ct67_72

I just picked up a 2000, cherokee with a 6.5" rustys kit and 33's. got on the highway and almost crashed. got wobble over bumps over 50, but I hit one and honestly thought I was gonna crash.
checked the front end out the best I would on the side of the highway. everything seems tight. I have to jack it up and check. but it has new ball joints and supposedly one new wheel bearing.
I was thinking, could castor play a big role in this? all the suspension parts look pretty new. new track bar, upper and lower arms, etc.
if I check it out and everything is tight, what else could I be looking at?

xjoffroad

Since you titled this another death wobble thread you obviously know there are MANY threads out there regarding this.

not being rube so why dont you search and work for it. you dont need everything handed to you, do you? There was already 2 or 3 threads on this just started today........

of course caster plays an issue in DW.

07Negative

how long has the kit been on the jeep? Was the PO of that jeep the original owner of the lift kit?
Rusty's uses factory rubber bushings. Which aren't all that bad (IMO) but they last about 5 years.
I run a Rusty's kit and replace my bushings every 5 years.
If you have already done through and tightened everything. Take it in for alignment and check tires for cupping.
Rusty's also highly recommends their Over the Knuckle steering. Is that on there?
Track bar bushing?
Also make sure tires have even tire pressure (you would be surprised). I run about 30-32psi. Any higher and you get BW even worse.
You will find the answer on this forum. If your unsure, take it in for alignment.

96_xj

break out your torque wrench and make sure everything is torqued down. I am willing to bet it was never re checked after he installed it... And i bet he never torqued it properly in the first place.


After that is done take it for a drive and see what it feels like

ct67_72

I have read a lot of threads. Its all the same. Ive gone through the obvious things. just wanted some more specifics, like if there was something common in this particular brand or height. (of course I know the height plays a big role also)
The lift supposedly has about 5k miles on it. it appears to be pretty true. all the bushings look new. the date stamp on the leaf spring is late 08. so even at the most its less than 2 years old.
Ill check the tire pressure, diddnt even think of that.
any one ever resolve DW with castor adjustment?

ct67_72

Thats great. thank you. Ill go over everything

96_xj

also i always do my own alignment at home following this:

http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoAlignment.htm

xjoffroad

if you are asking this ^ question you have not read a lot of threads like you say.

of course caster plays a role. TRE, Balljoints, Bushings, tires, wheels, alignment, bolts on torqued correctly. they ALL play an issue.

ct67_72

thats great. Thank you. Im going to start there. It doesnt appear to have ever had an alignment. Ill pick up an angle finder and go to town

96_xj

Grab one with a magnet on the bottom it makes life easy, also a cheap piece of flat steel to fit in the lip of the rim helps to measure camber. Camber is not adjustable on our jeeps if you are out of spec you need to replace with the correct ball joints.

arae94

these replys always crack me up you thing there would be one honest awnser that could help you but seems like no one knows for sure they just tell you too check everthing under the sun there has to be a ton of this symptom going on and some one out there that has fixed it come on

C.J.

If you are only experiencing this when you hit bumps, I am not sure it is "death wobble" and could be a case of bump steer when you hite bumps at sped...which would make sense on short arms at 6.5" of lift.

ct67_72

it is death wobble, but induced more by bumps, it will get going on its own but and thing to start the tire in motion just makes it worse.
definitely not hit a bump and change lanes, like 55 mph, a little shake progressing into uncontrollable shake until my wife almost peed in my seat. had to come to a complete stop the last time it did it. couldnt brake through it or accel through it. I can handle some bump steer, but this is bad

07Negative

When there are numerous things in your front end that all contribute to DW. I don't think it's possible to just say, "hey! it's your track bar or it your tie rod ends." Doesn't work that way. That is why you get so many different answers.
I've had 2 separate cases of DW (real bad DW). Both times it was something different. This is one problem you can't just point at one thing.

96_xj

x2 but you can do the simple stuff that is free and easy to check, like proper torque, and alignment, a visual and hard inspection of tre's and bushings.

If doing the simple/free stuff doesnt work then you start looking into other things