So I installed a Rough Country 4.5" full leaf kit with Nitro 9000 shocks the other week. At first it had some crazy death wobble, but an alignment seemed to fix that... for a little while. The wobble is back now in the 50-60mph range.

When my jeep was aligned, I was told that the caster did not need to be adjusted, and it was kept at the stock setting (8.5* left 8.6* right). Is that correct? If not, what should it be at?

Also, the kit did not come with a new track bar. I had to drill a new hole to relocate it. I have heard that stock track bars go bad quick... what causes them to go bad?

Any help or input is greatly appreciated.

-Jeep450r

 

There is alot of opinions about track bars,If I was you I would replace your stock with an adj track bar. I have taken the time to ask a few suppliers of lifts why they do not include them with there kits,not one is willing to answer the question,they just say relocate your stock one. I have asked other suppliers that do and they say,without it you will get the dreaded death wobble. I think there are suppliers that sell alot of kits because they can offer the kit for less without the track bar in the kit,and sell you one later.
Honsestly I would not buy a kit without an adj track bar included,just my opinion. With that said,there is other items that can cause this. did you have a shop check out your alignment afterwards,if not I would.

 

Your caster setting should be just fine...toe-in has far more to do with DW than caster does. There is a bunch of info on "killing" Death Wobble on our website in the tech articles section, at the bottom of the menu on the index.html page.

Bingo...you hit the nail on the head. Often a $200 reduction in price is all it takes to "sway" a customer into purchasing one manufacturer's kit over another. In all my years and installs, I have not once found a time that it would be better (for the vehicle) to NOT install an adjustable track bar once you're over 2.5" or so. I guess it goes without saying that it's always better for your wallet to not purchase an ATB, and then again, your wallet doesn't get Death Wobble...but your Jeep will. :-)

If you're looking to get rid of Death Wobble, then the tightest connection possible between the axle and the frame rail is what you are looking for. The track bar relocation brackets that some manufacturers use often get loose over time because they bolt in (should be welded in, or better, not used at all because of the leverage most of them add to the weak factory bracket, often ripping them at the welds).

Several manufacturers make a solid track bar which is adjustable, and they are all going to be $200 or so.

Call us if you're still having trouble with DW after going through the checklist.

All the best,
KevinF