Suspension Shops

Hello all,

Im looking for a good suspension shop in SoCal, preferably in the LA area. I've had death wobble for the last 3-4 months and can't find the problem. I replaced all kinds of parts, aligned, balanced and tightened everything I could think of ,but I can't get rid of it to save my life. I've had the xj in shops that were supposed to be Jeep specialist but could find the problem, instead opted for the "lets throw all kinds of new parts at it and see what works" method. I don't mind paying for good service as long as Im paying for expertice and not for some a$$ to play the guessing game. Sorry if I sound a little angry but I've spent a small fortune on the thing and cant find a real expert to tell me what's wrong. Now, I know they're out there becouse there's xjs with 8-10" of lift being used as daily drivers without any problems. Please help if you can. Thanks in advance.

The list of new parts is as follows:
* New upper and lower control arms
Uppers are adjustable, lowers are fixed.
* New JKS Quick discos
* New steering linkage w/ TREs
* all new bushings
* New steering stabilizer
* Lowered pitman arm
* New shocks
* New adn Adj. track bar
* New extended drive shaft
* Lowered transfer case
* Tires and rims have been balanced

How much lift?Who's control arms and trackbar?What tires and wheels?What year is it?

Well, do you have the specs from your last alignment?

I would look at the specs, and cross reference them with factory spec and see that. Tire balance is generally what the cause is though.

For alignment I use Just Tires in Torrance (at Sepulveda Blvd., next door to Pep Boys), the did a good job on mine when I was battling the same. Alignment and balance killed it.

Sequoia
PM me with your phone number if you want to talk further on this.

I remember you posting before, do you have any history on your XJ. Was it in an accident, did you have DW before the modifications. Have you tried different wheels and tires, is the front axle true? I know you been through the whole routine before.

Also, do you have the specs off your last alignment. This can paint us a better picture of whats going on.


Also describe your DW, how violent is it, at what speed does it occur, what happens when you hit a bump. Maybe you can get on of the Socal guys to drive it and maybe better describe the problem.

I'm sorry to say, if you still can't figure it out, it might be time to find another XJ, or something elsd period. It's just not wise and dangerous to drive a misaligned vehicle.

Actually I bought the xj with the lift already. 6" with 33's. At that time the vehicle ran fine. After I made my own sway bar disconnects, the problems started. Simple right, just go back to stock. No, actually I did go back to stock and the problem was still there. When I got the vehicle it had CRusty's lower arms fixed and stock uppers.
With a brand new Skyjacker Trac Bar Steering stabilizer and coils. As I mentioned before everythig worked fine. One day on my way to work, The wobble just started after a hit a bump. (Not a big bump,just your average 91 FWY bumps) I was going 70 mph and pretty much lost control. After that, any time I hit a bump at 45 mph it starts. If I do it at less than 45 it doesnt happen. I can't tell you much about more than 50 mph because by then the whole car is shaking too much so I never go past that. The last alignment was at a Bear and frame with a guy that claimed he had 25 yrs. experience, he set the caster to 4* camber N/A and toe to 0/. While driving home i noticed that the wobble was still there, so i had him change it to 7*. The wobble persisted. Later we went to negative caster,and the wobble was still there. By then the guy said that I had to replace my shock adn bushings otherwise he could not fix it. Thats when we started throwing parts at it. Finally I got fed and went to a "JEEP Specialist"
and He pretty much took the same approach, throw parts at it until the problems go away. How ever the problem is still there. Anyone have any thoughts?

RE:Maybe you can get on of the Socal guys to drive it and maybe better describe the problem.

Actually, I wouldn't mind having some of the SoCal guys drive it and throw ideas my direction. I know Im pretty close to a lot of them because I see them all the time by my work with the stickers on the windows. (Western adn 190th) if you guys can help me out I would really appreciate it. Thanks.

I am in Ventura, a little ways to go I know but am willing to help ya figure it out as most of the other Socal group is off to Moab for the week, if no one down your way is able to help, I will if you don't mind the drive

Thanks Fullsize, I pm'd you

balance

I have been to many different shops to try and get them to balance the wheels and tires. No one has been able to get them balanced correctly. I finally went to a place that balances BIG truck tires for tractor trailers, well.....it has made all the difference in the world. They actually said that 2 of my tires were so uneven that they had to put the tires on a lathe and turn them down, they called it truing the tires. It is the smoothest I have ever felt in balancing. They earned my business for a long time.

Moral of the story: Just because one shop says they are balanced does not mean that they are truely balanced. They might just be close enough for the teenager that is doing the job right before his lunch break...........

I've had a similar problem in the past. It was a bad tire. That may not be your problem, but it sure could be. Someone on this forum once said he could balance an egg, but that wouldn't make it round.

IF they set your toe to 0* that could very well be your problem. Jeeps need to be toe in just a little. It keeps the play out of the steering and prevents DW. So get under there and turn in your tie rod 2 or 3 turns and see if it helps. Also Check to make sure that your brake rotors are not warped. that can have an effect.

HTH

Jerm S.

DROP BRACKETS!!! Is what you need, I had the same problem, balanced the tires, got an alignment, tie rods with ends, trackbar, than last...... drop brackets, I was at 6" when this all happened, now Im at 8" still no dw. DEFINATELY YOUR BEST BET!

My .02

When I got the vehicle it had CRusty's lower arms fixed and stock uppers.

Click to expand...

Change your lower control arms to anything other than Rusty's.