mykdee

Looking for some Cherokee owners in Arizona to assist me with my new purchase. I just bought a 1993 Cherokee Sport for $600 and it has a front end wobble issue. It has a Rancho 2.5" lift and is quite ugly...for now! It surprisingly runs & drives GREAT, under 55 MPH that is. On the freeway it starts to get a really bad wobble in the front end. Over the weekend we replaced the lower control arm that was bad, so we replaced it and that fixed quite a bit of the wobble. Also picked up a new Rancho steering stabilizer and the new wheels and tires will be here today. I have done some research and see that this is a common problem and can be tricky diagnosing. I do not want to just start throwing parts on it hoping that each parts fixes the problem. I was hoping to get some advice from other owners that have went through this.
Thanks in advance!
Mike

mykdee

mykdee

The4x4Brit

Did you ever sort out your wobble? I had a wobbling issue when exceeding roughly 50mph, with seriously loose steering. I did a lot of research on this awesome forum and did a lot of checking under the jeep. I decided to do a couple of things that seem to have helped immensely:

1. FIT V8 ZJ TIE ROD - Sourced and fitted a 97 ZJ V8 Tie Rod from the not so local junkyard (including the TRE), 45mins away but currently 50% off in West PHX so was worth it. The difference was Night and day. Super tight steering.
2. TRACKBAR REDRILL - The personal opinions for this on CF is split 50/50. Some say do not do it and some swear by it. I have done it 3/4" to the right and 1/16th" higher.

Now my steering is tight and feels like I'm driving a Jeep again and not a floating milk cart.

I still have slight wobble, however this is when i turn left. I have narrowed this down to play in the TRE at the Pitman arm. Once i replace this, it'll be golden.

That's my experience so far

RocketMouse

Look at your track bar. That's a big cause of what is known as the Jeep "death wobble".
It's the bar that keeps the solid front axle centered over the body. The bushings wear and it becomes loose causing it to not track properly anymore, thereby letting the front axle "float" side to side as you go down the road. That's about the speed that most will notice it at. (45-55mph). They are pretty cheap and easy to replace. I did mine about 6 months ago with the XJ on the ground at stock height.