99 Fixup: Priorties?
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Newbie
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 13
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From: Toronto
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
99 Fixup: Priorties?
Love this forum. First post.
I bought a 99 XJ Classic a little over 3 and a half years ago and it’s time to fix it up. To be honest, I had only routine maintenance done (oil changes, brake pads) for the 3.5 years. I didn’t fix anything myself. It developed a death wobble and I realized it needs a lot of work. I’ll buy a new car for my daily commute for fuel efficiency (45 minutes highway each way), but I’m planning on keeping my Jeep for a long time J I decided I wanted to do the work myself where I can.
I would love for some folks here to provide me with some guidance on setting priorties for getting’er back into good shape. I’m not looking to lift it right now; I love to use my Jeep for moving the dog and the family, and going camping and hunting. I’ve been digging around in the Jeep and this forum, and I’ve got a list of the things I need to do.
Let me explain how it’s doing right now. Managed to subdue the death wobble, but I know from this forum that what I did is mostly cosmetic, and the problem is still in there. I don’t get the death wobble, but I can still feel some shimmy from 50-60 mph. There’s play in the steering and it pulls to the right. Here’s what I did in the past couple weeks:
- new steering damper
- new brake pads and rotors
- adjusted steering box to tighten up the steering
- new tires
- Full tune-up
Here are the things I think need doing. I’d love to hear anyone’s feedback:
1. Replace Track Bar: After shaking things around a bit, I see there is some play in the track bar; about a 1/8” of wiggle on both ends. It’s the stock track bar, and I figure it needs to be replaced. Thinking this could be the biggest culprit for the previous death wobble and the play in the steering now.
Question: Since I’m not lifting it, should I get an adjustable track bar or an OEM?
2. Alignment: pulling to the right
Question: Do I need to wait until I replace the track bar before I get this done?
3. Replace rear leaf springs: The back of the jeep sags a bit. It’s about 2” above the wheels in the back.
Question: Would a half leaf be enough to fix this?
http://www.justjeeps.com/bmy_search....%20-%20Springs
4. New front/rear shocks: feels like they are needed
Question: Would it make sense to do the Track Bar, Leaf Springs and Shocks all at the same time?
5. Replace Gasket Seals: I found oil on one of the spark plugs when I was tuning it up.
Question: How serious is this?
There are also a bunch of cosmetic things I’ll do. Started by replacing a tail light today with one I picked up off craigslist for $10.
If you have any advice for me, I’d love to hear it
I bought a 99 XJ Classic a little over 3 and a half years ago and it’s time to fix it up. To be honest, I had only routine maintenance done (oil changes, brake pads) for the 3.5 years. I didn’t fix anything myself. It developed a death wobble and I realized it needs a lot of work. I’ll buy a new car for my daily commute for fuel efficiency (45 minutes highway each way), but I’m planning on keeping my Jeep for a long time J I decided I wanted to do the work myself where I can.
I would love for some folks here to provide me with some guidance on setting priorties for getting’er back into good shape. I’m not looking to lift it right now; I love to use my Jeep for moving the dog and the family, and going camping and hunting. I’ve been digging around in the Jeep and this forum, and I’ve got a list of the things I need to do.
Let me explain how it’s doing right now. Managed to subdue the death wobble, but I know from this forum that what I did is mostly cosmetic, and the problem is still in there. I don’t get the death wobble, but I can still feel some shimmy from 50-60 mph. There’s play in the steering and it pulls to the right. Here’s what I did in the past couple weeks:
- new steering damper
- new brake pads and rotors
- adjusted steering box to tighten up the steering
- new tires
- Full tune-up
Here are the things I think need doing. I’d love to hear anyone’s feedback:
1. Replace Track Bar: After shaking things around a bit, I see there is some play in the track bar; about a 1/8” of wiggle on both ends. It’s the stock track bar, and I figure it needs to be replaced. Thinking this could be the biggest culprit for the previous death wobble and the play in the steering now.
Question: Since I’m not lifting it, should I get an adjustable track bar or an OEM?
2. Alignment: pulling to the right
Question: Do I need to wait until I replace the track bar before I get this done?
3. Replace rear leaf springs: The back of the jeep sags a bit. It’s about 2” above the wheels in the back.
Question: Would a half leaf be enough to fix this?
http://www.justjeeps.com/bmy_search....%20-%20Springs
4. New front/rear shocks: feels like they are needed
Question: Would it make sense to do the Track Bar, Leaf Springs and Shocks all at the same time?
5. Replace Gasket Seals: I found oil on one of the spark plugs when I was tuning it up.
Question: How serious is this?
There are also a bunch of cosmetic things I’ll do. Started by replacing a tail light today with one I picked up off craigslist for $10.
If you have any advice for me, I’d love to hear it
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 3
From: Seal Beach, CA
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO Straight Six
Originally Posted by BRawk
Love this forum. First post.
I bought a 99 XJ Classic a little over 3 and a half years ago and it’s time to fix it up. To be honest, I had only routine maintenance done (oil changes, brake pads) for the 3.5 years. I didn’t fix anything myself. It developed a death wobble and I realized it needs a lot of work. I’ll buy a new car for my daily commute for fuel efficiency (45 minutes highway each way), but I’m planning on keeping my Jeep for a long time J I decided I wanted to do the work myself where I can.
