'm so hoping someone can help me out here. I have been experiencing awful death wobble at 40MPH for a few months now and can't for the life of me figure out what's causing it. Any help from experience would be appreciated.

Here is what I'm working with.

92' XJ Cherokee Laredo
4.5" Rough Country Lift
Replaced Upper/Lower Ball Joints
Upgraded Track Bar
New Sway Bar Bushings
New Tie Rods
New Center Link
New steering box

I've read just about every article I can find on the net and have gone over this thing several times and I'm stumped.

Turbo X_J

There is not one fix all end all solution, every situation is different. Items checked/replaced in your list I didn't notice:
Control arm bushings
Unit bearings
Tires & wheels

n00g7

1) Alignment
2) Track bar (Old bushings, but you already replaced, so can probably rule out)
3) Steering (Play in steering wheel before wheels turn, you can tell while Jeep is on ground and wiggling wheel back and forth, grab a friend and check)
3.1) Connection at pitman arm
3.2) linkage from steering wheel to box

CR-Snow

When you replaced the track bar, how did the bolt hole look? They can oval out and cause wobble.

sycoglitch

A way to help identify a locations area DW may be occurring is also being more specific. You say it begins at 40mph. Is it when you hit a bump. Is the jeep just shaking. Do you hear a vibration/grinding noise. Does the steering wheel shake or go crazy. See where in getting at. We need more info. Also, what kind of TB did you install. Did you do the lift. Did you just buy the jeep

mmsobyak

Searched and found this topic and glad I did. I also have the "death wobble". It happens at exactly 53 mph. If I accelerate through and past 53, it's okay. When I decelerate, it doesn't happen "IF" I drop the speed relatively quickly. If I "linger" from 54 down, it happens.


A friend said to check the sway bar because it may have been unbolted under the body and that's done for off-roading to increase front suspension flex. So, I did. One bracket wasn't tightened back down and the bushings are so shot, I can clearly see all the way through them.


Also, the upper end of the sway bar link on the driver's side is bent, and those bushings are shot too.


I ordered new end links and bushings and should be installing them soon, and will update with the results.


If that doesn't cure it, I'll start on the other items listed.
Thanks for the replies giving the different possible causes.

andrewmp6

I hate to tell you but a swaybar has nothing to do with death wobble,Its a list of things from tires out of balance,Wore out steering parts,Wore out trackbar,Wore out ball joints and even wore out unit bearings aka wheel bearings.Even not getting a alignment after a lift can cause it also.

sycoglitch

Lol, if a lack of sway bar caused DW, I should have lost my mind months ago.

andrewmp6

I had death wobble before on a leaf spring truck,It was shot king pins that did it on that one.A link and coil set up like a jeep can be a nightmare to track down tho.

aka"dude"

that speed specific I would think tires. do you have a homey that would swap with you?

HS00XJ

I vote tires too. Have you tired swapping front to back yet?

93_xjcherokee

You need a double sheer track bar bracket with that lift. But also I vote alignment/out of balance/bad tire

mmsobyak

I'm assuming the last post was directed at the other member since I don't have a lift, but I just had new tires installed, just need to go pick it up and see if that's it. Keeping my fingers crossed.

n00g7

Although I didn't mention specifically, I kind of assume balance is done with alignment.

That said, if alignment and everything else is spot on, I haven't had out of balance tires alone give me DW, just a bumpy ride.

HS00XJ

I've read a couple issues with km2's being hard to keep balance and causing d.w. . Its a free test for the op to try although I doubt he's coming back to respond.