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[hudsonttr]

 

My 1999 XJ rear springs were shot so I thought I'd go for 4.5'' lift kit from Rough Country. (Had a 3'' kit from Rusty's on a previous XJ which was too mild in my opinion). Anyway, the fitter dropped off my Jeep and said it has a 'bad' wobble. I took it for a quick run around the block and jeez! 45 mph and wham, incredible vibration. The alignment needs to be sorted yet and i'll get all the tyres re-balanced at the same time and i'll pray that will sort it as I haven't got the energy I reckon to try and cure the dreaded DW.

Typical that the first time i'd heard the words 'death wobble' was 'after' I had my jeep lifted. Should have done my research 

Oh..... first post ..... hi all

[scrw]

need to make sure all the balljoints in the front end are 100%, especially steering arm ends. Also did you get adjustable upper control arms? if not your castor will be all wrong which won't help.

[JamesH]

 

Chances are a steering tie rod end, steering knuckle ball joint, control arm bushing is knackered. I've had death wobble once and it was a steering TRE, the only other time I've seen it was also a steering TRE.

Just fitting 4.5" springs and shocks is the start of getting the jeep working right at that height. I would suggest you need to look at rear prop angle (fit slip yoke eliminator), front steering angles and alignment (fit adjustable control arms & adjustable track bar and lowering bracket at body + dropped pitman arm) also things that may have come with the kit like extended brakelines and bumpstops.

[Bulldog67]

Not a scooby but salutations anyway 

[Dave69]

4.5" areas to consider

as above

check the steering track rod ends for play
steering adjuster clamp bolts are tight
tracking adjuster clamp bolts are tight
front axle is aligned and bolted in tight (redrilled centre hole on axle ?)
the strack bar should be parallel with the steering to reduce bump steer.

if the driveline hasn't been modified (the following most likely wontbe the cause of severe steering wobble)
transfer case drop by 1"
rear axle realigned to the prop (fit degree shims)
consider fitting a slip yoke eliminator and new prop shaft as the spline coverage will be minimal on the transfer box output shaft so off roading could result in loss of prop.

[hudsonttr]

Sorted it sort of.

Replaced track rod ends, ball joints as all worn and bought 3 inch springs all round from Rough Country and dropped it. No wobble at all and now useable again.

I will revisit the 4.5 lift in the future but will renew/upgrade all components first.

[JamesH]

A 3" lift on an XJ is probably the best all-round setup in my opinion