I have noticed this since the day I got my 98 NP242 Xj back in Nov that when ever 4wd was engaged, I would get the death wobble. I am completely stock suspension wise. A few electrical mods an an exhaust is it.

 

same cause for DW even if its stock. look at all your joints, track bar, bushings.. same stuff covered in a million death wobble threads.

 

million + 1 now.

 

alright thanks

 

Not necessarily, according to the OP it only happens when in full-time 4wd. That seems to narrow it down to the drive components and not "same stuff covered in a million death wobble threads".

 

It happens in 4 HI, 4 Full Time and 4 Low. *Knock on wood* 2WD mode is fine and I have been reading other stock DW threads and most people say to check the trac bar, steering stabilizer and have the front end alligned. Is this smart for stock? Thanks, Rob.

 

If it doesn't do it when the front wheels aren't being driven then I would first focus my attention on the drive line from your NP242 to the axle. I wouldn't think you could go fast enough in 4wd Lo to induce DW but I'm not familiar with the 242.

The fact that it doesn't happen in 2wd means that your suspension geometry and steering components are at least competent. It may be that a bad drive shaft (or something) is setting up a harmonic vibration that's inducing DW.

 

Just a question...Could sway bar bushings be the problem?

 

I had a death wobble on my stock equipment too at around 65 mph. I checked my steering components and it turns out my track bar and pitman arm had loose joints and were wearing out – it was like steering through a marshmallow and it wasn't a crisp steering like it should have been.

Replaced those and no more death wobble for me.

Check your steering components for play room and that could be the problem.

 

For me it happens as soon as I engage 4WD

 

Check the front driveline. I agree if it ONLY happens when 4wd is engaged it is not the normal suspect parts.

Can you describe what happens when you get "death wobble". Do you feel a vibration or does the steering when jerk back and forth so much you can barely hold on to it? To me a driveline issue causes vibration not DW.

 

(Auto Trans) Also when I have it in 4WD It needs gas to move forward or backwards opposed to normal operation where it should move 1-2 mph with no throttle, then itll stop again... It shakes alot, because this only happens in 4WD and it barely snowed this year in ny, I have had no need to drive it in 4wd. I only even know of this problem from engaging the transfer case every once in a while. So i have not even gone more then 15 mph. It is a violent shaking though and It is so hard to turn because I turn right and it keeps jolting left then right again and so on etc... Thanks for all of the help!!!!!!-Rob

 

Im sorry I wasnt aware that Dive components were not included in the "same stuff"..... oh wait they are.

here is a comprehensive list of some but not all possible causes..


-Front tires out of balance
-Front alignment out of spec
-Loose track bar
-Worn track bar bushings
-Worn track bar end
-Need adjustable track bar
-Bad bushings/joints in control arms
-Worn/damaged steering stabilizer
-Worn/damaged shocks
-Worn/damaged tie rod end
-Bad U Joint
-Bad ball joint
-Loose frame mount
-Steering box looseness
-Need drop pitman arm
-Driveshaft(s) not balanced
-Bad front hub assembly

Anyway DW is from slop in the entire system not one component, Everything should be checked and replaced if worn. one component may solve the issue but it wont fix it as a whole.
Remember your jeep has a live front end all the drive components are spinning at normal speed all of the time 2wd or 4wd. not much changes when you go to 4wd other than the Tcase and the fact that your are actually putting input load on your drive shaft. wich can cause a bad u joint to get worse, and can also cause the axle to shift around if other components are worn.

 

In your opinion, with the symptoms I described of the throttle issue, and dw, what would you think it would most likely be?