Tin_Man

Hey guys, just threw in a 3" lift (coils and leaf's) and developed a nasty death wobble. The death wobble only hits when I hit a rough spot in the road while I'm driving at an angle. Anyways, I didn't reconnect my front sway bar as 2 bolts broke off. I'm a bit of a newb (admittingly) and was wondering if that could be the problem. Thoughts?

Coog

Most common solution seems to be getting the wheels balanced. Worked for me anyway

The91XJ

Did you get an alignment after the lift?

Tin_Man

Negative on the alignment. I'm getting new tires monday and thought I'd wait until after that to get an alignment.

odgreen

First things first. You can get an alignment with your old tires. An alignment isn't affected by bad tires. It needs to be done. Also did you replace your lower control arms? If not you need longer ones to make up for the change in axle position. With out arms you can develop dw.

Tin_Man

I didn't replace the lower control bar arms, I wasn't aware that was necessary for a 3" lift. I'll order some. Is it normal to just get the wobble under specific conditions like this?

odgreen

Yep! Bad alignment and effed up pinion angles... Good causes for dw

peep

That lift pulls your suspension to the passenger side, if the trac bar wasn't lengthened with the lift. One can compensate by drilling and new hole about 3/4 over and 1/8 up for the lower trac bar mount, or an adustable trac bar. So the suspension geometry starts to get messed. Also with the lift the lower control arms are now angling downward torward the axle. The lowers are more influential than the uppers at that 3" height. You have lost caster. If all other components are in good shape and the tires are reasonably balanced, you need more caster. You can add shim at the rear end of the lower control arms, or have a reputable alignment shop do it. Bergerons in Owen Sound used to do and camber and toe setup for me for $65. A good deal. They would let me know if anything was looking suspect for future maintenance. (Set your toe in at 1/16 to 1/8").

Evil Drew M

In regard to your original question - nothing related to the swaybar will cause death wobble. It is one of the few things in the front end that won't cause/contribute to it.

Tin_Man

Bummer, that would have been an easy fix. So, what do you think, start with the alignment and then move to the trac bar and control arms if needed?

odgreen

Start with all 3.

Converted96

being that you just lifted it, and NO alignment, I would say you need to do that first. Would 3/4" be to much for his track bar? that would work at 4.5" as i read on RC's install directions. But would it be the same for 3"?

longer control arms would be good, but i remember talking to someone at Iron Rock Offroad who told me that longer arms are not needed at all on a 3" lift. in fact he even told me on 4" they werent needed... but i dont know that i agree with that information at all

I went 3.5 RE.. which really is about 4" or so. i went longer control arms, adjustable bar, longer sway bar links etc etc etc.

I would start with the alignment first. ifyou got the money, get an adjustable track bar, get longer lower arms.

If it still exists, it could be a number of other things up front.. you gotta have a starting point though.