I recently did a front end inspection and 1-man shakedown. I didnt notice any major play in any joints as well as no sloppiness in the steering wheel.

Lots of regular wear and all greasable fittings are blown out, so i will be updating steering and suspension soon.

Soo.... 1-2 times a day, i will hit a bump or a pothole on the freeway, especially in a turn, i will get DW until i slow down a little.

Where should I look?

Thanks.

 

Control arm bushings and track bar. Wheel bearings and tire balance. Ball joints, especially the lower ones.

 

The track bar is usually the cause of death wobble.

 

^^2X what he said^^

 

I found this in the XJ threads....

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/di...-wobble-55021/

 

Ball joints upper and lower as well as track bar and where it bolts to the frame, the hole gets wobbled out. Check ball joints with a breaker bar under the tire, up and down. Watch the joints with flashlight. You can do all you want to the track bar but the ball joints will be the pain that will keep you having death wobble, just no way around not replacing them. And they can be hard to detect, so, no play is acceptable. They wear at different spots.

 

I will check ball joints and the track bar frame bolt tomorrow. Either way, some fleabay upper and lower ball joints on the way.

Good news everyone!
I checked earlier. My track bar and drag link are parallel and both are adjustable. Looks like the PO did something right.

 

Take close look at the steering damper and track bar where they bolt to the frame as well. I replaced the nut and bolts with grade 10, i think, and it made a ton of diff. to get them quite tight.