Beefncheese

Long time browser, first time poster. This forum has been incredibly helpful over the past year. Thank you to all who contribute. I didnt have any experience working on cars when I picked up a 96 country with 130000 miles on it. I had no idea what a serptine belt was. Thanks to this place, Ive replaced the water and power steering pumps on my own and have done some other minor things.

Im now at about 140,000 and the death wobble has set in. Looked around underneath and saw that the sway bar links weren't even there. Put those in and the steering tightened up and the death wobble went away. About 300 highway miles (DC to Mercer, PA) later the wobble came back.

Back to looking around underneath and one thing jumped out at me: If I lay on my back and grab the drag link as if I were grabbing a pull-up bar, and I rotate my hands forward and back, the drag link rotates too, at least 90 degrees. Is this normal? Could it be causing the wobble? I've read a lot about the wobble on this forum, and my understanding is all of this stuff is supposed to be tight, but maybe that doesn't apply to the drag link. I also noticed that one of the bushings on the sway bar link is cracked - not all the way through, but its definitely noticeable.

thank you

Larry's XJ

Sway bar only deals with body roll (primarily)

Do you have a lift or bigger tires? Were tie rod ends tight?

Beefncheese

Nah, stock.

Do I have to have it off the ground to properly check tie rod ends? Yanked on them while on the ground and they were tight.

Here's more info on the wobble in case it's useful. When I first experienced it, it was initiated by hitting a bump in the road 99 percent of the time. Now it happens if I'm doing between 50-55 and the road bends. Once I hit the bend and the jeep starts to lean a little, the wobble hits. I can stop it by letting of gas and tapping break. It may still occur if I hit a bump in that range of speed, I just haven't hit one yet.

Thanks for the reply.

md21722

Its fine for the steering linkage to rotate. Each end has a ball stud similar to a ball joint. If you turn the steering wheel back and forth lock to lock, look for ANY slop in those joints. Joints that are really shot will visible jump around. Joints that are worn will have some play.