[nadcom]

I am looking for some suggestions for curing the Death Wobble.

The first time it happened it scared the heck out of me. Driving a long and then all of a sudden the front end of my jeep attempted to do an impression of a paint mixer. Holly Nelly! I need an old priest and a young one. Out you devil!

Before I started doing some research I thought I had bad shocks. So, I replaced them with a full round of Monroe Reflex shocks. I got an alignment and balanced my tires when I had the socks replaced.

That however did not make the vibration go away.

After doing some research it looks like there are various opinions on the matter.

I got under my truck and looked around and could not find anything loose. The dampener looked like crap and it looked like a project I could take on. Then with some advice from this forum I replaced it.

It made the steering system stiffer. I can still feel the vibration, but it doesn’t shake the entire front end. My poor new dampener is getting a work out.

My wobble occurs almost directly at 50mph. If I slow down or speed up it goes away.

I am trying to decide what steps to take next.

I have read that a new Track Bar will do the trick. Factory, aftermarket or Kevin’s does anyone have any experience with any of them.

The Dealer says it could be the upper and lower ball joints.

Anyone else got any ideals.

Thanks

Dan

 

[Alaska ZJ]

If you have adjustable UCA shorten them up a bit.

If you don't use the adjuster cam on the LCA to make the LCA as long as possible.

That will cure you up....

 

[nadcom]

I have got a 95 zj

I forgot to state my model year.

Will that also work for lower suspension arms?

Are they the same thing?

How do you extend that?

Thanks

Dan

 

[KevinsOffroad.com]

Hey dude...sorry to hear about your troubles. I took a few moments to write this: http://www.kevinsoffroad.com/techarticles/deathwobble.html

Hopefully something in there may help you.

Kevin

 

[nadcom]

Well that didn't work for me.

I used the adjuster Cams to make the LCA as long as possible.

Still shakes at 50mph.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I have read Kevins Tech Article before. I was hoping to get some feedback from others before I go down the Track Arm Path.

Anyone?

 

[Alaska ZJ]

your caster/camber relationship is all screwed up. If you have budget boost or rubber isolator take that out and try that.......

 

[nadcom]

I haven't done any lift work yet

I just bought the jeep and have not got around to doing any lift work on it yet.

It's still stock hieght.

Wouldn't that been corrected by my alignment?

Keep them coming.......

 

[Alaska ZJ]

DUDE! Why didn't you say it was stock!

I will betcha that it is your balljoints and your alignment.

 

[Silverback]

Sounds like a GREAT time to lift it!!!!!!!!! :lol:


Seriously though, i've never had that problem - but you are in good hands around here! Good luck!

 

[nadcom]

Well... The Jeep dealer says its the Steering gear...

I finally decided to take it to a shop to see if they could determine what was wrong with it.

The dealer believes it’s the steering gear.

They want $847 for the part and labor.

It looks like I can get the remanufactured part for $150.

Anyone have any ideas or experience with this?

Dan

 

[Alaska ZJ]

Re: Well... The Jeep dealer says its the Steering gear...

I finally decided to take it to a shop to see if they could determine what was wrong with it.

The dealer believes it’s the steering gear.

They want $847 for the part and labor.

It looks like I can get the remanufactured part for $150.

Anyone have any ideas or experience with this?

Dan

Yah I can change a steering gear box on the trail, knee deep in muck in less than a hour. Your getting ripped off.

 

[jhedman2]

For death wobble issues, i have built a small page with some of my personal experiences relating to this issue. Please check them out at www.jeeplife.info on the My Zj page. I have finally seen some good posts on death wobble as about 7 months ago, there were none. As for having a bad steering gear, i really wouldn't believe that. You to remember that the extreme hydraulic pressures in Jeeps would let you know if you have a problem. Normally, a leak is the first sign, other than grinding.

 

[Geo Jeep]

Since you are riding stock height, I would have to second the opinion that its probably bad ball joints. Either that or you've been getting really bad alignments. Be sure to check the computer printout they give you when you get an alignment.

 

[YJZJFSJ]

and lets not forget, make sure your tires are balanced.

 

[dracer69]

as i have said many times before, DW is mostly caused from something wore out, loose, bent, etc. yes, the alignment can affect this, but i still believe it just helps cover up the origin of the problem. i fought it at stock height also. i was about to lift my jeep about the time it started so i just delt w/ it for a while. helps keep people from asking to drive it.... :lol:

first off, i knew my shocks were worn out and so was the trackbar. new shocks helped at first but they quickly wore out after 11k miles (rubber bushings were completely gone).

i installed a RE trackbar, tightened it regularly, installed a set of shocks w/ urethane bushings (skyjacker), and it mostly disappeared. i consider once or twice a year acceptabled.

at 155k miles, i swapped out my front axle for a newer one (w/o broken brackets). i discovered one of my upper control arm bushings is COMPLETELY gone. i expect that once i get that replaced, my DW should disappear at least until something else wears out.

if a ball joint is worn out, you should be able to put the front axle on stands and see the knuckle move irregularly when applying force to the wheel. get a friend to help you look for something loose or moving around that shouldn't be. also, i think if your steering gearbox was worn out enough to add to your DW problem, you wouldn't be driving it. when they wear out, they begin to leak.

 

[Guest]

It's not gonna be your stearing box. As said above, it is usualy caused by worn or bent componenets, in your case I'm betting tie rod ends and / or ball joints.

Though a SS can hide some DW, you should be able to run WITHOUT a SS and not get any DW at all.

 

[nadcom]

Well a year later --- I finaly post an update -

I was getting really frustrated with the issue. I have had the tires balanced before but I decided to have the tires balanced again, but this time on a Hunter GSP9700 Vibration Control System.

That yielded no more vibration of any kind.

The mechanic at the shop where I had it done said my tires looked like they were manufactured incorrectly.

I decided to swap out the tires as soon as the issue appeared again. Luckily it hasn’t.

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[JOE]

to me, what you described really doesn't sound like death wobble at all. the fact that you can "speed up or below 50mph" is strange. couple things......trackbar, balljoints, also check your front driveshaft ujoints.

 

[nadcom]

10 cents and a clean pair of sock will get you there.

I had that all checked out by three separate mechanics. I did replace the track bar (it wasn't that hard to do). It wasn't until I had the wheels balanced on the fancy shmancy balancer that it when away.

It was oh, so, scary when it used to happen. The front end would shake like there was an earthquake. Not a little, "What was that?" earthquake, but a "OH MY GOD WE ARE GOING TO DIE!" earthquake.

Just wanted to let people know what finally resolved the issue for me.

Cheers