I've got that wobble that happens, and I'm trying to knock it down. I've read through PlanMan's writeups, and Newby's Guide, also read the RoadForce balancing thread.
Here's the background on the Jeep.
2008 JK Sahara 2 Door.
4 in RC X-Series lift
Series 97 Procomp 17x9 Steel Wheels
315x70x17 TreadWright Guard Dogs
Proseries bumpers from Ace Engineering front and back
When I went through the underside, I loosened and retorqued everything on the ground. I removed the trackbar, and I don't have the hollowed out bolt holes at either end. I've got new Synergy Ball Joints, new Moog Drag Link and tie-rod end to pitman arm, and I've had my alignment done twice.
My tires are balancing out well, and the wobble doesn't happen all the time which is frustrating.
After replacing the Drag Link and Tierod to pitman arm, I still feel a clunk in the drag link, but not as much in the pitman arm, or the tie rod. Took the Jeep to a shop and we removed the tie rod for inspection, and it was true and straight, no excessive play in the joints or the rod.
I feel like I'm missing something obvious, but I seem to be running over the same steps, time and again.
I'll get some images of the setup here in a bit, as well. Thanks in advance for any insight.
The Jeep has 75k on it, the lift about 5k, and the ball joints around 2k. I had the unit bearings inspected when I had the ball joints installed, and there were no issues there. I'll have to dig out the receipt to answer the weight on the wheel question though.
Hey kjeeper10, The Jeep has 75k on it, the lift about 5k, and the ball joints around 2k. I had the unit bearings inspected when I had the ball joints installed, and there were no issues there. I'll have to dig out the receipt to answer the weight on the wheel question though.
Just look. A ton of weight is not a good thing. That would mean your tire is out of round or a bent wheel.
A friend had some issues go away after replacing his hubs. 75k is a lot on factory components.
My 2007 JK only has 60k and everything up front besides the steering box is new.
Take a crow bar. Stick it in between the pitman arm and frame. See if you get any movement.
Another thing you can try. Pull up next to a curb and do the steering test. This puts a load on all the steering components.
Snapped some pics. I know they don't mean much as it is, but the weights are representative, inside and outside of the rims. kjeeper, all the parts are relatively new, save the pitman arm and the tie rod. I'll do that steering test tonight, not heard or thought about that before.
buz76, steering is relatively tight, after replacing the ball joints, I had the expected tightness where the steering doesn't center back, but that's been loosening up recently. I do have the wandering under heavy braking. For instance, when I have the brakes down hard, the jeep does want to wander left or right, I haven't found a pattern to that. I've just corrected as it happens.
kjeeper, I've been able to torque it up(the trackbar bolts, both ends), and my last check a few days ago had it still there. I'm using the torque specs from the project-jk site. My trackbar is also an adjustable one from RC, not TF, if that's what you meant.
Just want to say I appreciate all the comments and suggestions! Old Dogger, that's running through my head too, I'm going to recheck the bolts on the trackbar and take it back in for balance/alignment again. kjeeper, i'll check the pinch bolts tonight, do you happen to know what they are supposed to be torqued too?
If the death wobble you are getting, maybe try replacing the front stabilizer shock... I had the death wobble, replaced it and fixed it. Two years ago and no more wobble. It was a cheap fix. $90 for an aftermarket one that was better than the factory.
OP, you said you read Planman's DW diagnosis procedure but did you actually follow it?
Did you methodically check *every single* joint on the front end for unwanted play?
That RC 4" lift places a extra stress on all the joints. One of them is loose or faulty and that is what causes the DW.
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