Beginning the search to correct HORRIBLE death wobble.
Okay so I'm new to the Cherokee family. I had a yj once but traded for a Dakota which I traded for my newest daily/toy a 92 xj four door 4.0l HO. Auto trans, has a lift but I'm not sure what kind or size. Looks to be about 3" or so. I got it because it was in much better condition than the Dakota disputed the death wobble. None the less, it has a dual stabilizer set up, and is missing the sway bar. All of the tie rod end boots are busted. There is mud, oil, and grease bunked up on everything under there.
Question #1 why is there two stabilizers and no sway bar?
Question #2 is it okay to pressure wash all of EVERYTHING around my steering components or would it maker he tie rod ends worse because of the busted boot?
Question #1 why is there two stabilizers and no sway bar?
Question #2 is it okay to pressure wash all of EVERYTHING around my steering components or would it maker he tie rod ends worse because of the busted boot?
Okay so I'm new to the Cherokee family. I had a yj once but traded for a Dakota which I traded for my newest daily/toy a 92 xj four door 4.0l HO. Auto trans, has a lift but I'm not sure what kind or size. Looks to be about 3" or so. I got it because it was in much better condition than the Dakota disputed the death wobble. None the less, it has a dual stabilizer set up, and is missing the sway bar. All of the tie rod end boots are busted. There is mud, oil, and grease bunked up on everything under there. Question #1 why is there two stabilizers and no sway bar? Question #2 is it okay to pressure wash all of EVERYTHING around my steering components or would it maker he tie rod ends worse because of the busted boot?
Other causes would be worn out steering components, worn out suspension bushings. Etc.
I would suggest to lay under the front of jeep, and have someone turn the steering wheel back n forth. So u can fully inspect all the moving parts.
It may be easier to pressure wash the stuff underneath to see things clearly too.
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 23
From: Oroville, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
You a multitude of problems here. Bad geometry because of the lift, missing and worn parts, and the alignment is out of spec. Replace the worn parts, replace the track bar with a double shear style that is adjustable, install a sway bar for better highway manners, have it aligned. The previous owner did the double stabilizer thing for two reasons, he thought it looks cool, and he was trying to get rid of the death wobble. Stabilizers won't cure or cause death wobble, they only mask the real problem.
The no sway bar was he was probably too cheap to buy the long sway bar links or sway bar disconnect.If hes that cheap i bet it has the stock track bar which is too short and maybe never had a alignment.Take some pictures of your front suspension and one from the front so we can see the track bar and steering linkage.
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach, VA
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
I'm not 100% positive, but I don't remember the stock track bar having a bend in it.... Pretty sure from the factory it is meant to be straight as an arrow
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 23
From: Oroville, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
You have something funky going on with that track bar. There's a weird bend to it and there's a drop bracket at the axle end. Those two things are throwing the geometry off and causing the death wobble.
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 12,367
Likes: 23
From: Oroville, CA
Year: 1995
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 with all of the noise and clatter
That looks like a front shock attach to the pitman arm that shouldn't be there
Check google image for xj front suspension, top and bottom ball joints are likely cause of death wobble, check all wear on all ball joints.
Everything on the wrong side for me as I'm from uk
Looks like you had disconnects as the bottoms are left
Good luck
Check google image for xj front suspension, top and bottom ball joints are likely cause of death wobble, check all wear on all ball joints.
Everything on the wrong side for me as I'm from uk
Looks like you had disconnects as the bottoms are left
Good luck
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach, VA
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I had horrible death wobble and come to find out it was every single steering component, track bar so I got the rough country adjustable track bar the rough country heavy duty tie rod and new tie rod ends replaced it all if the alignment done and I still have a slight death wobble. So it took me a couple days to figure it out but it's my ball joints. I want to say it was around 330 in parts and 80 for the alignment. I still need to do the ball joints but it's not bad right now just when I hit bumps when turning left at higher speeds so good luck with your xj



