Death Wobble

[Rundel]

I'm a new member but not new to Jeeps.  I've had a YJ, TJ, XJ, ZJ and my wife just sold her Liberty.   To stop from going through withdrawal, I bought an MJ (4.0L longbed, 4wd 5spd)   I have been debugging it and have it running decent but still need to improve the brakes.   My big problem is a re-occurring death wobble.  I have had the front end checked out, put on a new trac-bar, rebalanced the tires and checked the alignment.   But still when I hit a bump, especially the passenger front tire and above 30 mph, the Commanche will shake like a paint mixer.  I happend 12 times in five miles on a rough county road today.


Any suggestions on what to try next?   Any place you can recommend that know what they are doing with jeeps front ends?

TIA

[YJ_Aaron]

Slop in the steering box?  You said you had front end checked out?  Did this include: wheel bearings, ball joints, tie rod ends?

Aaron

[HVACMASTER]

the two times on two different vehicles i had was a bad tire.  jack the vehicle up and spin the tires, you may find a bubble in one.  happened to me on a cj and a blazer i owned, scares the crap out of you and its was always concistant to about 35 miles an hour front end would hope around out of control.

[Rundel]

tie rod ends, bearings, ball joints all checked out.   The steering box could stand to be adjusted.   I just had the tires removed and a spin balance done.   I can drive on smooth payment without any real issues.  It seems to occur most when there has been a bump or dip in the road that upsets the suspension.

I'm starting to wonder about ordering new bushing to install through out the front end.  Is there a source other than Quadratec?  and who around here really knows Jeeps and can work on the front end?

Mark

[YJ_Aaron]

You could probably get someones used stock arms a LOT cheaper than buying all new bushing kit if you want to try that out.

I know YellowTJ has a set off her rubi with like 15K on them.

Aaron

[Blueyellow]

HMMM Hey do you have it lfted??? If so It kinda sounds like Bump steer. Do you have a drop Pitman arm on it? Just an Idea
Al

[Rundel]

No lift, stock height.   It has 155,000 on it and has spent the last seven years being used on a farm near Miller.  The previous owner kept the fluids changed but little other maintenance.  When I got it Ihad to fix the back brakes, they weren't working.  It took new wheel cylinders as well as shoes, the a/c works after taking a charge.  It ran warm till I blew out a few pounds of fescue seed out of the radiator.  It has a ticking noise in the number four cylinder but runs good.

[TanYJ]

Are the springs worn out?  155k and the last probly 50k on a farm could have worn them out, and cause a lot of drama.