there is a big difference in a shimmy and the death wobble.. a shimmy
would be the stabilizer..like Bill said. I am 99.9 % sure it is the tires..
I have had this on numerous Jeeps I have bought through the years and that
has always been a guaranteed fix.


"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:412E4193.4DC53104@sympatico.ca...
> And you need to check the tires for round and any bushing in the control
> arms or track bar for play.
>
> A worn out steering shock will allow the 'death wobble' to happen, but
> usually some part or tire is marginal to set it off.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> "L.W.(ßill) ------ III" wrote:
> >
> > You need a new steering stabilizer shock absorber:
> >
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...101/p-213989/m
ediaCode-ZX/appId-204797
> > God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> > mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
> >
> > Matt wrote:
> > >
> > > Hey everybody,
> > >
> > > I tried Googling this first, but couldn't get an answer. I have a '99
> > > TJ Sport with 31" muds on it. Between the speed ranges of 48-52 MPH,
> > > it wobbles so badly that the CD player skips and soda spills out of
> > > cans in the cup holder(like 4 or 5 inches either way). Thinking it was
> > > a balance or camber or toe-in or something problem, I took it to a
> > > tire/alignment shop. They checked the balance, etc. and it was fine,
> > > but said "carrier bolts" had been really loose and tightened them.
> > > They didn't charge me, either :) It fixed the problem for a day or
> > > two, but I took a long highway drive and now it's back-worse than
> > > ever.
> > > Questions: is this something I can tighten the hell out of and
> > > Loc-Tite? Is the existing condition dangerous? (I just go faster and
> > > work through the shimmy). The Jeep's never been in an accident and
> > > everything's properly maintained, except I was a little late in the
> > > 60,000 mile axle servicing. Any ideas? I'm getting a little scared
> > > here. :)
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance,
> > >
> > > Matt

 

there is a big difference in a shimmy and the death wobble.. a shimmy
would be the stabilizer..like Bill said. I am 99.9 % sure it is the tires..
I have had this on numerous Jeeps I have bought through the years and that
has always been a guaranteed fix.


"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:412E4193.4DC53104@sympatico.ca...
> And you need to check the tires for round and any bushing in the control
> arms or track bar for play.
>
> A worn out steering shock will allow the 'death wobble' to happen, but
> usually some part or tire is marginal to set it off.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> "L.W.(ßill) ------ III" wrote:
> >
> > You need a new steering stabilizer shock absorber:
> >
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...101/p-213989/m
ediaCode-ZX/appId-204797
> > God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> > mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
> >
> > Matt wrote:
> > >
> > > Hey everybody,
> > >
> > > I tried Googling this first, but couldn't get an answer. I have a '99
> > > TJ Sport with 31" muds on it. Between the speed ranges of 48-52 MPH,
> > > it wobbles so badly that the CD player skips and soda spills out of
> > > cans in the cup holder(like 4 or 5 inches either way). Thinking it was
> > > a balance or camber or toe-in or something problem, I took it to a
> > > tire/alignment shop. They checked the balance, etc. and it was fine,
> > > but said "carrier bolts" had been really loose and tightened them.
> > > They didn't charge me, either :) It fixed the problem for a day or
> > > two, but I took a long highway drive and now it's back-worse than
> > > ever.
> > > Questions: is this something I can tighten the hell out of and
> > > Loc-Tite? Is the existing condition dangerous? (I just go faster and
> > > work through the shimmy). The Jeep's never been in an accident and
> > > everything's properly maintained, except I was a little late in the
> > > 60,000 mile axle servicing. Any ideas? I'm getting a little scared
> > > here. :)
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance,
> > >
> > > Matt

 

there is a big difference in a shimmy and the death wobble.. a shimmy
would be the stabilizer..like Bill said. I am 99.9 % sure it is the tires..
I have had this on numerous Jeeps I have bought through the years and that
has always been a guaranteed fix.


"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:412E4193.4DC53104@sympatico.ca...
> And you need to check the tires for round and any bushing in the control
> arms or track bar for play.
>
> A worn out steering shock will allow the 'death wobble' to happen, but
> usually some part or tire is marginal to set it off.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> "L.W.(ßill) ------ III" wrote:
> >
> > You need a new steering stabilizer shock absorber:
> >
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...101/p-213989/m
ediaCode-ZX/appId-204797
> > God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> > mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
> >
> > Matt wrote:
> > >
> > > Hey everybody,
> > >
> > > I tried Googling this first, but couldn't get an answer. I have a '99
> > > TJ Sport with 31" muds on it. Between the speed ranges of 48-52 MPH,
> > > it wobbles so badly that the CD player skips and soda spills out of
> > > cans in the cup holder(like 4 or 5 inches either way). Thinking it was
> > > a balance or camber or toe-in or something problem, I took it to a
> > > tire/alignment shop. They checked the balance, etc. and it was fine,
> > > but said "carrier bolts" had been really loose and tightened them.
> > > They didn't charge me, either :) It fixed the problem for a day or
> > > two, but I took a long highway drive and now it's back-worse than
> > > ever.
> > > Questions: is this something I can tighten the hell out of and
> > > Loc-Tite? Is the existing condition dangerous? (I just go faster and
> > > work through the shimmy). The Jeep's never been in an accident and
> > > everything's properly maintained, except I was a little late in the
> > > 60,000 mile axle servicing. Any ideas? I'm getting a little scared
> > > here. :)
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance,
> > >
> > > Matt

