trac bar= this cant be good?
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,989
Likes: 4
From: Oak Harbor, WA.
Year: 1987
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 liter RENIX I-6, DIY Cold Air Intake, 2.5 FM Exhaust, 3 Core Radiator
1.) Can't really tell for sure in your pics but, it looks like your OEM bumpstops or bumpstop tubes sit toward the front side of your coil springs. This means your lift is too high for the control arms you are running. This has your front axle castor adjustment WAY off. This can definitely cause Death Wobble. Either shorten the lift or get adjustable control arms. You will know when the adjustment is right because your bumpstop tubes will be centered inside your coil springs.
2.) The tierod ends could be bad. and/or your toe adjustment could be out of adjustment. Either of these conditions can cause Death Wobble. Give all of the jounts in your steering componants a good shake. If any are loose or worn out, fix or replace them. The joint where your Draglink is bolted to your Pitman arm looks WAY loose. Like the Kotter Key is gone and the castlenut has about loosened as far as it can without actually falling off. I would address that one immediately!! Also to do a DIY toe adjustment, measure ctr of tire to ctr of tire on the front and back side of your front tires. adjust your tierod until front measurement is 1/8 inch less than the back side measurement.
3.) Camber is not adjustable on an XJ D30 from the OEM. You can install adjustable Ball joints yourself and make it adjustable. The only way your camber could be off enough to cause Death Wobble is if your balljoints are shot or your axle tube is bent at one or both of the "C"s.
4.) one last thing that really has nothing to do with Deathe Wobble but everything to do with keeping your Jeep under control while at Highway speed. You should never run an XJ on the road at highway speed without the front sway bar hooked up. It can be done but it's very dangerous.
These are just a few things I saw from a quick glance at your pictures. I'm sure there are more things that I may have missed but, you have a starting point and some things to check.
2.) The tierod ends could be bad. and/or your toe adjustment could be out of adjustment. Either of these conditions can cause Death Wobble. Give all of the jounts in your steering componants a good shake. If any are loose or worn out, fix or replace them. The joint where your Draglink is bolted to your Pitman arm looks WAY loose. Like the Kotter Key is gone and the castlenut has about loosened as far as it can without actually falling off. I would address that one immediately!! Also to do a DIY toe adjustment, measure ctr of tire to ctr of tire on the front and back side of your front tires. adjust your tierod until front measurement is 1/8 inch less than the back side measurement.
3.) Camber is not adjustable on an XJ D30 from the OEM. You can install adjustable Ball joints yourself and make it adjustable. The only way your camber could be off enough to cause Death Wobble is if your balljoints are shot or your axle tube is bent at one or both of the "C"s.
4.) one last thing that really has nothing to do with Deathe Wobble but everything to do with keeping your Jeep under control while at Highway speed. You should never run an XJ on the road at highway speed without the front sway bar hooked up. It can be done but it's very dangerous.
These are just a few things I saw from a quick glance at your pictures. I'm sure there are more things that I may have missed but, you have a starting point and some things to check.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
seansr
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
13
Oct 20, 2025 02:48 PM
investinwaffles
Modified XJ Cherokee Tech
11
May 18, 2021 12:02 PM
kdot
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
11
Nov 12, 2018 07:00 AM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)