webhannet

I've been reading recent posts about Track Bars and Steering Stabilizers. My 2008 JKU with 102K miles has recently been aligned, but it doesn't steer as tightly on the highway as it did when new.

What are the symptoms of problems with the track bar? What about the Steering Stabilizer? How can I tell what direction I should head to correct my steering - any other items to worry about?

GJK

With 102k you should probably replace the stabilizer anyway. It's cheap and easy to do. I would check all steering joints and connections for excessive play and correct torque. You can search this forum and find a list of all torque specs. The rest depends on your specific setup, lift, tires, aftermarket parts, etc. there is a huge price difference between stock steering components and aftermarket/upgraded components. It's difficult to give more info without specific symptoms and setups. Chances are there is a write up in this forum on most common steering and suspension problems.

ShutterBug

What do you mean by "tightly"? Can you post an image of the alignment specs?

webhannet

I told the Service Manager to be careful in checking for any wear or looseness. Of course, he told me later that everything was fine . He also showed me the alignment machine (a new one!) printout, but it meant little to me. In driving it now, I feel that it perhaps has a bit of wiggle somewhere.

I have NO mods - and I don't do much off-road. After a bout with Death Wobble (and yes, I do have a T-Shirt to brag about it!), I had the original Steering Stabilizer replaced at with an OEM at 55K miles. I have a "take off" used one that might be installed, but my garage guy wasn't able to install it due to some issue with the bracket.

I'm very familiar with track bars for motor homes - but this seems different.

Seeing so many posts about people replacingthe Track Bar, I was hoping someone would tell me specific symptoms / sensations I might search for.

resharp001

I feel like a broken record, but for people trying to get acquainted with the JK steering system, Planman's videos are a great place to start. You've obviously owned the jeep for a while, but if you've never sat in front of it and inspected things, it's pretty beneficial....especially when it comes to that track bar and inspecting the joints in the steering system. Additionally, it's not just for modified jeeps as the same components on a stock jeep will wear out over time.....it might just take longer. Also, if you've had DW in the past, depending on how bad it was, that could have helped add some premature wear to some joints. These are a little lengthy, but he does a great job of explaining things -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uQwlmlhiF4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii81V7XYr-k I swear, most those guys are kinda worthless.

If you have a wiggle or a shimy when you hit a bump solidly, odds are you have a worn joint in the system. I've experienced this with shot ball joints, worn drag link joints, and worn track bar joints.

I would start by watching the videos, having someone sit in the jeep and turn the wheel back and forth as you inspect and get acquainted with your steering components. Pay close attention to the movement of the track bar at the frame side bracket, drag link joint at the knuckle side, the tie rod ends, and the ball joints. These are all very simple inspections that you can do at home with no previous experience.....and if you watch those videos, you should be able to spot a bad joint even if you've never seen one.

Also, since you've said you had some DW before, if you are comfortable doing so, you might want to just pull the track bar bolt on on the frame side and inspect the hole on both the front and rear side of that bracket to verify it hasn't wallowed out a bit over time. If you do that, please make sure to torque that sucker back down to 125ft lbs. You DO NOT want that bolt loose.

ShutterBug

^^^ THIS!

You may have worn ball joints, or the dreaded ovaling of the track bar bolt. This is common. The track bar bolt is undersized for the bushing and will wear the bushing. One fix is a proper sized, grade 8 bolt.

resharp001

Worn steering components are the great equalizer for modified and stock jeeps. All these components wear down and need replaced with time. The biggest difference that I see is people with modified jeeps are just more familiar with the components so when there is an issue, it makes sense and it's easy to diagnose and fix.

This may or may not be the case with the OP, but I always feel for people with stock jeeps that have issues like this unexpectedly pop up, cuz the odds are they've never really looked at their steering system, nor have they needed to in the past. All the sudden an issue pops up and some shop tells them to they need to do this, or that.....which doesn't fix the problem. Then someone else tells them to do this or that.....and before you know it they've run down the rabbit hole of throwing money after various parts and they still have a problem and are ready to beat their head against the wall.

Now, one thing I will admit is that when I think of sitting in front of the jeep and watching things, I tend to forget that everyone's front end isn't as open and easy to inspect as on a lifted jeep with a stubby bumper. still though, even if you have to remove that plastic piece under the front bumper, it's worth the time to inspect things yourself if you're willing. You will definitely be able to spot a bad joint if you watch closely.

ShutterBug

Very good points.

I cringe whenever I hear a stock Jeep owner tell me the dealer replaced his steering stabilizer under warranty to fix his wobble issue.

webhannet

I actually had two Death Wobble experiences. My Dealer of Choice was about 60 miles away, so going for service was a nerve wracking trip. Both DW's were at highway speeds - pretty impressive. During the first one, I stopped at the very top of the huge Interstate bridge where the "jumpers" like to go - I'm lucky I got out of there before the Police came.

Yes, they DID simply replace the Steering Stabilizer, but not under warranty. Everything seemed fine for many miles.

I will study the videos - THANK YOU - and try to learn what I can. There is an off-road specialist about an hour away, and I may take it there for a look-see.

Thanks for all the fast replies.

resharp001

Re-reading your posts here as I’m on a couple different but similar threads. So you have a bone stock ’08 with 102k miles. You’re asking for symptoms and sensations. I would tell you that if you hit a bump, pot hole, unlevel road surface or such, and you feel something that just seems odd, you most likely have a problem. Worn tie rod ends, drag link ends and ball joints will give you a little shimmy, wiggle, or odd feeling when you hit a bump/pot hole or such. A bad drag link could also give you a decent bump steer which you will feel in the steering wheel. Think of this as similar to the DW effect, but just a split second yank of the steering wheel and then back to normal. Also, loose track bar bolts are common culprits, and a lot of times are what leads to DW after something triggers it. Once that bolt at the frame side loosens up and you have a bad DW, it can start to wallow out the hole in the bracket which just exacerbates the issue (as highlighted in a previous post above).

Odds are likely that you have worn all joints, a worn track bar bushing, worn drag link joint, or worn tie rod ends……or a combination. The most likely culprits are ball joints or track bar bushings. The videos are a great tool to help identify your components and a few things to look for. There are a few things he does that I think aren’t as necessary.

An easy way to check your ball joints is to jack up the front axle so the tires are a couple inches off the ground. I like to support the axle on jack stands just so it stable when I do my test. Take a shovel and stick it under the tire….then use the handle of the shovel as a lever to force the tire to move up. While you do this (or have a partner doing it) pay very close attention to the ball joints. If you have a bad ball joint, you will see some up/down movement as you step on the shovel right or you might even hear a clunk. Here’s another video demonstrating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLcVZO6FdTc For the other components, you can have someone sit inside and steer back and forth while you inspect the joints. I’d start by watching the track bar at the frame side mount. If you see much side to side movement in that joint while the wheels are turned back and forth, it’s probably time to replace that. Also pay close attention to the joint at the axle side for side to side movement.

Next, look at the drag link at the knuckle side and tie rod ends as someone turns the wheel back and forth. You might be able to hear or feel some abnormal movement, but you should be able to visually see some up/down movement right at that joint. These joints obviously have play for misalignment, so the bars will might be rotating a bit as the steering is turned, but you should not see the joint moving up/down at all.

If you locate a bad joint, it’s simply time to replace that component, or at least the joint in question. I hope this helps a bit. Unfortunately, when it comes to this stuff the dealers are about useless. I’d also say your luck at a off road shop could be hit and miss. The most reliable thing is to get acquainted with the JK steering system.