XJ Lift Front End Trouble

[liled]

I just installed a 4.5" lift on my '93 XJ. Went together pretty smooth. However now at higher speeds (above 45mph) if I hit the right bumps the front end violently shakes until I slow down. At first I thought it might be a problem with the track bar, but after checking that it seems to be in good shape. Any one every have trouble like this or have any ideas where to start troubleshooting?

[bp95yj]

what you have is something called death wobble.

Did you put on a drop pitman arm on, or did you install an adjustable trac bar? or both?

In order to stop your death wobble make sure your trac bar and draglink are set at the same angles with each other. They need to be in alignment

Also check you steering stabilizer and make sure that it is in good working order

[RaisedRover91]

I will assume you have a complete kit such as a ruicon express unit and have covered the basics Alingment and Tire balance. GO GET A GOOD STEERING SHOCK/STABILIZER. I just had this issue with mine grand cherokee. The steering stabilizer (stock) looks good when its off the truck but wont handle the stress of larger tires on and off road. I got a rancho unit and that ended my death wobble.

[XJ4THEKICKIN]

1. don't use a drop pitman arm on an XJ, especially with 4.5" lift.

2. Steering stabilizer is a cover up, I don't run a stabilizer on my DD lifted XJ. Do not bandaid the problem.

Okay need to know what lift kit you're running to know what all was included. Do you have an after market tracbar? Is the wobble when you hit bumps (bumpsteer) or is it pretty much anytime over 45mph?

My old 00 XJ had DW (death wobble) issues at 55-60 mph and it was the tires. It also helps to have adj, UCAs to dial in your pinion angle. My 99 has ADJ. UCAs and the angles are perfect, I can drive with no stabilizer, bad alighnment, bad tires and still no Bumpsteer or DW. I am running the RE 4.5" and 4.5" or less you shouldn't have any steeering issues or bumpsteer, unless a TRE is worn or something is loose.

[liled]

I am running the Rough Country 4.5" kit. It came with a new stabillizer, but I didn't get a new track bar. I haven't taken it and had it aligned yet. The wobble is definitely only when I hit bumps... I say over 45mph because that's when it calms down and goes back to normal. It usually happens on the freeway 55-65mph when I hit a larger bump. I have 33" mtr's that I haven't put on it yet (looking for rims). Still running the stock wheels. I still have the stock UCA's so no adjustment available.

[rockteeth]

Check the toe....Mine would DW if it was set anywhere other then 1/8th" toed in. I ran 6"+ of lift without a problem with the stock frt axle and only about 2 deg of caster.
Also make sure all the tierod/drag link ends are good/no play. Make sure the steering box is tight on the frame.

[XJ4THEKICKIN]

. I haven't taken it and had it aligned yet. .

Dude, get it aligned, lol. Thats part of your problem right there AND You really NEED a new longer tracbar, with the stocker your axle is going to be shifted to one side and cause issues like this because its too short. This is EXACTLY why I say if you're going to buy a lift kit buy a good one like RE thats complete. Buy an HD RE tracbar and mount, look here www.jeepinoutfitters.com

Until those two things are done there is no reason to touch other areas.

[outlawjeep]

Dude, get it aligned, lol. Thats part of your problem right there AND You really NEED a new longer tracbar, with the stocker your axle is going to be shifted to one side and cause issues like this because its too short. This is EXACTLY why I say if you're going to buy a lift kit buy a good one like RE thats complete. Buy an HD RE tracbar and mount, look here www.jeepinoutfitters.com

Until those two things are done there is no reason to touch other areas.
X2 on that.
You can also go to Kevins Jeep Parts and pick up his Track Bar conversion. That will give you the adj. track bar and a new mount. Pretty good setup if you ask me. I have one on both my XJ and ZJ.

Ray

[liled]

Right on. Thanks for posting guys. I'll see about getting it aligned today... and order a new track bar.

[XJ4THEKICKIN]

Right on. Thanks for posting guys. I'll see about getting it aligned today... and order a new track bar.


Good deal, after that we shouldn't hear back :smokin:

[ShaggyDoo]

1. don't use a drop pitman arm on an XJ, especially with 4.5" lift.

Buy an HD RE tracbar and mount...

Why did you say XJ's don't need Drop Pitman Arms? With tha RE HD Trac Bar kit, it'd be required in order to keep his TracBar/Drag Link angles parallel.

The Rubicon Express HD Trac-bar and and Bracket are awesome pieces of work BTW. Give us a thought if your if your looking into it!

[XJ4THEKICKIN]

Why did you say XJ's don't need Drop Pitman Arms? With tha RE HD Trac Bar kit, it'd be required in order to keep his TracBar/Drag Link angles parallel.



No way in hell are they required, drop pitman arms CAUSE bumpsteer on coil sprung Jeeps. If you posted that on NAXJA you'd get laughed at. I'd never run a drop pitman arm unless I was well over 6" of lift and then I'd go OTK steering.

[ShaggyDoo]

No way in hell are they required, drop pitman arms CAUSE bumpsteer on coil sprung Jeeps.

No, having an un parallel trac-bar/drag link angle causes bump steer. A Drop Pitman isn't necessary for smaller lifts, true, but as soon as you change your trac-bar location your steering better follow. I don't care what NAXJA thinks, that how it works.

[piratebuggy]

No, having an un parallel trac-bar/drag link angle causes bump steer. A Drop Pitman isn't necessary for smaller lifts, true, but as soon as you change your trac-bar location your steering better follow. I don't care what NAXJA thinks, that how it works.

I would have to agree- as the suspension moves the tie rod needs to move on the same plane.