Hi,
I new to the forum here and am looking for some advise. I just bought amy first Cherokee project ($250) that needs some front end work (stock). It wandered all over the road, bad, there was about 90 degrees of left/right steering wheel movement from center to keep it in the lane. I looked it over pretty good. Tie rods and drag link look good. The track bar was wasted so I replaced that. It still wandered but not as bad. After inspecting if further it looks like the part that goes from the frame to the track bar flexes and moves slightly. I am sure this is part if not the majority of the problem. The part looks like it is in two peices, one part bolted to the side of the frame, the other bolted to the bottom of the frame rail. Are theese two peices locked together some how, or is mine broken? It appears that the both pieces overlap and the track bar bolt slides through ties/locking everything together. Is that correct?

Are those hardened bolts?
I also cant tell if its a standard nut on the back or a welded on type?

I tried to tighten them with a hand socket first and didn't get much out of it. Will these bolts handle a 1/2 impact? What is the best position of the jeep to releive the pressure from the mount when I tighten it? Is that even needed? Should I pull the track bar off of the axle vefore I try to tighten those bolts any more.

Any other things specific to jeep cherokees I should look for.

It is NOT death wobble I have a 1993 YJ and experience that at about 70mph.

Thanks for your input/help in advance,
Kris

 

welcome to the forum im not sure if the stock bracket is a 2 piece but mine is lifted and the hd bracket on mine is one piece hope it helps
plus if you can take and post a pic might be easier do help

 

alignment? out of whack toe will make it wander it did mine but not as bad as you are talking about.

 

steering box have play in it?

 

the trackbar-frame bracket is typically 1 piece... I have not seen a 2 piece unit, but, I have not seen everything in the world either.
steering box or steering linkage may be helping with the wander/loose steering.
the frame is well known to crack at the steering box... several vendors make reinforcement kits if that is an issue on your rig.

 

My bet is on the steering box as well, either the bracket is broke or the box itself is worn out or out of adjustment. steering boxes are the most common cause of wanderitis, how is the tire wear? thatll be a good indication of the alignment

 

Check the ball joints,, if they're worn you'll have a wandering problem.

 

mine has wanderitis but i have it narrowed down to the sloppy steering box so i would have to agree check ball joints and frame at the steering box

 

Where should I look for the crack in the frame? under the track bar mount? What is the best way to check the steering box play. I have jacked it up and tried to wiggle ball joints and tie rods. they all seem pretty tight. I will get an alignment after I figure out how to check the gearbox play. After I replaced the track bar its much better but the steering wheel is now facing 2 o'clock when driving straight. So if someone could give me instructions on checking the steering box slop I'd appreciate it.

 

Trackbar frame mount if moving is loose, common issue. It is 2 pieces, but they are welded together. Might have cracking under it, need to pull it check and repair, if needed. Replace ant bolts you can with at least grade 5, grade 8 would be better. Check steering box for play and for cracks at the frame mounting point, fix as needed. If ball joints have any side to side movement you will get wandering. also look at the control arm bushings for wear. Also check alignment Toe and Caster: http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoAlignment.htm.