hi, i have a 01 XJ 2wd with 30x9.5R15 BF A/T tires, i just recently did a fat bobs garage lift 3 inch, they send me new coils, add a leaf, new shocks, and a track bar adapter.
I just did the lift and it gave me a good lift in the front, im missing the add a leaf on the rear, doing that this weekend.
Stock shocks were bad, so new ones gave me a great ride.

My problem is the following, before i did the lift, i took it to a service center because it was giving me little wobble at around 50 mph, passed around 55 it was all good. It started doing it a little, one day i was at a curve at 55 and it shook a lot. So after this, i took it to the service center, they told me that i had bad alignment and that three of the ball joints were bad. they were charging me almost 300 dollars for doing it, i was low on cash so i waited.

I bought all the tie rods new, nothing to do with the ball joints, and installed them myself and the wobble stopped a little, it wasnt doing it as much.

I got the lift two weeks ago so i installed it, part of it. After running it the first day, it was ok, the second day, at 45 it started to wobble really bad, so bad that i thought the suspension was breaking down, similar to the last time i was running it at 55 at the curve, so i checked on it looked everything good, nothing loose, coils were tight, shocks too, so i drove it again. It did it again!!
The wobble is really bad, im even scare to drive it around since i think it will break down I checked the rods, the joints look fine, the control arms too, i dont know what else to check. What i did is that i was driving it and put my head out and see the movement of the tire, it shakes REALLY BAD!, it shakes sideways, even when i hit a bumb at 45 it starts to do it, front to back not up and down, and when i accelerate, it shakes even more, like three to four inches front to back, looked like if it was going to break

I have read forums about that it can be alignment and the steering stabilizer, Other that it can be the rods, but i already changed them, others say the LCAs bushings are no good, also the trac bar bushing that are bad. I already checked most of them and look good on the jeep, im getting new tires on it, so that's why im waiting on the alignment and balancing.

Anyone have suggestions?? Im really freaking out, its my daily drive and i do long distance, but i can't cause of the wobble, so i have to take time if someone can help i will appreciate it a lot, thanks

 

... there are Ll sorts of causes of dw as you seemed to have seen... the first thing to do is make sure EVERYTHING is tight. All control arms trac bar and steering.... next I would have a friend move your steering back and forth while you are watching the axle, steering, etc. That way you cam check everything for play while it is loaded.

 

You said you replaced the steering stabilizer? That's what it sounds like to me.

 

Yes the.steering stabilizer.makes it feel better. It does not fix the real problem though. Could also be your castor.

 

Death wobble can be tricky to find. A lift can exaggerate it or start it. Here's more
-------------------------------------

Possible causes of DEATH WOBBLE listed below. Isolating death wobble is a process of elimination and the root cause is not always obvious.

Note: It can oftentimes be due to a combination of things!

-Front tires out of balance (try swapping fronts to rear; see if symptoms change)
-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

 

the castor?? What is that? Well the steering stabilizer is the factory one, i just changed the shocks, not the steering stabilizer, like i was saying these guys at the tire shop said it was the ball joints

I already order the ball joints, ill try to get the stabilizer this weekend, see how that works.

I already checked the bushings, from LCAs and the trac bar, they look good. But ill take it somewhere else for another opinion.

So if it moves front to back, it could be the steering stabilizer?

 

Castor is the way the axle is twisted. It's measured in degrees. It is not very adjustable stock but you do. Change it a little when you put in different control arms or lift your ride. Also it it fully adjustable with adjustable control arms.

 

Replace the track bar, the bushings are worn out. How many miles are on it?

 

There is no magic fix, best way is what TJwalker mentioned.
Use his checklist and narrow it down, probably learn a few things about your jeep along the way.

GL.

 

I did follow some of the check list, just many parts to replace.
I don't want to do the alignment if i need to change the track bar, or do alignment and change bushings, i will have to waste money every time i change something on alignment

My jeep has 130,000 miles on it.

My big expense right now is the tires, im getting the set of four with wheels for 1150, these are crawlers 15x8 with BF mud terrain 32x11.5, anyone knows a better deal??

 

The taller / heavier tires won't help this situation, why won't you replace the ball joints?

 

Im doing this as soon as i get them, plus i need tires really bad, bearly have grip on the front ones, also i want bigger tires not to prevent the problem but it looks great on the xj, i have seen several picks and look great plus i think is a good deal don't you think?

 

Ball joints (all of them) and an alignment, and see where you're at after that............

 

First thing that will help. Get rid of that trak bar relocation bracket. Its a big piece of poo. I did the same lift but with shackles and I too run 30x9.50r15. I tossed the relocater braket in the garbage and ordered a adjustable trak bar from 4wdhardware. Also don't get stock steering stabilizer. Rough country has a new dual stabilizer set up that goes in stock location. Or go with a moog super trail boss. That's wut I have and its nice

 

So i finally did the rear lift to make it even, it came out pretty good, looks straight

And for the wobble, i changed all ball joints, it was a pain in the ***!! rented the autozone part to remove it, and came out pretty good

So i took it out for a spin, and guess what? Wobble is still there, lower joints were bad, upper one where ok, i still changed all of them

I ran it at 40 45 and it started to do it, little but did it

So far, all tie rods and new, all joints are new, coils and shocks too, going to try the steering stabilizer, see how that goes

My front tires don't help, they are almost gone and they are uneven worn

Just order my new tires with wheels, some pro comp MT 32, lets see how that goes too

Anyone suggest anything else to do?? Aside the steering stabilizer?

Thank You all for your help, i really appreciate it