Front end wobble after bump ??

[Pharaoh XJ]

Ok my sister just got a 2001 WJ V8 (stock).

The front end seems to wobble after I hit a bump, I feel it in the steering wheel (bumpsteer) & the whole front end then takes some time to stabilize

any ideas ?

 

[JNickel101]

Classic death wobble....

Start with the track bar (frame side ball joint type end), after that it could be anything from control arm bushings to shocks/shock mounts, tie rod ends....tire out of balance....

 

[Pharaoh XJ]

Can knuckle balljoints cause that ? I found some play in the knuckles should there be any play ?

 

[93gc40]

Yes.

 

[93gc40]

Any loose or worn parts of the suspension and steering can cause, wobbles after bumps.

 

[88xjlover]

Sure! Also check the bearing hub since the balljoints are bad. You have to remove the hub to do the balljoints anyway. Greetings from America, by the way.

 

[heyhar]

There should be no play at all. All the balljoints should do is rotate, as when the wheels steer. Check the tie rods, all the ends in the bars that steer the wheels. The WJ has a track bar with press in bushings at both ends, not a ball jointed frame end like the XJ. They might be starting to soften, although unlikely. The best thing to do is crawl under, and have someone saw the steering wheel back and forth just a few inches (cm?), and feel for play at all joints.

 

[Pharaoh XJ]

Great thanks guys, btw XJs rule I fell in love with my XJ even more after I ve seen the quality of the WJ it is a real PITA it is a well kept jeep but everything seems to fail the whole front suspension is now LOOSE & looks like I am going to replace all balljoints & hubs, while at the same time my 94 XJ that I drive like i stole everyday, take out to the desert for several days has not even got its balljoints greased.

 

[birchlakeXJ]

Possible causes of DEATH WOBBLE: Note: It can oftentimes be due to a combination of things!

-Front tires out of balance
-Improper lug nut torque on wheels
-Front alignment out of spec
-Loose track bar
-Worn track bar bushings
-Worn track bar end
-Bad bushings/joints in control arms
-Worn/damaged steering stabilizer (not generally a cause in and by itself)
-Worn/damaged shocks
-Worn/damaged tie rod end
-Bad U Joint
-Bad ball joint
-Loose frame mount
-Steering box loose
-Bad front hub assembly

P.S. How's the weather in Egypt??

 

[dangerousdavid]

i had a ZJ that had bad bad death wobble...it was the track bar

 

[Pharaoh XJ]

Possible causes of DEATH WOBBLE: Note: It can oftentimes be due to a combination of things!

-Front tires out of balance
-Improper lug nut torque on wheels
-Front alignment out of spec
-Loose track bar
-Worn track bar bushings
-Worn track bar end
-Bad bushings/joints in control arms
-Worn/damaged steering stabilizer (not generally a cause in and by itself)
-Worn/damaged shocks
-Worn/damaged tie rod end
-Bad U Joint
-Bad ball joint
-Loose frame mount
-Steering box loose
-Bad front hub assembly

P.S. How's the weather in Egypt??

Great checklist thanks I am suspecting TREs, balljoints or shocks.
The weather is beautiful in this october 85ish