Chick-N-Picker

1989 XJ 4.0 4x4 auto 121,000 miles.

Been dealing with a death wobble issue for a while that is only getting worse. Replaced a worn out trac bar and that didn't solve it.

I have noticed that my steering wheel is slightly off to the right And if I hold it straight instead of driving straight as it should it tracks left. Not sure when the steering became off centered, to be honest.

Also with that, I seen to have death wobble more often when driving in a left curve and/or hitting a bump.

Not sure if the steering wheel and all that is the cause of the death wobble or a sympton of the death wobble. Any thoughts or ideas? Yes, I have felt all around under neath and is why I replaced the trac bar as it was loose and bad. My drag link/tie rods may be loose but a little harder to tell.

I was thinking of swapping some tires to different spots and see if that changes anything. All input is welcome.

Off to the right.

EZEARL

Replacing the track bar on my '96 got rid of the slight case of death wobble it had. Steering was okay but not as tight as I liked. About a month or so later I started to notice that the steering was changing for the worse with the slightest bit of shake to it under certain conditions. Decided to replace the steering linkage even though there was no perceptible play anywhere. All but one of the five ball studs had no resistance at all and the remaining one wasn't the anything to write home about. So no perceptible play doesn't mean it's doesn't cause issues.

lawsoncl

Have someone turn the wheel back-n-forth while you look at and feel an the tie rod ends. The new track bar might have been a slightly different length. You should check the toe-in and then adjust the steering link to recenter the steering wheel. A bad stablizer or tires can make a wobble worse. Btw, true death wobble is out of control, crap your pants, have to almost stop the car to get it to stop once it's going.

Chick-N-Picker

I'll check stuff out underneath again, again. I want this gone so bad but honestly don't have the money to throw parts at it. I really don't.

Also, yeah it's true death wobble. It's insane to the max. And yeah I fo have to slow all the way down to 25 to 35mph to get it to stop if it starts. I try my absolute best to avoid it. It gives me crazy anxiety while driving by trying to avoid it.

lawsoncl

Yup, that's death wobble! Figure out where the slop is coming from, check the stabilizer, and do an alignment, particularly toe-in.

4.3L XJ

X2 o checking all the pivot joints for play

bluejeep2001

Is your jeep lifted? that expands possibilities. Also the upper control arm bushings usually go bad after time because they never get replaced

agreen

Death wobble does not have a single point fix for all vehicles. What fixed it on one person's jeep won't on another. You have to check all the steering and suspension components.

I completely agree with lawsoncl on this. Do that test, and if you don't see anything, replace the control arm bushings.

Chick-N-Picker

No lift. Stock on 30x9.5's.

Chick-N-Picker

Ok, I will check the toe in. And I 100% need a new steering stabilizer. Mine is shot. However, I have seen conflicting reports that it can cause death wobble. Some saying it can't but others swearing their death wobble was cured with a new steering stabilizer, after exhausting every other option. I am certainly going to change it but not sure it could cause the steering wheel to get off center, or pull right, and everything I said in my OP?

But I know, I know. If I know a part is shot then change that and reassess my symptoms.

lawsoncl

A bad stabilizer won't cause DW by itself, but it can make the difference whether a minor bump ends the system inot full blown DW.

Paul Standaert

I just drove my 1999 XJ with a 3.5" lift and 33's on a 1,400 mile road trip to Sturgis and back with my dirt bike on the receiver hitch.

No steering stabilizer.
No death wobble.
Cruised at mostly 70+ mph the entire way.
Redneck hillbilly wheel alignment using straight square tubing clamped to the brake rotors to measure toe.

Death wobble is caused by there being one or more components loose in the front suspension. You probably won't be able to use your hands or tools to find a faulty control arm bushing. Sometimes it'll be your ball joints, sometimes your track bar, and sometimes depending on what is wrong, a new steering stabilizer will fix it. The most overlooked item are your control arm bushings. They're liable to be only 32 years old. They're pretty cheap to replace if you have a press. They *can* cause your steering wheel to go off center like that. All your tie rod ends and ball joints can be checked by hand and with pry bars.

I also have the WJ front knuckles and brakes, modified WJ tie bar, and modified WJ drag link. But none of that should matter.

country2

Check where track bar mounts to frame on passenger side and see if it's loose or hole for the bolt got walleyed out. Also check on drivers side where it mounts also.

lawsoncl

That's how I do mine. I aim for .25 - .5 degree toe-in. I get annoyed at all the guys saying 1/8 - 1/4" toe-in measuring at the tire, since the depends on the tire size, and toe is properly spec'd as an angle not a length.

Paul Standaert

Yeah, I hear stuff like that, too. That trigonometry class in high school wasn't useless.

Will a bit of toe-in help drivability at all?