xj In AR

Steering damper is the most overlooked easiest to replace and cheapest fix for dw. I don't care if it's in perfect alignment with all new tie rod ends and bushings. If damper is bad dw will surface. 2001 xj only part I replaced to fix wobble was damper.

bigvig

Its also a band aid. If your front end is perfect, the steering stabilizer should be able to be disconnected without death wobble appearing. If you have REAL death wobble, its not the steering stabilizer. It might be part of the problem, but its a band aid repair to replace just the stabilizer and think that's a fix.

Stabsthedrama

Yup. Steering stabs are cheap (even the moog oem one is a lot beefier than stock and only like $40) - and might as well get swapped if you're doing tie rods anyway, but stabilizers are in NO WAY going to fix anyones wobble. Period.

Their name just seems to make people to think that they will automatically stabilize their steering...understandably.

dernt

This jeep was laid up for a long time due to an overheating issue. Finally figure out that the electric fan was seized. Replaced and seems to be fine. Back to the death wobble. So to summarize: New ball joints, new tie rods and ends with ZJ upgrade, new track bar, replaced track bar mount, no wallow issue on track bar bolt. Swapped tires with vehicle that has no tire issue. Checked upper and lower control arm bushings with a pry bar and the axle jacked up; they feel as though I would expect rubber bushings to feel. Wobble is still with me. With car jacked up, jack stands on axle, I try to wiggle things. Tires have no movement when trying to wiggle top to bottom. Side to side, there is a bit of movement. Both tires move about 1/4" or less. Seems like backlash in the steering box. Should I go through the trouble of replacing the steering box? I'll probably do the control arms and bushing just because.

Waynerd

Death wobble is the whole axle shaking not just the steering going back and forth. Track bar and control arms are the only things really holding the axle steady. I'm currently driving with bad CA bushings and I can barely hit 40 with out it wobbling like crazy. Took me checking several times before I noticed the bushing were bad. Started as a thumping and I couldn't figure that out right away. They are also the only parts in the front that are not new. My full size van has a bad idler arm and ball joints. It wobbles only when braking and it feels totally different than death wobble.

tjwalker

I know you did a driveway alignment, but I'd still consider putting it on the rack. Not saying that is the root cause, but should rule it in or out. At the same time, you get another opinion on what might be root cause. Take it to a shop that specializes in 4 wheel drive vehicles if that's an option.
================================================== =========
My understanding of “death wobble” is this. Somewhere on the vehicle, one or more components is worn beyond tolerances, and when oscillation initiates from a suspension “traumatic” event (like hitting a bump or a pothole) or also when a vibration reaches a certain point and harmonic at a certain speed, it causes the other components to react. This is called the “multiplier effect”, where one component affects one or more other components as the event travels through the front end of the vehicle.

Death wobble is not uncommon with the XJ! It is even more common with a lifted XJ. Finding the worn component or components is not always easy and can sometimes be downright difficult. Sometimes it’s obvious, other times everything appears to be okay when you perform an inspection on a hoist, but getting the vehicle up in the air and going over everything with a fine tough comb is always a good first step. Have a friend turn the steering wheel back and forth full travel as you perform the inspection. It is very helpful if you know exactly how to perform a comprehensive inspection of every single front end part, looking for abnormal wear and or play in that hardware. If you do not know how to do this type of inspection, pay an experienced professional to do it. Be sure to ask them if they are familiar with “death wobble”, as not all technicians are versed in this…..

Possible causes of death wobble are listed below. Isolating death wobble is a process of elimination; the root cause is not always obvious and it can often be caused by a combination of things! Always chase and resolve death wobble because if it is not resolved, it is such a violent event that it has the potential to seriously damage front end parts. From my personal experience, I would first concentrate on the track bar and the control arms and associated bushings.
--------------------------------------------------------
-Front tires out of balance (try swapping fronts to rear; see if symptoms change)
-Tire pressure. Don’t laugh. It’s not a root cause but can exaggerate the problem. Experiment with lower tire pressure to see if it helps
-Improper lug nut torque on wheels
-Front alignment out of spec
-Loose track bar
-Worn track bar bushings
-Worn track bar (check for play!!)
-Bad control arms and associated bushings
-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

Waynerd

Very well said. Years back I had an 88 and it had serious death wobble. At the time I hadn't heard if it and was like what the? Had a shop check it out. Alignment was good and they couldn't find anything loose. I had them double check and I checked several times. Replaced the trac bar anyway just to try it. The wobble subsided mostly. It would only start to wobble a little and stop on its own a few seconds later. Rarely it would still turn violent. There was one bump I would have to drive over every day and it went from wobbling if i hit it over 45 to being able to hit it even faster and it would only wobble for a few seconds.

Rising Fawn

I've come to the conclusion that it is the tires that cause the "wobble" on my truck.
I say that because the tires that I now have on the truck have about 40K miles on them, and the "Wobble" hasn't raised it's ugly head for over a year now.

I have no other way to explain it. I have checked and replaced most of the parts on the front end, alignment done, everything tight, and it still would go into this crazy...almost out of control..."Death Wobble" at around 50-55 MPH. It was worse if I hit a bump in the road...It would continue until I slowed to under 40 MPH and then it would stop.

It suddenly went away one day , and hasn't happened in over a year. The only thing that has changed is the amount of rubber on the tires and their wear pattern.

I'm gonna have to have some new tires in a short while, and I'm sorta dreading it....afraid the ugly monster will raise it's ugly head again.

steve