Death wobble

mojpboy

NAXJA Forum User
Location
Kansas City,MO
I have a 4.5 lift and have death wobble when hitting bumps. I have an adj track bar and adl lca's that are set at 16.6" for the lift. Will caster shims stop the wobble.I have it toed in at 1/8 since it has a 231 t/c.I cant really understand why a caster shim would stop the wobble when the lca's wont.
 
This subject has been so beat to death it is rediculous!!!! I hate to say it but search and come back when you have tried at least the initial stuff.

Get your wheels balanced/rotated.
Get an alignment (make sure they check adjust castor).
Make sure all your bushings are good.

Normally those 3 things will fix it for ya.

Michael
 
My main question is..is using the shims the same as having adjustable control arms.My upper control arms are stock ,and I am wondering should i just break down and buy drop brackets or upper control arms.I have read all of the posts on death wobble.I have been battling it for several months and the go jeep site addresses control arm lenghth and adjusting castor but not together so that is my main question.
 
mojpboy said:
My main question is..is using the shims the same as having adjustable control arms.My upper control arms are stock ,and I am wondering should i just break down and buy drop brackets or upper control arms.I have read all of the posts on death wobble.I have been battling it for several months and the go jeep site addresses control arm lenghth and adjusting castor but not together so that is my main question.

ADJ LCA's are adjustable so that you can adjust the length. The castor shims are to adjust (fine tune, side to side) the castor. They are designed for two different puposes. The problem is that many alignment shops will not adjust the castor on a XJ. So you need to find a shop that will or do it yourself like the go jeep website shows. You don't need new UCA's!! You need to balance your wheels (Cause of DW) and get your alignment done correctly (to help mask any wobble that is still there). When these two are good and you still have an issue then you need to look at bushings, joints, steering, etc, etc, etc.

HTH,
Michael
 
Your track bar should parallel your drag link.

A little front end shimmy is NOT death wobble. Death Wobble is VIOLENT UNCONTROLLED SHAKING of the front axle.

Death wobble can be caused by many things.

First, take your steering stabilizer off and throw it away. (that little shock thingy on the drag link) This only masks the issues with death wobble thus causing further wear and tear on parts. You DONT NEED IT.

Second, check your Track bar. If there is ANY play in it, (even 1/32nd of an inch) you need to tighten it, replace the bushings, or the frame mount end (whatever you have aftermarket or stock) You can also check the track bar by having a helper turn the wheels left to right while you observe it. The track bar should SOLIDLY attach the front axle to the frame. As I said above, the track bar should parallel the drag link, with the axle at ride height, at full stuff and full droop.

Third, check your steering linkage. Get under the Jeep and grab the drag link (the rod from the steering box to the passenger knuckle), try to shake it around, if it moves at the passenger knuckle you need to replace it. If it wiggles, or has slop at the pittman arm (steering box side) than you need to replace the tie rod end. Then grab the tie rod (part that connects the drag link to the drivers knuckle) and try to shake it and move it around. If these parts are loose, you need to replace your tie-rod ends. You can also observe this while you have a helper turn the wheels left and right while you observe it.


Fourth, check your ball joints and wheel bearings. Jack each wheel off the ground and try to "wiggle" it by grasping it at both top and bottom, and each side. If it wiggles, you need to replace either the ball joints or bearing. This can be easily checked by further removing the wheel,brake caliper, and brake disc. You should try to move the knuckle up and down or wobble it (ball joints), and then try to wiggle the hub/bearing assembly by grasping it by the flange that the wheel studs mount to. If the flange wiggles, you need to replace the hub/bearing assembly.

Fifth, tire balancing. An imbalanced tire can lead to death wobble.

Sixth, Your steering box. This can be checked by having a helper turn the wheel left and right. Watch for the engagement of the steering shaft and watch the pittman arm turn, if there is play in either, there is the problem. Also, your steering box may be coming apart from the frame. Watch for this too as your helper turns the wheel. You can also try to wiggle the steering box on the frame itself. Check for play at the frame mount and bolts, which may be broken off inside the frame, where you cant see.

Seventh, EXTREME control arm angles. Anything over 3.5 inches of lift on stock-length control arms can cause death wobble, due to the mounting of said arms and the stresses on them.

Eighth, control arms themselves. Check all the bushings at the frame mounts and axle mounts. This applies to both stock arms and aftermarket. If your bushings need replacing, then replace them. The control arms keep your caster angle right so as your other axle components do what they were designed to do. Worn out bushings will be either visually detected, or have a helper put your rig in 4LO and watch the front axle as they drive the vehicle back and forth. If the inital torque really moves the front axle (essentially the pinion) up and down you need to look into bushing or even control arm replacement. (OR a Long Arm kit for those over 3.5 inches on stock length control arms)

Ninth, shocks. Your shocks mushy, bent shafts, or leaking fluid? Time to replace them. Yup, even shocks can cause death wobble. Check the mounting points on the axle, and also at the shock tower. If these are worn out, than replace them.
 
