Recently did a 2 inch lift with spacers and shackles last week. When I rode it in the highway two days ago I go a bad death wobble after hitting 55mph. Today as I was turning the steering wheel I kept hearing a cracking/popping sound from under the front suspension. So I had my brother turn the steering wheel while I peeked underneath. Looks like the popping sound is coming from the pitman arm. Do they actually go bad? I got front wheel alignment yesterday but it didn't fix the death wobble.

 

Is it death wobble or just a bad vibration? DW usually happens at just about any road speed when you hit a bump. Pitman arms don't go bad, the popping is probably coming from your steering box going bad.

 

A pitman arm is hard to go bad its probably the tie rod end in it or even the steering box.

 

Took it to a shop this morning to get some opinions. They told me the popping sound is coming from the gear box going bad. I'm thinking about going to the junk yard and pulling one out since money is kinda tight. Does any one if the the grand Cherokee gear box will fit in a xj??? There's a ton of grand Cherokees on the junk jard but not many xjs. I also read that I might need a pit man arm drop. Is it true even tho I only have a 2-3 inch lift?

 

It's death wabble. I literally have to pull over on the high way. It gets scary.

 

So i just got rid of my weird popping noise. It ended up being from dirt and other crap being trapped between the frame and track bar brackets. to check, have your brother turn it again, and just start touching what ever you thing is making the noise with a couple fingers, you'll be able to track down what it actually is.

 

I did that yesterday. It's either the gear box or the drag link end attached to the pitman arm. Can a bad gear box really cause death wobble??? I'm replacing the drag link end first. I'll see what results I get.

 

Durango boxes fit with no mods. And I think you have a more in depth issue going on than your box. Look into your control arms, tie rod ends, track bar bracket and alignment

 

Tighten your track bar bracket with a breaker bar and drive it first most likely that's your problem. ...

 

Do it just cuz we know it's a problem area.

A guy will NOT see the looseness of the bolts. Like you said, tighten them.

 

I've even put lock tight on them bolts and they still loosen up every now and then

 

Replaced the tie rod that connects to the pit man arm. The popping sound disappeared when I turn. But the popping sound is still there when I hit a bump. I'll check it out when it stops raining outside. Bolts on the steering gear are tight.

 

Tie rod that connects to the pitman arm is called a drag link.

 

Yea that's what I meant sorry

 

Well I replaced the tie rod end that goes on the drag link last week and still nothing. Still had the death wabble. And popping was still there. Bought the steering gear yesterday and took it to a shop. They told me for $100 they'll replace it. Well when I got there the guy guaranteed me the gear box on the jeep was fine even tho a different shop had told me the gear box was bad and that explained the popping sound. Guy at the shop also told me I need to replace my WHOLE front suspension because since since I lifted 2 inches everything else has to be longer. I don't know if the guy was just being a dick or he was just trying to scam me for my money. He charged me $5 just to check out the truck. Well...now I'm stumped. The popping sound is coming from the gear box along with the new tie rod that connects6308279927 to the pitman arm. I should've left it stock b