Death Wobble - Need some help
JK Junkie
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 0
From: New France
So, I recently had my 2.5" 4-door springs/shocks installed along with JKS front and rear adjustable track bars. After install I gained about 3 1/2" of lift.
All was great until the next morning on my way to work when I got on the freeway. All I can say is WOW... When all of the cars around you back off and put their hazards on you know it looks bad. Funny thing is, the night before I did 70mph all the way home and not a single problem.
So, I got off the freeway (through the ditch... not all under my control) and proceeded to make an appointment to get my axles centered and an alignment done.... And of course they can not get me in until Wednesday (and it is Monday). Well, after work I checked all my bolts and re-torqued down to 140lbs instead of the suggested 125.
The next day it is better, I still get a wobble, but at least now my front wheels are not hopping off the pavement leaving tire marks on the ground. Just enough to scare the crap out of me though. Wednesday comes and I get my track bars adjusted but their damn alignment machine breaks... so now I gotta make an appointment elsewhere. Wobble seems gone, so I figure the axles being off a few inches was causing it... until that night. Starts up again and immediately head home and recheck the torque 4-wheel parts put on. Guess what? Less than 50lbs of torque on the non-adjustable end and close to 150 on the adjustable end. So I torque it down again and take it for a spin. Still a shimmy when I hit a bump, but no DW.
Then today, I'm getting on an on-ramp and the friggen thing starts up again. I check the bolts and all are at 145-150lbs of torque. Now I have no clue what could be causing it. My last hope is my appointment today with the alignment shop and see if that fixes it.
Here are some pics of the front, just to see if anything looks out of place or bent. If they can't fix it I'm temped to rip out what I put in and go back to stock. No fun not being able to go over 50MPH.
http://sieran.simnets.com/gallery2/v...mods/lift_kit/
Anything else I can check in my case, anything stand out?
Thanks,
Andrew
All was great until the next morning on my way to work when I got on the freeway. All I can say is WOW... When all of the cars around you back off and put their hazards on you know it looks bad. Funny thing is, the night before I did 70mph all the way home and not a single problem.
So, I got off the freeway (through the ditch... not all under my control) and proceeded to make an appointment to get my axles centered and an alignment done.... And of course they can not get me in until Wednesday (and it is Monday). Well, after work I checked all my bolts and re-torqued down to 140lbs instead of the suggested 125.
The next day it is better, I still get a wobble, but at least now my front wheels are not hopping off the pavement leaving tire marks on the ground. Just enough to scare the crap out of me though. Wednesday comes and I get my track bars adjusted but their damn alignment machine breaks... so now I gotta make an appointment elsewhere. Wobble seems gone, so I figure the axles being off a few inches was causing it... until that night. Starts up again and immediately head home and recheck the torque 4-wheel parts put on. Guess what? Less than 50lbs of torque on the non-adjustable end and close to 150 on the adjustable end. So I torque it down again and take it for a spin. Still a shimmy when I hit a bump, but no DW.
Then today, I'm getting on an on-ramp and the friggen thing starts up again. I check the bolts and all are at 145-150lbs of torque. Now I have no clue what could be causing it. My last hope is my appointment today with the alignment shop and see if that fixes it.
Here are some pics of the front, just to see if anything looks out of place or bent. If they can't fix it I'm temped to rip out what I put in and go back to stock. No fun not being able to go over 50MPH.
http://sieran.simnets.com/gallery2/v...mods/lift_kit/
Anything else I can check in my case, anything stand out?
Thanks,
Andrew
130 lbs is enough. Don't over tight, this will damage your bolts
The trac bars have to be tightened when the Jeep is on the ground
How about your caster? If you have 3 degrees or less, it will contribute to death wobble.
The caster is 4.2 degrees when the Jeep is stock, with your lift kit you lost caster.
If you install adj. front lower arms, you can increase the caster to 4,2 or more.
Check also all the other bolts of the front suspension and direction (bolts of control arms for example)
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Plano, TX
Think a cam bolt kit would help with the problem?
Can't afford $300+ for fully adjustable control arms.
Just wondering if they would be enough to get my castor back (of that is causing the problem).
Wouldnt think a 3.5" lift would cause these many problems. Seems like many others in the local clubs are running just as tall or slightly taller with no problems.
Can't afford $300+ for fully adjustable control arms.
Just wondering if they would be enough to get my castor back (of that is causing the problem).
Wouldnt think a 3.5" lift would cause these many problems. Seems like many others in the local clubs are running just as tall or slightly taller with no problems.
JK Junkie
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 0
From: New France
Think a cam bolt kit would help with the problem?
Can't afford $300+ for fully adjustable control arms.
Just wondering if they would be enough to get my castor back (of that is causing the problem).
Wouldnt think a 3.5" lift would cause these many problems. Seems like many others in the local clubs are running just as tall or slightly taller with no problems.
Can't afford $300+ for fully adjustable control arms.
Just wondering if they would be enough to get my castor back (of that is causing the problem).
Wouldnt think a 3.5" lift would cause these many problems. Seems like many others in the local clubs are running just as tall or slightly taller with no problems.
By the way, cam bolts =
Last edited by Yoda; Apr 3, 2009 at 02:39 PM.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
From: Plano, TX
Nah, don't have any.
4wp didn't do the install, I did with some friends. I only took it to them for an alignment and to adjust the track bars. Their alignment machine was broke, so all they adjusted were the track bars.
Got back from the alignment shop and here are the results:
Also took some pictures of my track bar and the mounts after i removed it when i got home... everything looks fine. Holes are not wallowed out and there were very few metal shavings on the bolts (mostly on the head).
All pictures HERE
4wp didn't do the install, I did with some friends. I only took it to them for an alignment and to adjust the track bars. Their alignment machine was broke, so all they adjusted were the track bars.
Got back from the alignment shop and here are the results:
Also took some pictures of my track bar and the mounts after i removed it when i got home... everything looks fine. Holes are not wallowed out and there were very few metal shavings on the bolts (mostly on the head).
All pictures HERE
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ
aligning the front axle is super easy, all you have to do is turn the steering wheel and the body will move.
damn, your caster is really low. im not saying that it will completely fix your problem, but lower adjustable control arms will improve the ride tremendously, and should help a bit.
also, might just be the pics, but the closer trackbar hole on the axle looks a lot bigger than the other one...
damn, your caster is really low. im not saying that it will completely fix your problem, but lower adjustable control arms will improve the ride tremendously, and should help a bit.
also, might just be the pics, but the closer trackbar hole on the axle looks a lot bigger than the other one...
Last edited by axsys; Apr 3, 2009 at 03:40 PM.
you need some control arms homey
