Project Comanche Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I am in the process of diagnosing DEATH WOBBLE I have recently changed upper and lower ball joints and I am running rustys over the knuckle steering with HD trackbar. I recently rebuilt the front D30 and all control arm joints and bushings are new and tight. With the rebuild I replaced the stock lower control arm brackets with ballistic fab HD ones. I took it to a shop to get it aligned and have the front end checked to see if they could at least point me in A direction. They wouldn't even put it on a rack because they said there was too much play in everything. They mentioned a possible crack in the frame/unibody where the steering box bolts on. A common XJ/MJ problem I am finding. Can this be the main contributor to DW? Trackbar bushings and mount seem solid and in good shape. I am also curious if the new lower CA brackets changed the caster. The truck has been DW free with 35's and all of a sudden started on the way home from the last weekend wheeling trip. I have also had ZERO steering stabilizers on it ever and it drove like a Cadillac. The shop I took it to recommended a dual stabilizer set-up. I thanked them for their advice and went on my way. A steering stabilizer I view as a bandaide over the actual problem. They may help but it drove fine without it before so it has potential to drive well with it again once I work through things. If you have any suggestions or personal experience I will gladly welcome any ideas. I have two videos of DW but don't know how to post them from the mobile app. I'll try to add them later. Thanks to iphone taped underneath haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89eliminator Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 have you looked for a crack in the unibody?? it is always a possiblity its cracked. whether its the main contributor to your DW is up for question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project Comanche Posted June 17, 2014 Author Share Posted June 17, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich69 Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Did you align the toe in with a tape measure? Check the caster angle with an angle finder? On jack stands check for play at every joint. I run the stock stabilizer on my xj and have never had a problem. I agree do not try to solve this with a stabilizer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89eliminator Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 yeah i missed the part where you changed control arm brackets. re check the caster and toe. also your trackbar is on upside down, not like that would make a difference though. are your wheel bearings new? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project Comanche Posted June 17, 2014 Author Share Posted June 17, 2014 Toe in measured 1/8th-1/4". Wheel bearings have no slop. The hiem joints in the steering have a normal amount of play and that can't be adjusted. Took off the steering pump and found some damage that I'll be repairing and plating. Once the steering box issue is mended I'll have it aligned and might even have the front wheels balanced just to eliminate those possibilities. Next on the list is new trackbar bushings. I have found replacement bushings of varying density... Can anyone comment on whether stock replacements are better or worse than the mega hard compound? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89eliminator Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 looks like it has been repaired once already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relyt120 Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I think it wouldnt be a bad idea to get one of these : http://www.jcroffroad.com/product/XJMISC/XJSTSPC.html also the offer a uniframe tie in bracket for the front bumper brackets that will provide more support in that whole area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zebvance Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 What about ball joints? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project Comanche Posted June 17, 2014 Author Share Posted June 17, 2014 Ball joint are brand new. Alloy USA. I will be building a plate similar to the rustys kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incommando Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 If you re-used the body side track bar bracket check for play at the hole where its TRE attached. Those get wobbled out and cause this issue, as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project Comanche Posted June 23, 2014 Author Share Posted June 23, 2014 Finished plating the frame today, initially thought it fixed the DW... It didn't. There was substantial damage to the frame and I figured it would help some, but it still has DW. I am replacing trackbar bushings next along with balancing the wheels. Could my steering box have just bit the dust and be the cause? There has always been play in the steering wheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project Comanche Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 Wheels balanced. Alignment was spot on. Nothing loose except steering box. Shop again recommended steering stabilizer (which I am not opposed to). I still think a stabilizer is a bandaide over the unknown problem. What do you recommend? Steering stabilizer or new steering box? Or continue to search for a cause? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relyt120 Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Better to have a band-aid than an open wound? Its my understanding that steering stabilizers come off easily if you want to be sure you corrected the underlying problem with later adjustments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJam86 Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 Ever get it fixex? I had no issues myself but ended up installing my stabilizer because I feel it will help prevent extra wear on my parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project Comanche Posted July 8, 2014 Author Share Posted July 8, 2014 Not yet. But hopefully soon. New Durango steering box, super durometer trackbar bushings. And a fancy new stabilizer. Praying that it makes a difference. The next cheapest fix is a ¢10 for sale sign Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89eliminator Posted July 8, 2014 Share Posted July 8, 2014 i would fix the box before putting the stabilizer on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project Comanche Posted July 9, 2014 Author Share Posted July 9, 2014 Fix the box? It is brand new, so it is fixed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89eliminator Posted July 9, 2014 Share Posted July 9, 2014 i meant, put the new box in without a stabilizer and see if that fixed the DW. if it were me, i would want to know what the actual fix to the problem is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project Comanche Posted July 10, 2014 Author Share Posted July 10, 2014 Gotcha. I agree. I want to know what bit the dust and started this whole fiasco. Squeaks and pops in the jeep are acceptable as long as I know what they are. This DW will be he end of me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desertmike Posted July 10, 2014 Share Posted July 10, 2014 I have had DW in one form or another for 25 years and never have solved it completly. Replaced tires, rims, balance, tre's, ball joints, trak bar, etc,etc,etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeLAW Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 I had the same problem with my MJ, and my frame was totally cracked, so a friend of mine helped me fix it and reinforce it and DW did go away for about a week and then it came back, and could never get rid of it. Then I parked her and started buying all the parts that I wanted to buy for her in the first place so please keep us posted as I am very very interested in the way this is going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Project Comanche Posted July 18, 2014 Author Share Posted July 18, 2014 You stated your frame was cracked... Where at? Near the steering box or in multiple places? After I get the new bushings in and stabilizer if the problem is still there I am going to more carefully examine / repair / plate more of the frame. My frame is already plated but if you have specific locations where you found cracks maybe it could point me in the right direction. Hopefully all the parts come in this week and I find time to work on it and have it rolling by Wednesday next week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeLAW Posted July 18, 2014 Share Posted July 18, 2014 Well I was dumb enough to not take pictures at the time, I don't think I was even a Member of CC, but I remember it was cracked around the frame starting from the lower steering box bolt all the way under to the other side, and also on the upper bolt on the inside of the frame through the top That's the best picture I took when my friend was welding it And here are some pics of the re-inforcement that we did or external plating Hope this Helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirteatr717 Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 I just ordered HD engineering XJ front frame stiffeners and already have the JCR steering box bracket and my bumper mount goes all the way back to the last bolt but my frame cracked underneath all the way across and is basically acting like a open cereal box, hopefully plating all 4 sides and slugging the steering box bolts fixes it for good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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