Death wobble. Ugh.

[ASauer17]

Posted in group BSJ FB page.. but I know a bunch of yall aren't in FB..

In March I had death wobble from loose parts. Tightened and problem solved.

In June I had wierd noise coming from wheels. I replaced both upper and lower ball joints, wheel bearings, and axel u joint. Problem solved.

In July, I got death wobble again. I noticed my steering stabilizer had a golf ball size dent at the bottom and thought maybe it busted a seal. Jeep sat in grease for a while.

In August, finally got the steering stabilizer replaced and it didn't solve the death wobble. The dented stabilizer still had resistance. So I replaced the tie rod ends and drag link. Now I have soft wobble.

I don't mind replacing parts as they are 8-11 years old and this isn't a pavement only jeep. I am just clueless as to what's causing it.

[Copperhead14]

Could be the tires, you could rotate the back to the front and see if that helps. A friend of mine just went trough this on his LJ and replaced a bunch of parts and it ended up being the tires. Good luck

[Modeler]

Also take a look at the control arm bushings and track bar bushings.

[RandyCarol]

When I had it it was a little slop in the steering box

[Car Jack]

Something that is common is a loose track bar bolt that wears the joint enough to oval it out. That bolt needs to be wicked tight. I'm sure there's a torque spec, it's not in my head to say what it is.

The loose bolt turned out to be my problem that I found coming back from a Maine NEA meeting a few years ago. My introduction to Death Wobble coming home.

[KenCal]

Something that is common is a loose track bar bolt that wears the joint enough to oval it out. That bolt needs to be wicked tight. I'm sure there's a torque spec, it's not in my head to say what it is.

The loose bolt turned out to be my problem that I found coming back from a Maine NEA meeting a few years ago. My introduction to Death Wobble coming home.

With jeep on the ground 125 ft lbs.

[RandyCarol]

Something that is common is a loose track bar bolt that wears the joint enough to oval it out. That bolt needs to be wicked tight. I'm sure there's a torque spec, it's not in my head to say what it is.

The loose bolt turned out to be my problem that I found coming back from a Maine NEA meeting a few years ago. My introduction to Death Wobble coming home.

My frame mount hole wallowed out, no amount of torque could stop it from moving. I added the brace and welded the nut to it, it’s not moving now

[ASauer17]

Track bar ends where just replaced 3 days ago. Not the issue.

[RandyCarol]

Steering box?_

[ASauer17]

What I'm replacing next.

[RandyCarol]

What I'm replacing next.

Good excuse to upgrade, you still win even if that’s not the problem

[JGav4]

Yup my 'ol Jeep is starting to show its age. Had death wobble a month ago, tightened the bolts and fixed it. Now it has returned as a soft wobble. I'll try the tire rotation this weekend. But I'm wondering what a steering box upgrade looks like?

[RandyCarol]

Yup my 'ol Jeep is starting to show its age. Had death wobble a month ago, tightened the bolts and fixed it. Now it has returned as a soft wobble. I'll try the tire rotation this weekend. But I'm wondering what a steering box upgrade looks like?

A new box fixed mine. I went with the PSC Big Box as it was a significant upgrade for not that much more. I did go with the upgraded pump too. Before the death wobble I was planning on going hydro assist but the new box and pump made a big enough improvement where I didn’t need to do hydro

[ASauer17]

Did you do the work Randy?? I've had Elias do my last steering box and never done one before. But would be willing to do a wrench day to learn

[RandyCarol]

Did you do the work Randy?? I've had Elias do my last steering box and never done one before. But would be willing to do a wrench day to learn

I did the box and pump myself. Not a big deal on a JK, not sure how a TJ is but shouldn’t be much different