Nope forget the stabilizer idea.

If you havent done anything to correct it this problem wont just go away. Also you are going to quickly find out that a lifted jeep makes noises. I would tighten everything up to help stop them but you arent going to get very far.

 

ok. my friend who is an old 4x4 guy told the same thing. its going to ride rough and make noises. well im in the process of trying to come up with some money to get a new track bar and mount and an alignment. hopeful that will help out somewhat. any bit of it helps

 

I wouldn't be so quick to replace the ball joints and tie rod ends, unless they show signs of excessive play and need to be replaced.

The severe shaking you noticed beforehand is death wobble. The real loose steering could be from a worn out trac bar.......am I correct in saying that you're still using the OEM? If so, at 4.5", that's well past its limit.....but since you're replacing it anyways, i'm sure you already assumed that.

On the topic of the stabilizer, and I know i'm going to get flamed big time for this, but don't write it off just yet. Little bit of background on mine....over a year ago i did a 3" lift on mine and got slammed with death wobble big time (couldn't go over 40mph otherwise it would go out of control). I had already put a new trac bar on, had it "professionally" aligned, as well as my father and I had gone over every ball joint, tie rod end, and everything in the front end looking for play....we found everything tight and showing no signs of needing to be replaced. Just to verify this, I took it to the local mechanic I still use for alignments on our other vehicles, had him check everything and he agreed all was well. I bought a Skyjacker HD stabilizer for $40, put it on, and have not seen death wobble in over a year now (and i'm even on my 2nd lift since then). I do 95% highway travel at trips of generally no less than 30 miles one way (and if you've ever driven a highway in NC, they're notorious for their potholes)

Many people are able to run no stabilizers and have zero problems, and that's fine. But I don't think it's fair to automatically assume that it's not needed. I look at it from a couple of aspects. One being, there's one there from the factory (and not just on XJ's....on several vehicles with similar steering set up's as ours), so it's got to serve some purpose. The other being, it's just like lifting a Jeep. There's no gaurntee that you'll have all these problems like you and I did, so there's no gaurntee that you'll be able to get by with no stabilizer. No two Jeeps are the same, and each reacts differently to a lift. Luck of the draw I guess you could say.

That's my input on stabilizers. Flame away if you wish...I can handle it

 

Well I want to replace the inter and outer tie rod end atleast. Its a 92 with 188,000 miles on it. I will feel better to just replace them. Yes the track bar is stock and I am planning on replace it with an adjustable with the new mount. Next for about $40 I can replace the stablizer so Im going to do that. Just something to help improve my jeep. And also Im going to get a bushing kit to replace all the bushing. I notice when i was underneath it the alot are worn and I want to do that as well.

 

Worn bushings are probably the culprit. Hold off on the stabilizer until you have your DW under control. The reason is that the stabilizer will just mask the symptoms and does NOT cure anything. TREs are always a good idea if they are OEM then they are probably worn (may not be worn out just worn) All the things you list can by themselves cause the DW except the stabilizer.

 

Probably a good idea then....didn't realize it was an older Jeep with higher miles. All of those factors can lead to sloppy steering/riding and it doesn't take much at all to trigger death wobble, as you've probably figured out.

 

HAHA. I couldnt go past 30 mph and hit a bump and all hell breaks loose. I had to pull over to stop the wobble. Now that I found it was a loose track bar the front end just feels loose.

 

Well on the way home from work I found out that I didn't not completely loose the death wobble. Its there but just happens at high speeds Grrrr

 

Ive been following along with this thread and just had to add my two cents in. I have the same lift on my Jeep the only differance is I have the RE adj. track bar. I very surprised that someone would sell you a 4.5" kit and not the track bar or at least a drop brkt. Cherokee's are known for DEATH WABBLE and should have an adj. track bar or drop brkt installed at the time of the lift. For that matter any vehicle with a track bar or pan hard bar must have it droped or extended. back before they had the adj. or the drop brkts we would cut the the bar center the axle and the use DOM to sleeve it. The wobble is caused by the axle trying to center itself and fights against itself because the bar is to short. All the other things recomended by other members here are must do's also. re-torque ,tie rod ends , alignment ect ect. my two cents on the stabilizer..... your call, but a stabilizer is only a band aid on a more serious issue.

 

Ok. I going to get a track bar as soon as I can get so money. How can I tell that my jeep is centered or not.

 

Measure , measure , measure , I normally pick 2 to 3 places and work the steering wheel until they are all equil or very close
sub frame to outside of tire , frame to inside of tire ect ect just be sure to write down so you can double check everytime .Turn the steering wheel to move the axle left or right as needed. Track bar should be loose at this time . when set tighten, drive ,then tighten again and you should be great ,

 

Basically like mentioned above, measure and stay consistent with your measuring points. If your axle is as far off as mine was, you might even be able to tell from looking at the front of the Jeep. Mine was noticeably off-centered to the passenger side.

 

Hmmm. Can they adjust it when they alignment.

 

They can if they're a decent alignment shop....but it's easy enough to do yourself.

Try the method I mentioned earlier today about leaving the axle end unbolted, and turning the wheel back and forth to center it. Should work well for you, and you'll get the satisfaction of doing it yourself.

 

Ok I will give it a shot.