Damsel in Distress...2000 Jeep TJ Sport Lift Kit Issues - Sway Bar is Resting on Fram
OK Gents, I am new to fixing my own vehicle but really enjoying it. I understand mostly what is going on but am having difficulty with a solution. I am not as knowledgeable as most of you, so try and keep it in words I can understand. I am very keen on doing it all myself and not taking it to a shop.
Here it goes,
I have a 2000 TJ Sport with a 5" lift. The dummy that put the lift in it did not put an adjustable track bar or upgrade the steering stabilizer.
The Jeep has been lifted since 07' (ahh), and I bought it in August. It appears to me that the short track bar has pulled everything over to the driver's side, as the passenger of the side sway bar is resting on the frame, and there is a gap on the driver's side. The sway bar link is bent on the left.
I noticed this after my first death wobble experience... holy fack! But I noticed some issues in the front end before then.
As a solution, I have ordered a new steering stabilizer, new sway bar links and an adjustable track bar (installing them will be a learning curve for me).
What do I do about the shift? Will replacing these parts fix it?
Apologies for my lack of understanding and thanks in advance.
Should I just remove the sway bar links while waiting for the parts? And the track bar.. I can't drive it right now because it keeps going into death wobbles at like 50K
The new adjustable trackbar should take care of everything being shifted over. I wouldn't drive it if you can avoid not too. Not only is death wobble unsafe, but you could damage other steering or suspension parts if it happens.
If you can, post some pictures of what you have going on with the suspension and people might be able to offer some more insight.
What kind of adjustable track bar did you order? There are only about three that will provide the clearance you need when off road. Currie, Metalcloak, or JKS. Hopefully it was one of those. The rest have clearance issues. Your track bar could be the issue with the sway bar, but so could worn out sway bar bushings on the frame.
As far as the steering stabilizer, they are just a 50/50 shock and a $25 Monroe is every bit as good as a high dollar one. Your Jeep should drive fine without a steering stabilizer (more accurately called a steering dampener), and it is never a cause for death wobble.
I've never had the death wobble before. It happened after hitting a bump at a low speed (50km/hr), then again 2 minutes later after I pulled back onto the road (40Km maybe).
What else could be loose that I can check? I am working on pics here, but having some tech issues.
Also, as already mentioned, definitely replace the dropped pitman arm with a stock one. Your jeep will drive so much better. Proper steering geometry requires that if you draw an imaginary line through both ends of the drag link, and an imaginary line through both ends of the track bar, they should be as parallel as possible. Here's a couple of pics. The first one with a dropped pitman arm, and the second with the stock one.
using a DPA takes your track bar and drag link out of sync. their mount points are supposed to be parellel to each other so they travel on the same plane during suspension travel.
when they arent, it causes the two to fight each other resulting in bumpsteer
A few issues could cause the death wobble. It is likely that your new track bar will resolve at least some of the problem, as they often become loose at the bracket which attaches it to the axle. If that solves your death wobble problem, great. You simply have to adjust it to the correct length which places your axle centered with respect to the chassis. That will likely also resolve the force which is moving your sway bar off center as well. You will likely have to loosen the rubber bushings which attach the sway bar itself to the frame at the front bumper, and manually move the sway bar back to the center. But once the front axle is centered on the chassis, at least the sway bar should remain where you put it.
If the new track bar does not solve your death wobble problem, have someone sit in the Jeep and turn the steering wheel repeatedly back and forth about 1/4 turn, preferably with the engine running and the Jeep NOT in gear. You can lie down on the ground and watch the steering joints, the ball joints, and all the other pivot points within the front suspension system to see if there is lateral motion relative to any two parts. Any visible motion is likely a point of origin for the vibration that causes and worsens any wobble into the range of "death wobble". Ball joints and steering joints are the most common sources of looseness and vibration after the track bar joints. Tire balance is also a common cause, so you may want to eliminate that soon as well, by having your tires re-balanced. Just some ideas.
Wow, thanks guys. This has been very helpful! Cancelled order and am starting over. I never would have figured out the pitman arm issue... It shimmys all the time. My boyfriend won't even drive it on the hwy because of how much it hops around, he can't keep it straight and over corrects. I think I've just gotten used to it.... Hopefully this solves all of those problems... But I may have to paint it pink to keep him from driving it now, haha.
i'm betting most of your issues are from the TB and oem pitman arm will eliminate the bump steer.
take your time and research things before buying them. its possible, but rather difficult, to find something that hasnt been used and scrutinized by users on here. chances are, if you find something you like, you can find all of its pros and cons on the internet before shelling out the cash to test it for yourself
Yes I have both front and rear metalcloak track bars, high quality for the $$
I agree with the suggestions above, going back to a stock pitman arm, replace track bar, set your toe in after all that.
Then do the dry steer test and check all tie rod ends, replace anything worn.
Should solve the death wobble.
yep, i have one and its great. best clearance out there for a lift over 2.5"
the only other bar that competes and has one advantage, is the currie TB.
it uses a johnny joint on the frame side so its slightly smoother than the heim joint that is used in the MC bar. it also requires an additional inch of bumpstop extension to keep that joint from hitting at full stuff
its pricey, but the benefits over disco while offroad are well worth the cost. these things are expensive, so everything i do is part of a future plan and its slowly getting there.
you shouldnt have any issues with that bar at 5" lift, 1" lift is roughly .25" side to side axle movemet. but do you actually have 5" of just spring lift?
you can measure your springs to be sure. stock was 12" front and 8" rear at ride height. anything more than that is our spring lift height
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