First brush with death..........wobble

98CherokeeLTD · 07-13-2009, 10:40 PM

I was drivin down Rt.80 earlier today doin about 65mph in the slow lane and it came on like a freight train. I was coming down a hill with a long sweeping left turn, hit a bump in the road and the Death Wobble reared it's ugly head. Holy hell, i almost shat my pants. Once I got everything back under control I was back on my merry way. Drove a few more miles now dropping my speed to 60 when I hit another bump and it started again. It happened a few more times during the rest of the ride, but I slowed down to about 50 which seemed to help prevent it from happening. I thought it was weird that it happened now cause I've had the jeep on the highway a few times since the lift and doing about 75 and never had an issue. I know my front right tire is out of balance which probably doesn't help and I took off both sway bars, which i know DEFINATELY doesn't help. I guess I'll see about gettin that wheel balanced tomorrow and start puttin the front swaybar back on. Gotta get 1 new end link tho.

Well, I know there are a bazillion posts about the death wobble, but I figured I'd share my excursion with it.

1996BlackXJ · 07-14-2009, 04:36 PM

Unbalanced tires for the loss

1984XJ · 07-14-2009, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1996BlackXJ

Unbalanced tires for the loss

Mine are about 1-2 oz. off balance and i have yet to have death wobble

Guess im walking on thin ice

98CherokeeLTD · 07-15-2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1996BlackXJ

Unbalanced tires for the loss

yea...i really need new tires, but can't afford em. my bro-in-law's grandfather owns a tire shop so it's just a matter of bringin it there to get em re-blanaced

husker88jeep · 07-15-2009, 09:16 PM

here ya go , start with your trac bar being wallowed out...
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/need-advice-death-wobble-756044/

Nj-Xj · 07-15-2009, 09:37 PM

damn dude get that **** fixed. We gotta do some wheeling in august (I've been away most of this month.) I did take my doors off today though so next time you see me In btown I'll be rollin doorless

**xjfever** · 07-15-2009, 10:01 PM

X2 on checking the trac-bar bolt and mounting hole.

98CherokeeLTD · 07-16-2009, 09:12 AM

i know that I need to get an adjustable trac-bar. i noticed that my front axle is shifted to the drivers side an inch or 2.
husker- thanks for the link. I read through some of it just now, but will read through the rest when I have some more time.

i crawled under the Jeep the other day and took a look at things and everything looked normal. Grabbed a hold of the steering components and it all seemed tight. gotta jack up the front end the check everything again though.

ahhhh, the never-ending task of workin on the XJ

**leftlanetruckin** · 07-16-2009, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 98CherokeeLTD

i know that I need to get an adjustable trac-bar. i noticed that my front axle is shifted to the drivers side an inch or 2.
husker- thanks for the link. I read through some of it just now, but will read through the rest when I have some more time.

i crawled under the Jeep the other day and took a look at things and everything looked normal. Grabbed a hold of the steering components and it all seemed tight. gotta jack up the front end the check everything again though.

ahhhh, the never-ending task of workin on the XJ

just "grabbing" a component is about useless, as has been said god knows how many times before. you NEED someone inside the jeep turning the wheel side to side while you look at all the components. when you see something that doesnt seem right, then do the touchy feely thing.
mind, with a front axle off center, i wouldn't put any more on my old favorite (trac bar) just yet. fix the stuff you KNOW is wrong, then go hunting for new issues. it took me a while (of following my own advise BTW), but my junk is dead straight with zero bumpsteer on very aggressive 37's. Hell, currently ony 10psi and no sway bar, as we aired down etc to go wheeling this weekend at smorr and ended up having to dd the xj due to the dually not fitting where we rented a cabin at. same thing, rock solid and no problems.
fix what you know is wrong, then go from there.

martin

98CherokeeLTD · 07-16-2009, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leftlanetruckin

just "grabbing" a component is about useless, as has been said god knows how many times before. you NEED someone inside the jeep turning the wheel side to side while you look at all the components. when you see something that doesnt seem right, then do the touchy feely thing.
mind, with a front axle off center, i wouldn't put any more on my old favorite (trac bar) just yet. fix the stuff you KNOW is wrong, then go hunting for new issues. it took me a while (of following my own advise BTW), but my junk is dead straight with zero bumpsteer on very aggressive 37's. Hell, currently ony 10psi and no sway bar, as we aired down etc to go wheeling this weekend at smorr and ended up having to dd the xj due to the dually not fitting where we rented a cabin at. same thing, rock solid and no problems.
fix what you know is wrong, then go from there.

martin

everything that you said is very true. the last 2 days I havent had the time to go out and work on it. hopefully this weekend I can start diagnosing. Luckily I have my wifes Audi to drive in the meantime.

**leftlanetruckin** · 07-16-2009, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 98CherokeeLTD

everything that you said is very true. the last 2 days I havent had the time to go out and work on it. hopefully this weekend I can start diagnosing. Luckily I have my wifes Audi to drive in the meantime.

funny how we all need another vehicle to drive around isnt it?

we have a range rover that we use.
i think they should automatically give a 2nd vehicle to anyone that buys a heep and modifies it

martin

98CherokeeLTD · 07-17-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leftlanetruckin

funny how we all need another vehicle to drive around isnt it?

we have a range rover that we use.
i think they should automatically give a 2nd vehicle to anyone that buys a heep and modifies it

martin

HAHA that would be awesome!!

01CHEEKEE · 07-17-2009, 11:15 PM

i hate rt. 80!!!! ****ty road and always cops...

98CherokeeLTD · 07-18-2009, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 01CHEEKEE

i hate rt. 80!!!! ****ty road and always cops...

Yea 80 sucks, always a ton of cops but the road has gotten better. They are repaving a HUGE stretch eastbound and westbound in Jersey. Haven't been on 80 in PA lately but the last time that I was it was in really rough shape too

**aircruiser** · 07-18-2009, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leftlanetruckin

funny how we all need another vehicle to drive around isnt it?

we have a range rover that we use.
i think they should automatically give a 2nd vehicle to anyone that buys a heep and modifies it

martin

x2 im looking for a gas getter to buy soon..

and i have the same problem over bumps and im running sway-bar less..although an un-balanced tire should be a constant wobble rather than ony every so often..