 

If you buy larger tires, buy a larger steering stabilizer:
http://images.scrippsweb.com/DIY/200...m105_3fn_e.jpg
http://www.schaffter.com/jpg/sterstab.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

IsellJeeps wrote:
>
> there is a big difference in a shimmy and the death wobble.. a shimmy
> would be the stabilizer..like Bill said. I am 99.9 % sure it is the tires..
> I have had this on numerous Jeeps I have bought through the years and that
> has always been a guaranteed fix.

 

If you buy larger tires, buy a larger steering stabilizer:
http://images.scrippsweb.com/DIY/200...m105_3fn_e.jpg
http://www.schaffter.com/jpg/sterstab.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

IsellJeeps wrote:
>
> there is a big difference in a shimmy and the death wobble.. a shimmy
> would be the stabilizer..like Bill said. I am 99.9 % sure it is the tires..
> I have had this on numerous Jeeps I have bought through the years and that
> has always been a guaranteed fix.

 

If you buy larger tires, buy a larger steering stabilizer:
http://images.scrippsweb.com/DIY/200...m105_3fn_e.jpg
http://www.schaffter.com/jpg/sterstab.jpg
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

IsellJeeps wrote:
>
> there is a big difference in a shimmy and the death wobble.. a shimmy
> would be the stabilizer..like Bill said. I am 99.9 % sure it is the tires..
> I have had this on numerous Jeeps I have bought through the years and that
> has always been a guaranteed fix.

 

If the CD is skipping and soda is spilling from 4 to 5" side to side,
that's as close to the death wobble you 'ever' want to be....

A worn/about to break part at that point can be deadly.

And no disagreement on tires, I mentioned them as something to look at.

Mike

IsellJeeps wrote:
>
> there is a big difference in a shimmy and the death wobble.. a shimmy
> would be the stabilizer..like Bill said. I am 99.9 % sure it is the tires..
> I have had this on numerous Jeeps I have bought through the years and that
> has always been a guaranteed fix.
>
> "Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:412E4193.4DC53104@sympatico.ca...
> > And you need to check the tires for round and any bushing in the control
> > arms or track bar for play.
> >
> > A worn out steering shock will allow the 'death wobble' to happen, but
> > usually some part or tire is marginal to set it off.
> >
> > Mike
> > 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> >
> > "L.W.(ßill) ------ III" wrote:
> > >
> > > You need a new steering stabilizer shock absorber:
> > >
> http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...101/p-213989/m
> ediaCode-ZX/appId-204797
> > > God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> > > mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
> > >
> > > Matt wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hey everybody,
> > > >
> > > > I tried Googling this first, but couldn't get an answer. I have a '99
> > > > TJ Sport with 31" muds on it. Between the speed ranges of 48-52 MPH,
> > > > it wobbles so badly that the CD player skips and soda spills out of
> > > > cans in the cup holder(like 4 or 5 inches either way). Thinking it was
> > > > a balance or camber or toe-in or something problem, I took it to a
> > > > tire/alignment shop. They checked the balance, etc. and it was fine,
> > > > but said "carrier bolts" had been really loose and tightened them.
> > > > They didn't charge me, either :) It fixed the problem for a day or
> > > > two, but I took a long highway drive and now it's back-worse than
> > > > ever.
> > > > Questions: is this something I can tighten the hell out of and
> > > > Loc-Tite? Is the existing condition dangerous? (I just go faster and
> > > > work through the shimmy). The Jeep's never been in an accident and
> > > > everything's properly maintained, except I was a little late in the
> > > > 60,000 mile axle servicing. Any ideas? I'm getting a little scared
> > > > here. :)
> > > >
> > > > Thanks in advance,
> > > >
> > > > Matt

 

If the CD is skipping and soda is spilling from 4 to 5" side to side,
that's as close to the death wobble you 'ever' want to be....

A worn/about to break part at that point can be deadly.

And no disagreement on tires, I mentioned them as something to look at.

