Is the DW issue a design flaw? I've owned other high mileage vehicles and never run into this problem before. Just wondering.

 

It's mostly due to the 4 link set-up. With great flex comes great DW.

 

DW is not a design flaw, although, it is a result of design... It is cuased by lack of maintenance, mainly. Modifications beyond the vehicles design, can make it worse.

 

IMHO jeeps all DW

I grew up in a FORD TRUCK family, and still drive ford trucks too. I also have a 90 xj. EVERY jeep ive ever driven, new, used, well maintained, or not have a screwy feel to the front end and wobble. They track funny too. It always takes me a while to get used to getting my weight thrown around while driving mostly straight.

It is a design flaw/advantage. Depends how you look at it. Stay ahead of the game with good maintenance and you will get more advantage than flaw.

E

 

DW = ....Death Wobble?

http://www.yuccaman.com/jeep/dw.html

 

Try a longer drop pitman arm. Sometimes this can help especially with bump steer

 

DW normally occurs on straight axle vehicles. My Jeep has never had it but my 1929 Ford pickup would do it when you hit a bump at certain speeds. I think keeping everything tight in the front end will help. Lifted Jeeps probably get it from getting away from engineered front end geomitry.

 

Also more prone to it than say a full sized Ford or Chevy truck, simply due to being a much lighter vehicle.

 

my brothers 53 chevy pickup got DW bad,it was pretty freaky the first time not knowing what was going on.

 

I think its just the nature of a 4 link front because your only relying on your panhard bar to hold the axle centered. anything that allows to axle to move side to side or to and fro will cause DW