Budget Boost caused Death Wobble for me...now what?
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 152
Likes: 1
From: PA
Budget Boost caused Death Wobble for me...now what?
Shortly after installing the RC BB our JK started experiencing DW (yes, mess your pants, expect to see parts flying off the vehicle 
)
I inspected for trackbar mounting damage. Retorqued the track bar and lower control arms.
Ran for a year give or take just living with the DW.
Finally had enough and figured maybe its the BB even though there are several posts here saying BBs don't cause DW...DW is gone now that the BB is off.
Wife likes the lifted look...what now? Do I add an adjustable trackbar or control arms to the BB? I really don't want to put the BB or another style lift back on just to find our JK is a death wobbler no matter what.
Thanks for you thoughts.
)I inspected for trackbar mounting damage. Retorqued the track bar and lower control arms.
Ran for a year give or take just living with the DW.
Finally had enough and figured maybe its the BB even though there are several posts here saying BBs don't cause DW...DW is gone now that the BB is off.
Wife likes the lifted look...what now? Do I add an adjustable trackbar or control arms to the BB? I really don't want to put the BB or another style lift back on just to find our JK is a death wobbler no matter what.
Thanks for you thoughts.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,633
Likes: 0
From: Forsyth County, GA
I had same issue on stock wheels and tires (17" SRA) with my Teraflex Leveling kit and JKU springs in the front. 2" + taller springs was too much on light and skinny stock tires and wheels. I removed one of the spacers and now it's only 1" lift in front + JKU springs and that fixed the DW.
I' pretty sure there is a corrolation between tires size / DW / Center of Gravity / Lift Height.
I' pretty sure there is a corrolation between tires size / DW / Center of Gravity / Lift Height.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 152
Likes: 1
From: PA
Still using stock wheels and tires? I just got finished fighting the DW and here is what all I had to correct.
1. Carefully inspect the mounting holes on the frame side and axle side for the track bar. the smallest amount of play can cause the DW.
2. Check your caster angle. You really need to be around 6 degrees or so.
3. Adjustable front track bar would help to recenter you axle. May or may not add to the wobble.
4. Make sure your tires are balanced good.
5. Check your toe setting. I have to run 1/8 toe out.
6. Check your ball joints for worn out lowers.
7. Check and make sure your steering stablilizer is not worn out.
All of my setting were a little off and I spent about 2-3 days dialing everything in perfectly. All these may or may not be out on yours but just something to check. Once I got mine all dialed in my DW stopped.
1. Carefully inspect the mounting holes on the frame side and axle side for the track bar. the smallest amount of play can cause the DW.
2. Check your caster angle. You really need to be around 6 degrees or so.
3. Adjustable front track bar would help to recenter you axle. May or may not add to the wobble.
4. Make sure your tires are balanced good.
5. Check your toe setting. I have to run 1/8 toe out.
6. Check your ball joints for worn out lowers.
7. Check and make sure your steering stablilizer is not worn out.
All of my setting were a little off and I spent about 2-3 days dialing everything in perfectly. All these may or may not be out on yours but just something to check. Once I got mine all dialed in my DW stopped.
With the exception of #3...I checked all of those.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 152
Likes: 1
From: PA
Planman...I did follow your excellent write-up...after finding nothing it lead me to give up and remove the BB.
At this point I don't have death wobble, because I don't have the BB installed.
Seems to me the BB changes the geometry enough to cause DW....as opposed to a worn part. Or is it a combination of both (BB and a worn part?)
At this point I don't have death wobble, because I don't have the BB installed.
Seems to me the BB changes the geometry enough to cause DW....as opposed to a worn part. Or is it a combination of both (BB and a worn part?)
JK Junkie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 0
From: Lakewood, OH
Within spec with stock control arms?
This is a topic much discussed here and getting to around 6 degrees has been a solution for many. Lifting your Jeep is going to decrease caster angle and doing so will make it more difficult for your tires to set while turning. It also makes it more difficult to go straight where a small bump is introduced.
So I guess I'll rephrase the question, did you increase your caster angle?
This is a topic much discussed here and getting to around 6 degrees has been a solution for many. Lifting your Jeep is going to decrease caster angle and doing so will make it more difficult for your tires to set while turning. It also makes it more difficult to go straight where a small bump is introduced.
So I guess I'll rephrase the question, did you increase your caster angle?
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 152
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From: PA