Hi folks,

I have a 2000 XJ Sport with a 5.5" lift (springs and spacer combo). I'm having some death wobble problems and need some help troubleshooting.

I have so far replaced the front right hub, ball joints and u-joint. Surprisingly, this made the death wobble worse, which now consistently kicks in at highway speeds or hitting bumps in the road.

When I look underneath, it looks like I have a bunch of bent connectors and blown out bushings. Clearly I need to do some replacing and adjusting, but I want to get some collective advice from you all first!

The less money I have to spend, the better.

Thanks!

 

Any worn bushing could cause it. I'd replace any that are worn.

 

you need a new steering setup. 5.5" is way too much for the stock parts.

 

Start with a double shear track bar.

 

Thanks! What pieces would you recommend starting with?

 

Start with making sure all your nuts and bolts are tight in the front end. Especially your trac bar. Secondley, do you have a steering box brace? If not, did you happen to begin to rip your steering box off the framrail?

 

check the tierod ends for play and slop

 

I agree. Iro makes a good one as well as rockkrawler

 

you need a trackbar and a completely new steering setup. currie will work and bolt in but its $$, JCR's kit is cheaper but you should go over the knuckle at that height which means you'll need to also relocate your trackbar, teraflex makes crossover stuff, so does ORU, but theyre also $$.

search, theres plenty of info here. just a beefier tie rod or V8 ZJ stuff isn't gonna help... you need to fix your ****ty geometry.

 

An over the knuckle kit is not needed at the O.P's height.

Before you spend a cent....
with the engine running, have an assistant turn the steering wheel rapidly back and forth while you look at, listen too and feel every moving part of your steering system and the track bar at both ends.

Any popping TRE or joint should be replaced.

Put a wrench on all four of the track bar mounting bracket (frame side.

Pull the track bar (axle side) and check for a wallowed out hole.

Post up your results and let's go from there.

 

you're looking at a pretty intense drag link angle and a good amount of tie rod roll and dead spot with a 1-ton setup under the knuckle at that height. needed? no. recommended? yes.

 

Recommended? By who?

I've sold quite a few of my steering kits and installed a heck of a lot of those.

A properly installed OTK system requires far more parts and more money.
Welding is required.
A new OTA Track Bar bracket is required.
A shorter track bar is required
Sway bar mounts must be cut off
New sway bar mounts must be welded on
Drivers side coil bucket must be trimmed

 

The drag link angle with a UTK is fine.

Tie-rod roll is easily corrected, and doing so eliminates the dead spot.

 

Recommended by me, after driving jeeps with different setups. Not trying to be a douche, but how are you correcting the dead spot and roll? Clocking the tie rod ends against each other? The spacers only do so much for so long.

 

My kit includes 2 poly spacers that are easily replaced when worn out.