alright .... I'm new to this forum and new to the Cherokee community ... Just bought a 96xj and I was looking through some of these threads and I see mention of a "death wobble" ... I was litterally almost killed by this problem
Today on the highway ... What are the causes of this problem? Other than that I love my jeep so far

 

Hey, you're my long lost twin! Guess I should have been more creative with my screen name Sorry, can't help with the death wobble, but I'm sure some who have experienced it will jump in. And welcome!

 

Check your track bar, tie rod ends, ball joints and axle ujoints..The track bar make sure both the frame and axle end are tight, you can get under there and see if there is any play. Same goes with tie rod ends..Ball joints jack the car up put on stands and grand the tires and shift em up and down..Also have someone turn the steering wheel while you look at everything to see if anything is lose..

 

thanks for the help .. i have already checked all of the above and the only thing that i found was a broken sway bar link... i have a hard time believing that this could cause this but maybe

 

I found recently that if your steering box is worn can also cause it, I have this problem..
Climb under the Jeep grab the pitmon arm and see if you have any movement in it, if you do that's your cause....

 

Tire balance can start a wobble and it's very common with our rigs. Try swapping tires front and rear, or just get them balanced. How's your alignment?

My experiences with death wobble were all the same. Tires initiated the wobble and the trackbar enhanced it.

 

I'm going through death wobble right now also, my tires were unbalanced and pressure was way off so i rotated the tires and balanced them, it hasn't came back yet well see.

Also a guy i work with has an axle u joint that is bad

 

Is your XJ lifted at all?
Usually, DW starts after it has been lifted.
BUT, DW can occur on a non-lifted Cherokee nonetheless.

Steering boxes are notorious for wear.
If there seems to be alot of lateral movement (play/slop between "turn-left" and "turn-right") Good possibility.
Being a 96, like most of our XJ's it probably has 150K+ on odometer..right?

Steering box adjustment: http://jeep.off-road.com/jeep/Fullsi...tegoryId=45945
If you do this, I suggest removing the electric fan, 2 screws at top of support.
Gives ALOT of room for the adjustment.
Keep in mind: Better to adjust on the safe side (NOT ENOUGH) than TOO MUCH, as too much can actually cause the box to wear faster or in worst-case scenerio-->fail (stop working).

Check the items that everyone suggested.
Trackbar, TRE's (tie-rod ends) Ball joints.
DO NOT forget shocks, faulty shocks can ADD to DW. Or at the least can be greatly effected by it.
Lastly: Check your control arm bushings. Especially if you have a lifted XJ. Most XJ's go thru most of thier life running on a certain area within the bushing. Liftingan XJ causes the bushing to "ride" in a different location. MANY XJ's do not like this.

But like I stated in another thread: "Every Cherokee is different."

 

Good read there, I didn't know the box can be adjusted...

 

I just followed this and got rid of my death wobble, man did my steering box have some slop in it..

 

I performed this on my XJ when I replaced all the tie rods and the XJ was wandering so badly ( never got it up fast enough to see if it caused death wobble). It does help tighten up the steering though.

 

dam ... didnt realise that these jeeps had so many issues with the fron end suspension/ steering ... oh well i still think i got my moneys worth and at least i know the motor is solid

 

Nah the front ends aren't that bad..mine has no death wobble..My theory is when you buy an old jeep you should have the cash to replace...tie rod assembly, draglink, track bar, ball joints, unit bearing/hub assemblies, and axle ujoints.. Then adjust steering, balance tires and have front end aligned..and when I say old I am talking early 90's and such..reason is most of the parts are going to be original and in bad shape..I mean you buy a 15+ yr old jeep, things are going to be warn and need fixing or replaced..it goes with owning an older vehicle..

 

Right on. When i bought my 2001 xj last year, i had $400 in cash ready to buy parts. I replaced the following:

tie rod
tie rod ends
drag link
steering stab
ball joints
brakes
control arms
leaf springs
shocks
u-joints
trackbar
coil springs
all fluids

Basically everything underneath was replaced and i guess that's why it rides like it's new. I just can't trust the PO when it comes to used vehicles, unless it's my best buddy or relative who wouldn't lie.

oh, and $400 ended up being $1300. Worth it though

 

ive not had my cherokee long 5 months ish i got that death wobble and **** a brick at 40mph a bracket between the chassis and suspension had snapped in two seperate places causing the whole front end to move from side to side while turning the steering wheel when stationary my mate got me one from scrap yard and we replaced it but on closer inspection the one we took off seemed very new compared to the one we put on but had to to get on the road temporary, after a matter of weeks the peplacement is becoming weak and simulating sloppy steering i have been told my 22"s are puting too much strain on this bracket and will be a reoccuring problem for as long as i keep my wheels but people have 33"s and lifts and then go toe to toe with huge bolders im an city dweller and am very dissapointed that my cherokee cant handle pissy little pothole cos of my rims i refuse to give up and will be keeping my car that i have wanted for the best part of a decade i love it i just hope someone can give me some advice more than put your stock rims back on i think th suspension is stock my wheels have spacers the rubber is 295/30/22