I would love for some folks here to provide me with some guidance on setting priorties for getting’er back into good shape. I’m not looking to lift it right now; I love to use my Jeep for moving the dog and the family, and going camping and hunting. I’ve been digging around in the Jeep and this forum, and I’ve got a list of the things I need to do.
Let me explain how it’s doing right now. Managed to subdue the death wobble, but I know from this forum that what I did is mostly cosmetic, and the problem is still in there. I don’t get the death wobble, but I can still feel some shimmy from 50-60 mph. There’s play in the steering and it pulls to the right. Here’s what I did in the past couple weeks:
- new steering damper
- new brake pads and rotors
- adjusted steering box to tighten up the steering
- new tires
- Full tune-up
Here are the things I think need doing. I’d love to hear anyone’s feedback:
1. Replace Track Bar: After shaking things around a bit, I see there is some play in the track bar; about a 1/8” of wiggle on both ends. It’s the stock track bar, and I figure it needs to be replaced. Thinking this could be the biggest culprit for the previous death wobble and the play in the steering now.
Question: Since I’m not lifting it, should I get an adjustable track bar or an OEM?
2. Alignment: pulling to the right
Question: Do I need to wait until I replace the track bar before I get this done?
3. Replace rear leaf springs: The back of the jeep sags a bit. It’s about 2” above the wheels in the back.
Question: Would a half leaf be enough to fix this?
http://www.justjeeps.com/bmy_search....%20-%20Springs
4. New front/rear shocks: feels like they are needed
Question: Would it make sense to do the Track Bar, Leaf Springs and Shocks all at the same time?
5. Replace Gasket Seals: I found oil on one of the spark plugs when I was tuning it up.
Question: How serious is this?
There are also a bunch of cosmetic things I’ll do. Started by replacing a tail light today with one I picked up off craigslist for $10.
If you have any advice for me, I’d love to hear it
I bought a 99 XJ Classic a little over 3 and a half years ago and it’s time to fix it up. To be honest, I had only routine maintenance done (oil changes, brake pads) for the 3.5 years. I didn’t fix anything myself. It developed a death wobble and I realized it needs a lot of work. I’ll buy a new car for my daily commute for fuel efficiency (45 minutes highway each way), but I’m planning on keeping my Jeep for a long time J I decided I wanted to do the work myself where I can.
I would love for some folks here to provide me with some guidance on setting priorties for getting’er back into good shape. I’m not looking to lift it right now; I love to use my Jeep for moving the dog and the family, and going camping and hunting. I’ve been digging around in the Jeep and this forum, and I’ve got a list of the things I need to do.
Let me explain how it’s doing right now. Managed to subdue the death wobble, but I know from this forum that what I did is mostly cosmetic, and the problem is still in there. I don’t get the death wobble, but I can still feel some shimmy from 50-60 mph. There’s play in the steering and it pulls to the right. Here’s what I did in the past couple weeks:
- new steering damper
- new brake pads and rotors
- adjusted steering box to tighten up the steering
- new tires
- Full tune-up
Here are the things I think need doing. I’d love to hear anyone’s feedback:
1. Replace Track Bar: After shaking things around a bit, I see there is some play in the track bar; about a 1/8” of wiggle on both ends. It’s the stock track bar, and I figure it needs to be replaced. Thinking this could be the biggest culprit for the previous death wobble and the play in the steering now.
Question: Since I’m not lifting it, should I get an adjustable track bar or an OEM?
2. Alignment: pulling to the right
Question: Do I need to wait until I replace the track bar before I get this done?
3. Replace rear leaf springs: The back of the jeep sags a bit. It’s about 2” above the wheels in the back.
Question: Would a half leaf be enough to fix this?
http://www.justjeeps.com/bmy_search....%20-%20Springs
4. New front/rear shocks: feels like they are needed
Question: Would it make sense to do the Track Bar, Leaf Springs and Shocks all at the same time?
5. Replace Gasket Seals: I found oil on one of the spark plugs when I was tuning it up.
Question: How serious is this?
There are also a bunch of cosmetic things I’ll do. Started by replacing a tail light today with one I picked up off craigslist for $10.
If you have any advice for me, I’d love to hear it
2. Yes, do the track bar before getting an alignment.
3. I'd replace the entire leaf spring. With the link you provided, I'd do the second product down. And obviously pick up some bushings while you're at it (maybe do some polyurethane bushings so they last longer).
4. Your life may be easier doing it all at once, being down and in there. You don't necessarily need to though.
5. As for your oil leak, if it's on your spark plugs, I'd suspect that your valve cover gasket needs replacing. Pretty easy job to do. Use a quality rubber gasket (do NOT cheap out and use a paper or cork gasket). I'd also recommend doing your CCV grommets while you have the valve cover off. An oil leak is not the end of the world, as long as you don't mind a messy engine compartment and some oil spots on your driveway/street.
Welcome to the forum though!
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Thanks very much for the info. I think I'll start with the track bar so I can get my allignment done. Then I'll do the rubber seal and the grommets, and ace the leaf springs and shocks for when I have a weekend.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 804
Likes: 0
From: Tennessee
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Sounds like you have a fun little project there! Check out www.quadratec.com for lots and lots of OEM replacement parts at very fair prices and excellent customer service! Keep those questions coming and we will be glad to help... Dont forget about the SEARCH tool at the top right of this forum
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