The trackbar and lca's are brand new re.And my steering stabilizer is a brand new rancho.The tires are in balance.Also have installed a new tie rod end.My ball joints are good.so must be something in the steering,either the box is loose or maybe the apper ca bushings are wore out.Thanks for the input.
 
Are you 100% you have Death Wobble?
If your tires are balanced then how do they start to wobble?

Steering stabilizers are NOT the problem. They only mask the issues.

You still have not said that you have had an alignment? What is the castor set at on each side?

Michael
 
Narfxj said:
Install a bigger steering shock stablizer. The little stock one works fine for stock but add a lift and bigger tires and its done.


People who run big tires and maintain their front ends typically run no steering stabilizer. It's a patch not a fix, and will mask a symptom until it becomes a problem.

Its better to teach people how to fix their potentially dangerous problems than to suggest how to hide them temporarily.
 
you are 100% right. I am fighting dw now and hopefully i just need new bushings on the trakbar.


cal said:
People who run big tires and maintain their front ends typically run no steering stabilizer. It's a patch not a fix, and will mask a symptom until it becomes a problem.

Its better to teach people how to fix their potentially dangerous problems than to suggest how to hide them temporarily.
 
cal said:
People who run big tires and maintain their front ends typically run no steering stabilizer. It's a patch not a fix, and will mask a symptom until it becomes a problem.

Its better to teach people how to fix their potentially dangerous problems than to suggest how to hide them temporarily.

Jeez- one of these days I'm just gonna give up, but for now here we go again.

Big tires and axles carry an entirely different set of impulses and vibrations into the front steering and suspension system. What works for a smaller tire, wobble prone xj won't necessarily work on a larger one and vice versa.

If the factory saw fit to add a damper- I'm pretty sure it's not just so you can't turn the steering wheel too fast.

When talking about likely the most wobble-prone chassis and suspension ever built (xj's for the slow) saying a steering stabilizer is a bandaid is a MYTH, OLD WIVES TALE, UNTRUE, BUSTED. QUIT SAYING IT TO THOSE WHO MIGHT FALL FOR THE MISINFORMATION. It is an important part of the system for most and leaving it out is an invitation for trouble.
 
JJacobs said:
When talking about likely the most wobble-prone chassis and suspension ever built (xj's for the slow) saying a steering stabilizer is a bandaid is a MYTH, OLD WIVES TALE, UNTRUE, BUSTED. QUIT SAYING IT TO THOSE WHO MIGHT FALL FOR THE MISINFORMATION. It is an important part of the system for most and leaving it out is an invitation for trouble.


You're welcome to your opinion, but come up with some facts or keep it to yourself. :)
 
Ford TSB 07-10-10 is a good start. I don't think I should paste it here though. It deals with steering wheel oscillation and front end inspection/ adjustment.
 
Steering stabilizers are essentially a shock absorber for your steering system. They are highly recommended for all vehicles with over-sized tires, a winch or snow plow to increase control and handling. Stabilizers dampen out wheel shimmy and help prevent the steering wheel from being jerked out of your hands in rough terrain or when a road hazard is struck by the front wheels. A steering stabilizer is a proven safety device in the event of a blow out. Steering stabilizers are engineered to restrain "bump steer" and front end vibration, giving added life to tires, ball joints and other steering components. A lot of vehicles now come from the factory with a steering stabilizer.
After market stabilizers are far superior in performance being specifically designed to handle off-road conditions with lifted vehicles.


That being said, I have 35's and My wheel never gets jerked out of my hands. Sometimes it wants to do it's thing, but I don't hold a death grip on my wheel, and never hook my thumbs. The stabilizer never helped the "jerk" problem anyway.

I don't have ANY bumpsteer either. A properly aligned and maintained front end may shimmy the steering wheel a bit, but not so much as to cause a hazard. Even at highway speeds.

As for the wear on parts. I just don't care. I don't think a stabilizer is really going to effectively reduce the amount of abuse I put on my Jeep. A

I threw my stabilizer away years ago.
 
I used to run w/ no stabilizer and 35s, I know it's not generally a problem with that set of angles and weights on the front end. But then you get into the smaller tires with less offset, narrower scrub radius, then the damper matters a lot more.
 
I was not gonna reply but I found it so funny that I have to. Run no steering stablizer BLAHAHAH. I guess it came from the factory for no reason.

I put the rusty's 8 inch long arm lift kit and drove it with the stock 235's. Wow was the trip home fun major death wobble. I got it aligned by a certified place and it all checked out perfect. But still had the death wable. Put a new steering stablizer on from rustys. Never had a problem again. So if that is a temp fix well that was two years ago and still going. I'll take a temp fix like that anytime!!!
 
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