At a cross-road and need help?

[Land Runner]

I am unfortunate to have the benefit of twocapable vehicles for my needs, an 07 jku pretty well built and a 95 rrc semi built! For the past 3 months I have been chasing the dreaded death wobble in the jeep and am ready to throw in the towel and get rid of it completely! Please convince me to keep it and help me find the cause. I really wany to keep it bit am getting frustrated chasing my tail. Here iis what has been replaced and if you have anu suggestions they wpuld be greatly appreciated. Replaced: drag link, tie rod ends, steering dampner, shocks, wheels balanced, front end alligned, adjustable track bar, drag link bushings, control arm bushings, and some other things I am sure. Please Please offer me something and thanks ahead of time. It is somewhat ironic because the classic has no issues but it is a completely different vehicle all together.

 

[JFarris]

Stock suspension or aftermarket?

 

[Land Runner]

All aftermarket 4" lift

 

[bdr529]

Don't know if you've seen it or not (he's posted the same info on several different jeep forums) but a very useful thread on death wobble can be found here: http://www.jkowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30723

 

[onetraveller]

:iagree:^^^^
This is the comprehensive explanation of how to diagnose and fix death wobble on the JK.

Read the thread there is extensive information presented, but here's a synopsis.

The most common sources of full on DW are:
1. Improperly torqued trackbar bolts
2. Damaged trackbar and control arm bushings because bolts were torqued on a car lift or while the vehicle was not at ride height with the tires on the ground. When you torque trackbar and control arm bolts, the bracket pinches the bolt sleeve in the bushing, as well as the bushing itself. If this is at a geometry other than actual ride height, the bushings are twisted/bound/pre-loaded, and they will eventually fail/separate/etc. If you have a flex joint end, this does not apply for that end.
3. Ovaled out trackbar bracket holes due to DW episodes from loose bolts.

Note that death wobble will damage other components if not immediately corrected.


Mike

 

[Chi-Town]

What size tires? When was the last time it was aligned?

 

[Land Runner]

I have read all the posts on vitually every forum out there! I think Onetraveler has nailed it for me! I believe all the nuts and bolts were torqued on a lift not at ride height. I will give that a try this weekend and hope for the best and prepare for the worst. I think this will do it! Also it is kind of strange but VERY IMPRESSIVE that the best info for my Jeep as well as my Rover has been found here vs. model specific sites. This is why I visit here often. Thanks fellow enthusiasts!

 

[onetraveller]

Land Runner,
Poly performance sells a set of bolts that replace the stock track bar and control arm bolts to address Jeeps use of undersized hardware. I'd suggest either picking it up or using it to source the bolts locally and replacing them. Check the bolt holes after you loosen them to see if they have ovaled out or not. Also, if you think the bolts were torqued on a lift, I'd suggest loosening and retorquing all of your control arm bolts as well. The control arm bushings can also be forced into a preload condition that will cause some squirrely handling if they were torqued on the lift instead of on the ground.

Good luck with the fix.

Mike

 

[Land Runner]

Will do, thanks Mike!

 

[jeep-N-montero]

What brand of lift are you running and did it come with an adjustable track bar or just a crappy relocation bracket?

 

[Land Runner]

Rough country 4" lift and I purchased adjustable track bar!

 

[Land Runner]

Rough country 4" lift and I purchased adjustable track bar!

 

[jeep-N-montero]

In that case, make sure you check every single joint and connection on the entire suspension, the RC joints are known to come apart and are priced cheaply for a reason.