Chasing death wobble, check out my track bar

minimull · Apr 8, 2023

I’m chasing down death wobble on my 06 LJ. About a year before it started I already replaced my ball joints and hubs. I also just installed Currie currectlync last month and torqued everything to exact spec. I had the wheels/tires rebalanced, and when they did a shitty job, I installed balance beads. I’ve done the dry steering test about a dozen times, but my I untrained eye can’t see anything unusual. The lower control arms aren’t stock from PO, I’m guessing metal cloak because they look gold underneath the crappy black spray job and the upper control arms are stock. None of their bushings look obviously bad or have a lot of movement without a decent amount of pressure. I’m suspect of the trackbar so I included some photos. It’s torqued to spec, but lemme me know if anything looks out of whack. Thanks.

Tob · Apr 8, 2023

minimull said:
I’m chasing down death wobble on my 06 LJ. About a year before it started I already replaced my ball joints and hubs. I also just installed Currie currectlync last month and torqued everything to exact spec. I had the wheels/tires rebalanced, and when they did a shitty job, I installed balance beads. I’ve done the dry steering test about a dozen times, but my I untrained eye can’t see anything unusual. The lower control arms aren’t stock from PO, I’m guessing metal cloak because they look gold underneath the crappy black spray job and the upper control arms are stock. None of their bushings look obviously bad or have a lot of movement without a decent amount of pressure. I’m suspect of the trackbar so I included some photos. It’s torqued to spec, but lemme me know if anything looks out of whack. Thanks.

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Definitely have someone wiggle the steering wheel back and forth as you watch each trackbar end very closely for movement. The trackbar is my first suspect in any case of death wobble. Should have started with it.

minimull · Apr 8, 2023

Tob said:
Definitely have someone wiggle the steering wheel back and forth as you watch each trackbar end very closely for movement. The trackbar is my first suspect in any case of death wobble. Should have started with it.

Like I said, I’ve done the dry steering test (have someone wiggle steering wheel as I watch as well as go lock to lock) about a dozen times, before I started and after every change. I can’t see any movement. Thanks though.

TheBoogieman · Apr 8, 2023

Did it start before or after the shitty tire/wheel balance job? Try to figure out what changed right before you first noticed it. I got DW on my current Jeep for the first time (6 years) after having someone replaced my axle u-joints and ball joints. I noticed a couple of weights had came off one of my wheels.

minimull · Apr 8, 2023

It was before. Problem is nothing changed before it developed. I only had the wheels/tires rotated and balanced to try to rule that out and they were almost due. I had to have them do twice because they put weight outside and inside in the same place on the wheel the first time and had half the wheel covered in weights. Second time they did it right and I thought it had gone away, but you have to hit just the right bump at just the right speed, so I’m guessing we just got lucky for awhile. Today I drove for 15 plus minutes at the right speed (42-44mph) before it DW’d. I tried the balancing beads so I could rule that out completely. I’m really thinking it’s got to be the control arm bushings.

NskLJ · Apr 8, 2023

minimull said:
It was before. Problem is nothing changed before it developed. I only had the wheels/tires rotated and balanced to try to rule that out and they were almost due. I had to have them do twice because they put weight outside and inside in the same place on the wheel the first time and had half the wheel covered in weights. Second time they did it right and I thought it had gone away, but you have to hit just the right bump at just the right speed, so I’m guessing we just got lucky for awhile. Today I drove for 15 plus minutes at the right speed (42-44mph) before it DW’d. I tried the balancing beads so I could rule that out completely. I’m really thinking it’s got to be the control arm bushings.

I would really look at the track bar. Couple tricks I have found with the steering test. Have the assistant in the vehicle with it running rapidly move the wheel back and forth only about 2-3” movement. While under the vehicle try to feel the looseness. Put your finger touching the rod end and the bolt that holds it. Also try the draglink to axle end bracket. I have found sometimes I can feel it vs seeing it as everything is moving.
You could also take the frame side of the track bar off and check the rod end. It is twisted so could be binding so you cannot see the play.

minimull · Apr 8, 2023

NskLJ said:
I would really look at the track bar. Couple tricks I have found with the steering test. Have the assistant in the vehicle with it running rapidly move the wheel back and forth only about 2-3” movement. While under the vehicle try to feel the looseness. Put your finger touching the rod end and the bolt that holds it. Also try the draglink to axle end bracket. I have found sometimes I can feel it vs seeing it as everything is moving.
You could also take the frame side of the track bar off and check the rod end. It is twisted so could be binding so you cannot see the play.

