Death Wobbble

[crazychris7]

Hey guys, Im getting the loved death wobbe from my XJ. Its a 88 xj 4x4 with the vac disco front axle, 3" rough country lift, 30" tires and over 250k on it. I seem to keep breaking axles (5th PAIR under it ) because i drive my "trail beast" hard. Well now I have the DW if i hit a bump at like 30... haha keep in mind both swaybars are in the grarage and it needs some work... but what to start with? Im reinstalling the swaybars tonight and wondering what else to do. What would be the list to single it out? Trac bar, bushings, tie rods, steering box? thanks for all your help!

[Bounty__Hunter]

Bushings, both on the control arms and the front track bar. They've gotta be shot on a rig with that many miles and wheeled hard.

Welcome to jeepz.

	Track bar A track bar is a component of a car suspension system that provides lateral location of the axle. While the purpose of the rear suspension of an automobile is to allow the wheels to move vertically with respect to the body, it is undesirable to allow them to move forward and backwards, or from side to side. It is this latter movement that the track bar is designed to prevent. It is a simple device, consisting of a rigid bar running sideways in the same plane as the rear axle, connecting one end of the axle to the car body or chassis on the opposite side of the vehicle. The bar is attached on either end with pivots that permit it to swivel upwards and downwards only, so that the axle is, in turn, allowed to move in the vertical plane only.

[crazychris7]

Where would be the best (fastest and least expensive) place to get uca/lca bushings and tracbar bushings?

Thanks,
Chris

[Bounty__Hunter]

The trackbar will likely need replaced, as the upper ball joint easily wears out.

Look for free control arms on the different jeep forums, they're common lift take-offs. Check out www.naxja.org and www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums for likely places to find them.

Use a screwdriver and flashlight to prod the control arm bushings, you'll likely find tears in them.

	Track bar A track bar is a component of a car suspension system that provides lateral location of the axle. While the purpose of the rear suspension of an automobile is to allow the wheels to move vertically with respect to the body, it is undesirable to allow them to move forward and backwards, or from side to side. It is this latter movement that the track bar is designed to prevent. It is a simple device, consisting of a rigid bar running sideways in the same plane as the rear axle, connecting one end of the axle to the car body or chassis on the opposite side of the vehicle. The bar is attached on either end with pivots that permit it to swivel upwards and downwards only, so that the axle is, in turn, allowed to move in the vertical plane only.

[mingez]

also, don't forget to check the angles of your trackbar and draglink. Having them parallel helpes with wobble an bumpsteer.

Is your axle centered? Maybe an adjustable trackbar, if not included with your lift kit.

I'd look at Rusty's for the bushings. http://www.rustysoffroad.com/
or maybe Dirk at DPG can give you a better price: http://www.dpgoffroad.com/

	Track bar A track bar is a component of a car suspension system that provides lateral location of the axle. While the purpose of the rear suspension of an automobile is to allow the wheels to move vertically with respect to the body, it is undesirable to allow them to move forward and backwards, or from side to side. It is this latter movement that the track bar is designed to prevent. It is a simple device, consisting of a rigid bar running sideways in the same plane as the rear axle, connecting one end of the axle to the car body or chassis on the opposite side of the vehicle. The bar is attached on either end with pivots that permit it to swivel upwards and downwards only, so that the axle is, in turn, allowed to move in the vertical plane only.

[crazychris7]

I went thru Rustys and ordered the bushings, trac bar and steering box brace... hopefully this cures most of the problem... Thanks ya'll for helping me out!

Chris

[crazychris7]

I hate 3" lift with stock arms... talk about a pita to get the links bolted up I finished up the bushings, trackbar, putting the swaybar back in and getting a alignment tomorrow, but i noticed that the pitman arm had a little play to it... is there any way other than a new steering box to fix this? I remember on some of my old trucks there was a way to tighten it up but looking at the xj, i dont see anything... help?

Chris

	Swaybar A sway bar (also stabilizer bar, anti-sway bar, roll bar, or anti-roll bar, ARB) is an automobile suspension device. It connects opposite (left/right) wheels together through short lever arms linked by a torsion spring. A sway bar increases the suspension's roll stiffness—its resistance to roll in turns, independent of its spring rate in the vertical direction.

	Track bar A track bar is a component of a car suspension system that provides lateral location of the axle. While the purpose of the rear suspension of an automobile is to allow the wheels to move vertically with respect to the body, it is undesirable to allow them to move forward and backwards, or from side to side. It is this latter movement that the track bar is designed to prevent. It is a simple device, consisting of a rigid bar running sideways in the same plane as the rear axle, connecting one end of the axle to the car body or chassis on the opposite side of the vehicle. The bar is attached on either end with pivots that permit it to swivel upwards and downwards only, so that the axle is, in turn, allowed to move in the vertical plane only.

[laneiac]

If its like a yj there is a nut on top of the steering box that you can loosen and then adjust with an allen wrench or torx socket.