I've been having some wobbling problems recently - I don't think it's the classic death wobble as it happens at near 92 km/h - any less or any more and the wobble goes away. In any case, I had the tires balanced, a new tie-rod end installed at the pitman arm and a new track bar installed, each of which reduced the wobbling but didn't eliminated it.

I need to crawl underneat to take a look at the control arms but assuming they're goofy, should I:

a) Replace OEM CRs with new CRs with the bushings installed?

b) Just buy new bushings and install in the old control arms

c) If b) is there a preferred brand of rubber bushings that won't rot in a few years

d) if b) should I go with poly bushings? Is there a preferred poly brand?
The jeeps is a 100% stock 1989 Cherokee 2 door, I6.

Thanks for any adivce.

 

Buy new arms with the bushings already in. Probably need to press new control arm bushings into the axle too.

 

X2 on this and I would stay away from poly bushings if this is a daily driver. Rubber isolates vibration better.

 

i was just going to reply to your other previous post saying 'check your upper and lower control arm bushings'

marc

ive pressed them in myself its cheaper and not that hard with a ball joint press kit you can rent, the upper bushings are a bit harder the uper front bushing are pressed into the axle itself

edit: do the lower ones first if you are going to replace them and take it from there see if that makes a difference if so replace the upper ones too, just an idea

 

The video is Bleepin Jeep to replace the bushings on the dana 30 axle

I did the same process when i replaced my bushings, took some time but if you have some tools was cake. I would recommend rubber also...

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I have a ball joint press so will probably go the route of pressing in new bushings.

Is there a method for checking of the existing bushings are hooped? I'm assuming 'reefing' around with a pry bar will show bad bushings.

Any preferred rubber bushings to use - there are a bunch of options on Rock Auto.

 

i went with rubber figured they lasted this long new ones would be alright.

marc

 

Well I crawled around under the jeep for a couple of hours with a pry bar and coudln't fine anything that looked loose with the control arms. They move a tiny bit of course, but they're rubber mounted so they're going to move some.

 

Did you check the ball joints as well?

 

Yes, I pried on them as well (again) and coulnd't find anything loose.

I laid under the front and had a buddy move the steering back and forth. I can still see a small amount of movement in the trackbar on the passenger side mount - not sure if the bolt hole is ovaled out or if it's just the rubber bushing compressing a bit (I can see the bar move slightly but the bolt doesn't appear to be moving so I think it's just the bushing compressing a bit).

Also rechecked the alignment using the 'chalk and nail' method and it appears to be running true.

I'm scratching my head at this point.

 

The trackbar mount sounds suspect. Where/how were you prying to check balljoints? The tires should be off the ground. Grab the tire at 12 and 6 and rock the tire in and out at the top and bottom. Check your tierods. Grab the tire at 3 and 9 and rock the tire side to side.

 

Yes, had the wheels off the ground to check ball joints and tie-rod ends. I pulled on the tires but also wedged a pry par in on the upper and lower ball joints to see if I could see any movement but don't see any at all.

I need to pull that trackbar bolt and see if the hole is wallowed out - too wet out today for that though.