97 Xj w/3in RC
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9
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From: Seymour, Indiana
Year: 1997 Cherokee
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Ok, i got the RC 3 inch lift installed, and during the install the passenger side front sway bar bolt broke, so I just removed the sway bar for better travel. The rear went ok except for the upper shock bolts broke off in the frame which I was expecting...Now I got the DW! would not having the front sway bar on might cause the DW? I know that I'm going to need a adj trac bar and an alignment. Also running 31.10.50.15 Coursers on stock steel xj wheels and got some rubbing...any thoughts on this or am I in the right ball park?
Also for the safety of others please keep your sway bar on, especially if its a DD. The rear isn't too large of a deal but u can find a lot of people who will tell u to keep your sway bars on.
where does your death wobble happen at? Higher mile per hour or lower. If u are hitting highway speeds and getting the wobble u may need stronger tie rods? If u are at low speeds and getting the woble perhaps its from a lack of a slip yoke eliminator?
where does your death wobble happen at? Higher mile per hour or lower. If u are hitting highway speeds and getting the wobble u may need stronger tie rods? If u are at low speeds and getting the woble perhaps its from a lack of a slip yoke eliminator?
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 689
Likes: 2
From: Longview, TX
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Originally Posted by GeneralPatton
Also for the safety of others please keep your sway bar on, especially if its a DD. The rear isn't too large of a deal but u can find a lot of people who will tell u to keep your sway bars on.
where does your death wobble happen at? Higher mile per hour or lower. If u are hitting highway speeds and getting the wobble u may need stronger tie rods? If u are at low speeds and getting the woble perhaps its from a lack of a slip yoke eliminator?
where does your death wobble happen at? Higher mile per hour or lower. If u are hitting highway speeds and getting the wobble u may need stronger tie rods? If u are at low speeds and getting the woble perhaps its from a lack of a slip yoke eliminator?
Originally Posted by GeneralPatton
Also for the safety of others please keep your sway bar on, especially if its a DD. The rear isn't too large of a deal but u can find a lot of people who will tell u to keep your sway bars on.
where does your death wobble happen at? Higher mile per hour or lower. If u are hitting highway speeds and getting the wobble u may need stronger tie rods? If u are at low speeds and getting the woble perhaps its from a lack of a slip yoke eliminator?
where does your death wobble happen at? Higher mile per hour or lower. If u are hitting highway speeds and getting the wobble u may need stronger tie rods? If u are at low speeds and getting the woble perhaps its from a lack of a slip yoke eliminator?
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,387
Likes: 10
From: City of Trees, CA
Year: 93 2 door
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
it's not a safety issue. it's a matter of what you're comfortable with
as for the DW. yes the sway bar can help cover up DW, but it will not cause it. could be the alignment, tie rod ends, off balance tires or any of the reasons in above comments
Last edited by Atmos; Jul 14, 2012 at 07:51 PM.
Originally Posted by Atmos
I dont even know anyone who runs a front sway bar on their rig. I only see sway bars on rigs with garbage suspension and shocks
it's not a safety issue. it's a matter of what you're comfortable with
Edit:
I missed the edit, sorry bud
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CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,387
Likes: 10
From: City of Trees, CA
Year: 93 2 door
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
not if you're running good shocks. it would be more of an issue with long arms but he's not running them. and I know, I went back and edited it
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9
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From: Seymour, Indiana
Year: 1997 Cherokee
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I plan on puting the rear shocks on when i get the broken bits out. The xj handles pretty good for no front sway bar. The DW starts around 45-55, when the wheel is straight there is no problem, but as soon as I turn the wheel or hit a bump the DW starts. The wheels and tires are balanced.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7,387
Likes: 10
From: City of Trees, CA
Year: 93 2 door
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
get underneath there and check everything out. tie rod ends, track bar, control arms, *****, everything we said
then replace the parts that are clearly bad and go get that alignment and see what else they tell you to replace
then replace the parts that are clearly bad and go get that alignment and see what else they tell you to replace
Seasoned Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 322
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
this may not be the same deal but an axle is an axle. I had a 78 1 ton chevy dump truck with a dana 60 front axle and the cause of death wobble was a bad axle shaft u joint. It was tight from lack of grease and when you turned the tires it would throw a fit and give some intense death wobble. That and ive covered DW up with a good steering stablizer
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 309
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From: Wrightstown, NJ
Year: 1986 Comanche
Engine: Chevy 350
The concepts are the same between axles (as 98cherokee531 said). I have a Ford Dana 60 front in my Jeep and had death wobble due to the tie rods having play in them. A steering stabilizer is just a band-aid fix at best, you should find the cause of the death wobble to fully cure it. The first things I would check are the hubs, ball joints, and tie rods as those are the most likely culprits. Bad control arm joints and ball joints could also cause it.
Just to add on the sway bar thing, I never run one but it is something I would highly suggest on a daily driver lifted vehicle. Even with a set of Bilsteins on my Jeep, the Jeep still sways on corners (I'm running one tons so I have so much weight on the ground that the Jeep will never flip).
Just to add on the sway bar thing, I never run one but it is something I would highly suggest on a daily driver lifted vehicle. Even with a set of Bilsteins on my Jeep, the Jeep still sways on corners (I'm running one tons so I have so much weight on the ground that the Jeep will never flip).
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 1
From: Warren, Pa
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Originally Posted by JoeKelly
I plan on puting the rear shocks on when i get the broken bits out. The xj handles pretty good for no front sway bar. The DW starts around 45-55, when the wheel is straight there is no problem, but as soon as I turn the wheel or hit a bump the DW starts. The wheels and tires are balanced.
Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 171
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From: Fort Worth, Tx
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
You might as well forget trying to diagnose anything until getting an alignment. Cleared mine up perfectly, not before three incidents on the way to the alignment shop.
If its a DD, run a sway bar. My jeep rides much nicer without one, but its a safety issue. Emergency maneuvers can turn from a close call to a totalled jeep without it.
If its a DD, run a sway bar. My jeep rides much nicer without one, but its a safety issue. Emergency maneuvers can turn from a close call to a totalled jeep without it.


