1998 GC Death Wobble
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
7 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Grand Cherokee (ZJ)
Engine: 5.2
1998 GC Death Wobble
Need to pick some brains here as I'm running out of ideas of what could be happening.
- Did a typical front to rear lift
- New adjustable trackbar
- All new tie rods
- No ball joint movement when going up and down
- No bearing movement from 12 and 6
- Not currently running a steering stabilizer
- I am currently running stock control arms but that shouldn't matter as lots of people have done this lift and not changed them
What is my next course of action? Could the control arm bushings be causing this? It always happens at 70km/h (44mph).
Thoughts?
- Did a typical front to rear lift
- New adjustable trackbar
- All new tie rods
- No ball joint movement when going up and down
- No bearing movement from 12 and 6
- Not currently running a steering stabilizer
- I am currently running stock control arms but that shouldn't matter as lots of people have done this lift and not changed them
What is my next course of action? Could the control arm bushings be causing this? It always happens at 70km/h (44mph).
Thoughts?
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
7 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Grand Cherokee (ZJ)
Engine: 5.2
I'm doing upper control arm bushings axle side tonight and then from there will be control arms :\
#4
Senior Member
this is probably not in your case, but after swapping my front tires for my rears I had death wobble only between 40-45 mph. If I powered past 45 it would correct itself, anything less than 40 and no problems. Thinking my tires were out of balance I added water to them but nothing changed so I swapped them back and no more wobble. I think its the way the tread wears that caused it. also, if you have steel wheels one of them could have gone out of round if you had been hard on them lately.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
7 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Grand Cherokee (ZJ)
Engine: 5.2
this is probably not in your case, but after swapping my front tires for my rears I had death wobble only between 40-45 mph. If I powered past 45 it would correct itself, anything less than 40 and no problems. Thinking my tires were out of balance I added water to them but nothing changed so I swapped them back and no more wobble. I think its the way the tread wears that caused it. also, if you have steel wheels one of them could have gone out of round if you had been hard on them lately.
May not be an issue but probably didn't help.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
7 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Grand Cherokee (ZJ)
Engine: 5.2
Upper control arm bushings on the axle changed out.. no difference.
So now I'm looking at 3 different things.
1) Wheel bearings
2) Control arms
3) Rims
I'm thinking of going with wheel bearings first as those could also be changed and the front end has some noise to it and would be the easiest to do. Then I'm thinking control arms.
Now the kicker here is that the wheels I have do not have the proper center bore and I'm relying on the lugs to center the rims. Now I was told that this wouldn't be an issue but maybe it is?
So now I'm looking at 3 different things.
1) Wheel bearings
2) Control arms
3) Rims
I'm thinking of going with wheel bearings first as those could also be changed and the front end has some noise to it and would be the easiest to do. Then I'm thinking control arms.
Now the kicker here is that the wheels I have do not have the proper center bore and I'm relying on the lugs to center the rims. Now I was told that this wouldn't be an issue but maybe it is?
Trending Topics
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
7 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Grand Cherokee (ZJ)
Engine: 5.2
If the control arms don't fix it then its going to be getting the front wheels checked for balance and then after that will be hub centric rings.
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
7 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Grand Cherokee (ZJ)
Engine: 5.2
1/8" as per spec
Trust me.. I've gone over this thing with a fine tooth comb. If the control arms don't work its either wobbly tires or needing hubcentric rings.
The thing had 240,000 kilometers on it so all these parts needed replacing any ways.
Trust me.. I've gone over this thing with a fine tooth comb. If the control arms don't work its either wobbly tires or needing hubcentric rings.
The thing had 240,000 kilometers on it so all these parts needed replacing any ways.
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
7 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Grand Cherokee (ZJ)
Engine: 5.2
Ok something I noticed about the Jeep today and I'm wondering if this is normal.
With the Jeep parked and running if I turn the steering wheel left or right, the direction I turn it causes the body to lift on that side.
Is this normal behavior?
With the Jeep parked and running if I turn the steering wheel left or right, the direction I turn it causes the body to lift on that side.
Is this normal behavior?
#13
Senior Member
I found out today the reason for my woble is my rim is slightly bent. A buddy noticed it when we were driving and thought i would post it as somthing to check.
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Calgary, AB
Posts: 622
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
7 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Grand Cherokee (ZJ)
Engine: 5.2
So am I at a complete and utter loss and not sure what to do now.
- All tie rods replaced
- Ball joints replaced
- Axle control arm bushings replaced
- Control arms replaced
- Track bar and track bar mount replaced
- Wheels balanced
This thing does ok in a straight line but the second I navigate around a corner and hit a bump.... death wobble. I am running out of patience with this thing as I simply cannot fathom any further what is going on.
If there is something I am completely oblivious too or missing please let me know.
- All tie rods replaced
- Ball joints replaced
- Axle control arm bushings replaced
- Control arms replaced
- Track bar and track bar mount replaced
- Wheels balanced
This thing does ok in a straight line but the second I navigate around a corner and hit a bump.... death wobble. I am running out of patience with this thing as I simply cannot fathom any further what is going on.
If there is something I am completely oblivious too or missing please let me know.