[TogaSwimmer]

Afternoon folks,

I have had upper/lower ball joints, uper/lower control arms, new cam bolts, front heavy duty steering stabilizer, tie rod end, track bar, and new springs and shocks put on my 2004 Jeep TJ Rubicon (114,000 miles, 5 speed).

This solved the death wobble for 3,000+ miles. I was in TX for the summer and when I hit the NY border the wobble came back. The bolt on the track mounting bolt was found to be loose.... death wobble happened again after it was tightened.

My mechanic is out of ideas other then a steering gear box (there is grinding and play in it) or wheel bearings (but tests seem to show that they are ok).

The Jeep has 2.5" skyjacker springs with 2.5" rated quadratec shocks in front. And a .75" quadratec puck lift in the rear.

Wobble comes about at highway speeds and is very violent.


I am sorry if this is a old thread. I've done alot of research and cant figure out what's wrong with my jeep. I hope someone can help. I saved throughout HS for four years for it and it means alot to me. I am a college student on a budget and hope this can be resolved.

Thank you so very much.

 

[WatlooBoy]

If all related front suspension parts are aligned, solid, and tight, and the dry steering test revealed no extraneous movement, I'd swap the tires out or have them precision balanced.

 

[TogaSwimmer]

WatlooBoy,

Thank you for your response. I do appreciate it.

The front tires I have (Goodyear Wrangler A/T Kevlar - 31"s) were switched out for Cooper Discover AT3s and the death wobble still occured with those AT3s.

 

[Jeepjay2004]

If your track bar came loose I'd check the mounts holes to make sure they aren't ovalled.

 

[Mattific]

How are the axle upper control arm bushings? Any play in those?
I would still revisit the tires. It's very easy to have tires on a tj be out of balance it has to be very precise. Take it to a good shop and make sure that they will take the time to balance them right.

 

[Shark_13]

Have you performed a dry steer test after the last round of death wobble?

 

[TogaSwimmer]

Hi Mattific,

I believe the control arm bushing are good, new control arms were put in and when I got back to NY (from TX) my mechanic concluded that there was only play in the steering gear box (after tightening the track bar mount).

It certainly wouldn't help to look into the balnace of the tires of the bushings again.

In y'alls experience could a bad steering box cause the wobble?

Thank you for your help.

 

[TogaSwimmer]

Shark_13,

Yes we did perform a dry steering test and the only found issue was with the steering gear box.

Thank you.

 

[HookedonJeeps]

Ok if youve already replaced a ton of parts and are still having the problem. Youre most likely getting deathwobble from the track bar bushings either being worn or wallowed out from incorrectly sized bolt, KNOWN MOPAR MISTAKE THEY REFUSE TO FIX, what I recommend is replace your front track bar bushing with a Moog one and make sure you take the little metal tube in the middle of the new bushing and go to a hard ware store and get a properly sized bolt with minimal play between bolt and bushing. And make sure your rear track bar is in good shape and nothing is loose.

 

[TogaSwimmer]

Hi HookedonJeeps,

I will certainly look into this and the aforementioned suggestions.

Thank you for your help.

 

[TogaSwimmer]

Hi Folks,

My mechanic told me all bushings with the rebuild have been replaced.....

Other then wheel bearings, alignment, tires unbalanced, and the steering gear box - not sure what to tackle next to solve the DW.

Thank you for yalls help.

Any additional info is appreciated.

-Colin

 

[Shark_13]

The only thing you can align is the toe in (and a small caster adjustment if you have cam bolts).
Take a tape measure to front tires and check yourself. Front edge of tires compared to back edge of tires should be approx 1/16" shorter.

Next in line$$ wise is the balance and rotate. Be sure they get them exact, not just close enough.
What is your tire pressure currently?

 

[TogaSwimmer]

Hi Shark,

All four tires are roughly at 30 PSI (245 75R16).

Thank you for the info.

 

[cashwood]

A bad steering gearbox will cause death wobble. I had a buddy go through everything you are doing and the steering gearbox is what fixed his issue.