2009 2door Rubi, 30k, just did a 3" BDS lift, 17"wheels and 35" MTZ's. Have had the lift and new tires about a month. Driving down the road today and all of a sudden had the death wobble.

So ok, great, now I know what the death wobble is...

I hit a bump and the steering rocks so badly that I've got to stop to bring it under control. Looked under the front end and the steering stabilizer, arm/shaft end, snapped off of the bushing that bolts it in place. So, it's actually the stabilizer that broke.

My question is this-- is this common? It's a BDS steering stabilizer, so this should be just switching the stabilizer out. But is this something that I've got to worry about happening again? I've never even wheeled the damn thing... It's just a daily driver... But I'm big on reliability and am now questioning me having ever done the lift/bigger tires.

 

I have the same lift from BDS on my 2011 Rubi. No problems and have put it through the ringer. There are lots of threads here on this subject that define a solution so I won't go into it. These threads mention camber and caster being set correctly, ball joint wear and the track bar as the culprits. But I think I remember reading here the trackbar is the real issue. The stock one is a piece of crap and can't handle the stresses of a lift and 35's. I replaced mine with BDS's trackbar. You'll find 35's put a lot of strain on your suspension, steering and axle components. And depending on your driving habits these things will prematurely wear. Goes with the territory. Sure, some may argue this, but more things need to be thought about when running tires this size and larger. Now I am not saying the 35's caused your stabilizer to crap the bed, that sounds like an improper installation or a defected product. Call BDS up, they are a great company with superior customer service. Good luck and don't regret making your jeep what you want it to be. Just know it's not always as simple as it should be!

 

Exactly correct my brother
If you have DW without a SS you have under laying issues

 

I agree now that I figured out what DW and SS means.

 

Lol sorry I was being haste in a meeting.

 

Buy lca's and correct the caster. And torque every thing down there!!. Track bars also help.

 

I say get that thing on a rack for an alignment with a machine and someone who does this all the time, They just might find your "toe in" outta wack (might need to lengthen the tie rod or give the jeep a hair more "toe out") cause of the larger tires.

My story: stock jeep, drove like a dream (as much as a stocker can be), put a 4" lift on with 35's, took to an alignment guy (he told me about the caster being out, and told me it might drive a little funny) was a little flighty, put on spacers, drove a LOT better (like stock, no flightyness), put on 40's (slight wobble/wiggle in steering wheel in morning until tires warmed). I lengthened or put in a little "Toe out" into it cause I bashed the tie rod out wheelin (just enough "toe out" to take out the DW and steering wheel wiggle out of it. Now it drives like a dream again. Point being: thrown just a hair of "toe out" into the mix (1 full turn out, I had to do 2 full turns) and see what ya come up with.

Just my 2 cents, but I know what works for me and I'm leavin it. Mine drives straight as a arrow and does not pull at all.