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Help with '92 Death Wobble

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Old May 30, 2011 | 12:16 PM
  #1  
Laredo Driver's Avatar
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Default Help with '92 Death Wobble

Hey guys, i first bought my cherokee about a month ago. The guy i got it from said he had replaced the outer tierod, but there was still a little wobble. Anyways i drove it home and felt a little wobble but nothing worth worrying about. Ok so yesterday i was driving and about 65-70 on the highway and i would hit a bump and the thing would go nuts. Every bump i hit it would get worse and worse. I almost had to pull over. I have mechanic knowledge so i looked underneath and everything was bolted down and what not. The jeep appears to have a new steering stabilizer too. One problem i found is the peice that look like a sway bar, is broke. Looks like someone just sawed straight through it. Would this have an affect on the wobble? I know most cars can run without sway bars and its no problem. Im just tired of worrying about driving it on the highway and ripping the front end off. If anyone has any advice please post it here. I have a KY trip coming up and idk if i want to take the jeep or not.
1992 Jeep 4.0L HO, 4x4, 4-Speed Auto, 197k Miles.
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Old May 30, 2011 | 12:45 PM
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From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
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cut sway bar will have no effect heres a place to start...http://www.jeeparticles.com/technica...e_shooting.htm
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Old May 30, 2011 | 01:40 PM
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Bustedback's Avatar
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From: Oroville, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
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Post a picture of this "swaybar" so we can be sure it's not the trackbar.
Attached Thumbnails Help with '92 Death Wobble-xj-20front-20suspension.jpg  
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Old May 31, 2011 | 08:33 AM
  #4  
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I'm 100% sure its the driver side sway bar link that is sawed in half. What nuts and bolts in the picture should i check/tighten?
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Old May 31, 2011 | 09:16 AM
  #5  
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From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
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Originally Posted by Laredo Driver
I'm 100% sure its the driver side sway bar link that is sawed in half. What nuts and bolts in the picture should i check/tighten?
aal thing except the red sway barlinks should be checked for issues includeing the steering box bolt have some on wiggle the steering wheel back and forth while you look for play
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Old May 31, 2011 | 09:51 AM
  #6  
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From: Las Vegas
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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Originally Posted by tjwalker
Possible causes of DEATH WOBBLE. Isolating death wobble is a process of elimination and the root cause is not always obvious.

Until you figure this out, keep an extra pair of underwear on hand in case you soil yourself when it feels like your Jeep is dismantling itself.......!!!

Note: It can oftentimes be due to a combination of things!
--------------------------------------------------------

-Front tires out of balance (try swapping fronts to rear; see if symptoms change)
-Improper lug nut torque on wheels
-Front alignment out of spec
-Loose track bar
-Worn track bar bushings
-Worn track bar end
-Bad bushings/joints in control arms
-Worn/damaged steering stabilizer (not generally a cause in and by itself)
-Worn/damaged shocks
-Worn/damaged tie rod end
-Bad U Joint
-Bad ball joint
-Loose frame mount
-Steering box loose
-Bad front hub assembly
GL
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Old May 31, 2011 | 09:54 AM
  #7  
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From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
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lug nut torque and shocks
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Old Nov 13, 2011 | 08:48 AM
  #8  
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From: Centerton, AR
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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Here are 2 articles about the death wobble:

http://www.jeeparticles.com/technica...e_shooting.htm
http://www.jeeparticles.com/technica...ath_wobble.htm
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