I did the 2-3” movement, but I didn’t try touching it. Good idea, I’ll do that tomorrow and if I don’t feel anything I’ll try taking the frame side off. Thanks

NskLJ · Apr 9, 2023

minimull said:
I did the 2-3” movement, but I didn’t try touching it. Good idea, I’ll do that tomorrow and if I don’t feel anything I’ll try taking the frame side off. Thanks

Just some tricks I’ve learned through the year. I think the way the rod end is twisted over you will find it is loose. I’m pretty sure that is a rubicon express track bar. I had one on my Jeep when I bought it. Ok replace the end one it.

JMT · Apr 9, 2023

minimull said:
I’m chasing down death wobble on my 06 LJ. About a year before it started I already replaced my ball joints and hubs. I also just installed Currie currectlync last month and torqued everything to exact spec. I had the wheels/tires rebalanced, and when they did a shitty job, I installed balance beads. I’ve done the dry steering test about a dozen times, but my I untrained eye can’t see anything unusual. The lower control arms aren’t stock from PO, I’m guessing metal cloak because they look gold underneath the crappy black spray job and the upper control arms are stock. None of their bushings look obviously bad or have a lot of movement without a decent amount of pressure. I’m suspect of the trackbar so I included some photos. It’s torqued to spec, but lemme me know if anything looks out of whack. Thanks.

View attachment 414583

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What’s your toe? Have you checked it to make sure it’s aligned?

As @Tob mentioned, that axle side trackbar is a good place to start after tires.

Are the tires out of round? That will do it, and no matter what how many times you balance them or how many parts you throw at it won’t fix cupped or out of round tires. If you know someone with a set of tires you can swap over, it would be worth the effort to rule out bad tires.

99% of the time DW is set off by tires. They’re big, rolling masses on a straight axle fighting one another.

minimull · Apr 9, 2023

JMT said:
What’s your toe? Have you checked it to make sure it’s aligned?

As @Tob mentioned, that axle side trackbar is a good place to start after tires.

Are the tires out of round? That will do it, and no matter what how many times you balance them or how many parts you throw at it won’t fix cupped or out of round tires. If you know someone with a set of tires you can swap over, it would be worth the effort to rule out bad tires.

99% of the time DW is set off by tires. They’re big, rolling masses on a straight axle fighting one another.

That’s a great idea. I could swap the wheels and tires over from my TJ and take it for a test drive. Even if I just rule that out at least I’m narrowing the possibilities. Thanks.

wigsajumper · Apr 9, 2023

Like @JMT said have you checked toe and alignment? Have you double checked torques on all the bolts? Had a really bad issue with death wobble after doing lift and adjustable track bar. Alignment helped reduce it mine but it was still there. Finally solved it when I double checked torque specs on all the bolts. My torque wrench was busted (cheap HF model). All my bolts where under torqued by almost half.

TurboTJ · Apr 9, 2023

I think death wobble can be due to cumulative effects. When I had it I did the standard stuff…. re-balanced the tires (twice), dry steering test, checked the alignment, replaced the tires, tightened everything…… still had death wobble. So I just shotgunned it. New ball joints, unit bearings, U-joints and all rod ends. JJs were already new. I haven’t had death wobble since.

minimull · Apr 9, 2023

I was getting ready to start through all your suggestions, when I decided to check the control arms one more time. This is the front upper passenger side. I didn’t get it to move like this before. All the other ones are tight, no movement. Did I possibly find the culprit?

taylormade73 · Apr 9, 2023

minimull said:
I was getting ready to start through all your suggestions, when I decided to check the control arms one more time. This is the front upper passenger side. I didn’t get it to move like this before. All the other ones are tight, no movement. Did I possibly find the culprit?

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That’s likely it. I would replace both front upper axle-side control arm bushings. That’s a press fit so you’ll have to do what Blaine does and weld some exhaust tube into the mount and then press new bushings into that. It will restore the press fit that has been lost and contributing to what you’re seeing there.

Edit: you’ll have to flare the end of the exhaust tube a bit. There is a small write up somewhere on here on how to do it.

minimull · Apr 9, 2023

taylormade73 said:
That’s likely it. I would replace both front upper axle-side control arm bushings. That’s a press fit so you’ll have to do what Blaine does and weld some exhaust tube into the mount and then press new bushings into that. It will restore the press fit that has been lost and contributing to what you’re seeing there.

Edit: you’ll have to flare the end of the exhaust tube a bit. There is a small write up somewhere on here on how to do it.

Or buy aftermarket control arms?

taylormade73 · Apr 9, 2023

minimull said:
Or buy aftermarket control arms?

The front upper control arm bushings are pressed into mounts on the axle. Changing control arms won’t help that part.

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