Mike

IsellJeeps wrote:
>
> there is a big difference in a shimmy and the death wobble.. a shimmy
> would be the stabilizer..like Bill said. I am 99.9 % sure it is the tires..
> I have had this on numerous Jeeps I have bought through the years and that
> has always been a guaranteed fix.
>
> "Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:412E4193.4DC53104@sympatico.ca...
> > And you need to check the tires for round and any bushing in the control
> > arms or track bar for play.
> >
> > A worn out steering shock will allow the 'death wobble' to happen, but
> > usually some part or tire is marginal to set it off.
> >
> > Mike
> > 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> >
> > "L.W.(ßill) ------ III" wrote:
> > >
> > > You need a new steering stabilizer shock absorber:
> > >
> http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...101/p-213989/m
> ediaCode-ZX/appId-204797
> > > God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> > > mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
> > >
> > > Matt wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hey everybody,
> > > >
> > > > I tried Googling this first, but couldn't get an answer. I have a '99
> > > > TJ Sport with 31" muds on it. Between the speed ranges of 48-52 MPH,
> > > > it wobbles so badly that the CD player skips and soda spills out of
> > > > cans in the cup holder(like 4 or 5 inches either way). Thinking it was
> > > > a balance or camber or toe-in or something problem, I took it to a
> > > > tire/alignment shop. They checked the balance, etc. and it was fine,
> > > > but said "carrier bolts" had been really loose and tightened them.
> > > > They didn't charge me, either :) It fixed the problem for a day or
> > > > two, but I took a long highway drive and now it's back-worse than
> > > > ever.
> > > > Questions: is this something I can tighten the hell out of and
> > > > Loc-Tite? Is the existing condition dangerous? (I just go faster and
> > > > work through the shimmy). The Jeep's never been in an accident and
> > > > everything's properly maintained, except I was a little late in the
> > > > 60,000 mile axle servicing. Any ideas? I'm getting a little scared
> > > > here. :)
> > > >
> > > > Thanks in advance,
> > > >
> > > > Matt

 

If the CD is skipping and soda is spilling from 4 to 5" side to side,
that's as close to the death wobble you 'ever' want to be....

A worn/about to break part at that point can be deadly.

And no disagreement on tires, I mentioned them as something to look at.

Mike

IsellJeeps wrote:
>
> there is a big difference in a shimmy and the death wobble.. a shimmy
> would be the stabilizer..like Bill said. I am 99.9 % sure it is the tires..
> I have had this on numerous Jeeps I have bought through the years and that
> has always been a guaranteed fix.
>
> "Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> news:412E4193.4DC53104@sympatico.ca...
> > And you need to check the tires for round and any bushing in the control
> > arms or track bar for play.
> >
> > A worn out steering shock will allow the 'death wobble' to happen, but
> > usually some part or tire is marginal to set it off.
> >
> > Mike
> > 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> >
> > "L.W.(ßill) ------ III" wrote:
> > >
> > > You need a new steering stabilizer shock absorber:
> > >
> http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...101/p-213989/m
> ediaCode-ZX/appId-204797
> > > God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> > > mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
> > >
> > > Matt wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hey everybody,
> > > >
> > > > I tried Googling this first, but couldn't get an answer. I have a '99
> > > > TJ Sport with 31" muds on it. Between the speed ranges of 48-52 MPH,
> > > > it wobbles so badly that the CD player skips and soda spills out of
> > > > cans in the cup holder(like 4 or 5 inches either way). Thinking it was
> > > > a balance or camber or toe-in or something problem, I took it to a
> > > > tire/alignment shop. They checked the balance, etc. and it was fine,
> > > > but said "carrier bolts" had been really loose and tightened them.
> > > > They didn't charge me, either :) It fixed the problem for a day or
> > > > two, but I took a long highway drive and now it's back-worse than
> > > > ever.
> > > > Questions: is this something I can tighten the hell out of and
> > > > Loc-Tite? Is the existing condition dangerous? (I just go faster and
> > > > work through the shimmy). The Jeep's never been in an accident and
> > > > everything's properly maintained, except I was a little late in the
> > > > 60,000 mile axle servicing. Any ideas? I'm getting a little scared
> > > > here. :)
> > > >
> > > > Thanks in advance,
> > > >
> > > > Matt

 

I have a 99 with a 2" lift and have never fullly gotten rid of the problem. The
track arm is the first suspect. After that i find any part individually or
parts as a group that have play will allow the problem.

I would like to run the stock tires when I am commuting to work. But the DEATH
WOBBLE prevents that. And then I end up replacing the track bar after a coule
of severe incidents. So I keep my 32" MTR's with offset rims on and that
suppresses the problem. I still feel it in the steering wheel trying to come
back. Eventually it will as the pulsations are getting stronger.

The suspension is on the edge to begin with and lifting or adding tires seems
to push it over the edge. If everything is not very tight, a harmonic can begin
and there you have it.

I am going to try replacing the stock control arms. It seems my friends running
with Tera Flex Arms don't have the problem. I am guessing the softer rubber
bushing is allowing to much movement.