Had a bad death wobble over 55 mph. Replaced the passenger wheel bearing/hub assembly a few weeks ago. That helped a lot but, still wobbled over 60 mph now. Decided ball joints were next and after a quick inspection noticed the end links were fried. So, I ordered a set of 4 ball joints on ebay for $50, and end links for $25. Saved about $250 over the parts store! Quality seemed good although I wondered what I would get.
So I tore into it and replace the passenger ball joints. In the process had to replace the drag link (ball joint on there was bad and just spun when I tried to bolt it up) and the steering stabilizer since it would NOT come loose from the drag link. Got it all back together and realized the axle shaft joints were snagging on the lower ball joint grease fitting! WTF! The old one was sealed but, I didn't pay enough attention. I decided I could fill it with grease, then remove the fitting and cap it with a screw or something. Quick trip to Ace for the right size screws and a Dremel shave, then I had a sealed ball joint, Problem solved.
Death Wobble is pretty much fixed. Passenger Ball joints, Passenger end link, Drag link and Steering Stabilizer helped a ton! She handles pot holes, dips, and corners way better!

 

but now my steering wheels is way off! I hear I can fix this by adjusting the drag link sleeve? I was hoping not to remove the drag link from the knuckle and stabilizer. Anybody know how to do this? Just loosen and twist?

 

yup, just loosen and twist.

 

Careful. Adjusting the drag link WILL change your toe and can possibly cause death wobble to return. Improper toe is one of the leading causes of death wobble. I have plenty of slop in my steering system and fixed my death wobble with toe adjustments.

You will want between 1/16 and 1/8" toe in.

 

thanks for the tip! But, how do you measure the tow? It needs an alignment but, I'd like to do what I can myself until I can afford one. I tried to thread the drag link to the same spot the old one was in but, ended up making the wheel further off then it was already. Do just a few threads give a lot of adjustment? I'm worried I'll make it worse!

 

adjusting the drag link will not adjust toe.

 

x2

 

Remove the lower zerk after adding grease, install the plug that came with the ball joint.

Common mistake.

 

Take the adjustment from one extreme to the other and measure toe at each. You will find that it does indeed affect toe.

My steering wheel was way off when I did my alignment and when I set it straight I had death wobble. Checked toe and it was off. I found multiple self alignment write ups supporting this.

 

http://www.universityofjeep.com/Tech...dAlignment.htm

One explanation of how drag link adjustment affects toe.

 

Doesn't say a thing about it. I'm gonna X3 with the guys above. The drag link cannot and will not adjust toe. The tie rod, however, is what adjusts toe.

 

i worked in a steering/alignment shop doing non digital analogue alignments and on car wheel balancing. i can assure you adjusting the drag link does not affect toe in.

 

No it won't effect toe.

Easy visualization, moving the steering wheel moves the draglink which moves the tie rod as a whole right? (correct answer is yes) when adjusting the draglink sleeve you're either turning your steering wheel alone or turning both tires as they're connected by the tie rod.

So therefore with the statement of adjusting the drank link sleeve affects toe is relatively stating that when turning your steering wheel on turns adjusts your toe.

Bottom line, draglink adjustment is to center the steering wheel, and will not effect toe.

 

This is a direct quote from the link I had attached. Don't know how that was missed.

"Toe-in and centering your steering wheel works together.* Centering your steering wheel will affect your toe-in since it's modify the length of the drag link.* You might have to repeat the process a couple of times to get it right."


A quote from NAXJA

"BUT the pitman are swings on a radius so adjusting it too far (really apearant on a lifted vehicle) it will change the angle at which the tierod intersects the drag link thereby changing the toe."

Another quote from NAXJA

"Sorry guys. I'm an alignment tech, and have verified that on the stock steering system, it does change the toe when you adjust the drag link. It's not a big change, but it will move some.

If you doubt that, try and watch the tech next time you get an alignment, you will see him reset the toe a small amount after adjusting the drag link."



Two above quotes from this thread

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=58628

It seems to be a much debated topic. I choose to believe it does affect toe because I have witnessed it on my own vehicle. My steering wheel was 180 to where it should have been and thus required significant drag link adjustment. That changed my toe and I'm positive because I had death wobble after doing it and when I checked, toe it was way off.

 

Everyone is right, here. With the inverted Y steering set up in the XJ (with the tie rod connecting to the drag link at a location OTHER than the steering knuckle) the TOE is affected by changes in the steering geometry. Most significantly affecting TOE are changes in lift height, which will almost always require TOE (re)alignment. Technically, if you adjust the drag link, you are changing the length and affecting the geometry (which in theory DOES have an effect on the TOE adjustment). In reality, you are making such minor changes to the drag link length, that by the time you apply the necessary trigonometry, there is negligible change in TOE. So:
Does adjusting your drag link have an effect on Toe?: Yes.
Does adjusting your drag link have enough effect on toe to actually require toe adjustments?: No.