Is this normal movement for the front-end track bar?

[Tinnitus_Z]

Hello again, here's a video of my front-end track bar in question.

When I turn my wheels to the right, there is a loud popping noise coming from the passenger side. Took this video and noticed that the track bar is moving in the bracket and "popping" when I turn to the right, and this is very noticeable when I am in a parking lot or turning at a stop sign. I also do get a death wobble above 40 mph when I hit a hole or when driving on really rough roads with a lot of cracks, bumps, and holes. The only way to get it to stop is by fully stopping the Jeep. This started happening in late July when I was driving home from work on some back roads and my Jeep started violently shaking and wouldn't stop until I fully stopped the car. Also happened numerous times when driving to Memphis to get a rebuilt transmission, all mostly in the not-so-good part of town with really rough roads.

Wondering if this could be related to my death wobble by any chance. Once I get back home after this semester, I will be taking my Jeep to a local 4WD shop that helped me in the past with the rear end to see if he can find anything that may need replacing. Currently planning to replace the front-end ball and U joints, as I had the rear done a while ago but couldn't get the front at the same time. All the control arms are brand new and torque to specs and realigned the car after. Installed new Rancho RS5000X shocks in the front, thinking that the old shocks were bad and causing the wobble, turned out I was wrong.

Thanks

 

[jjvw]

The track bar bushing will deflect with the steering movement. That is normal. What we cannot see is if the bolt is moving relative to the mount.

Get a helper to turn the steering wheel for you, while you get under the front and feel each steering and suspension connection with your hand. Find that clunk and tighten the bolt correctly.

 

[Rygrego]

That would be the major cause of your death wobble. Either replace the bushings or the entire track bar.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

That looks a bit loose but not bad. A loose track bar from a worn bushing can definitely make it easier for DW to develop. Better would be quick short left-right-left turns about the center position instead of long slow turns going from end to end. Check your drag link and tie rod rod ends too the same way.

Do the same test but with short quick left-right turns and watch the other rod ends too while you're doing it.

The usual root cause of DW is an imperfectly balanced front tire, loose front-end components make it easier for the DW to fully develop.

 

[Tinnitus_Z]

That looks a bit loose but not bad. A loose track bar from a worn bushing can definitely make it easier for DW to develop. Better would be quick short left-right-left turns about the center position instead of long slow turns going from end to end. Check your drag link and tie rod rod ends too the same way.

Do the same test but with short quick left-right turns and watch the other rod ends too while you're doing it.

The usual root cause of DW is an imperfectly balanced front tire, loose front-end components make it easier for the DW to fully develop.

Alright, I'll go check while doing the quick center to side turns instead of the long full side to side turns. As for the tire balance, I am most likely getting new rims and tires in the next few months so hopefully all four wheels shouuld be balanced.

 

[MayzesTJ]

http://September 28, 2024 https://youtu.be/h6M5ByXjWHU

 

[madridalejandro]

That looks a bit loose but not bad. A loose track bar from a worn bushing can definitely make it easier for DW to develop. Better would be quick short left-right-left turns about the center position instead of long slow turns going from end to end. Check your drag link and tie rod rod ends too the same way.

Do the same test but with short quick left-right turns and watch the other rod ends too while you're doing it.

The usual root cause of DW is an imperfectly balanced front tire, loose front-end components make it easier for the DW to fully develop.

Will worn bushings on the trackbar cause loose steering?

 

[jjvw]

Will worn bushings on the trackbar cause loose steering?

Yes, the same way a loose track bar bolt will create loose steering. Because the steering reacts against the track bar to steer the wheels. The more sloppiness in the system, the looser the steering will feel.

 

[madridalejandro]

Yes, the same way a loose track bar bolt will create loose steering. Because the steering reacts against the track bar to steer the wheels. The more sloppiness in the system, the looser the steering will feel.

Should I go ahead and replace the front trackbar entirely?

 

[jjvw]

Should I go ahead and replace the front trackbar entirely?

Start by tightening the rack bar if the bolt is loose in the mount.

 

[Strizzo]

when i installed my lift, I didn't have the track bar bolt tight enough at the axle, and i had death wobble. It tore up the bushing enough that I had to replace the track bar to get rid of the DW.

this was the original track bar, 72,000 on the odometer, but probably 120k on the jeep from flat towing.

 

[BC Moto]

I had the same sound coming from the front end also and the track bar, I pulled it to check the bushing and it was alright and put it back together tight and the sound is gone