comancheproject
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Exeter,CA
I have owned the jeep for six months. I bought it in the bay area and drove it home with no problems. I took the truck out on 3-4 trails with no issues. Recently we made a trip up to Bald Mountain which resulted in a broken axle shaft and u-joint in the front axle. On the trail we removed the axle and drove home on the wheel bearing. We made it almost home (Kingsburg) safely.... and that is where a single pothole (on the front passenger side I believe) triggered DEATH WOBBLE.
This started several weeks of repairs in my spare time.
1-piece TJ style axle conversion (from vac disco setup)
new upper and lower ball joints
alignment (Done @ Gross and Stevens Visalia, stated dead on, no changes made)
Tires balanced
Newer used TJ wheel bearings
New trackbar bushings (Kevins Offroad Superdurometer Bushings)
New Durango Steering box
New Synergy Pitman Arm
Plated frame / unibody 1/4 plate both sides w/ 1 1/2 round stock welded between due to severe cracks found originating from steering box mounting holes.
All front suspension components have been checked at mounting points and bolts torqued to proper spec. Control arms are custom radius arms with a combination of johnny joints and bushings, all of which seem to be tight and in good condition.
I found visible play in the pitman arm when I had someone turn the wheels side to side. after removing the nut the pitman arm basically fell off. This was exciting to finally find a source of slop. After replacing the pitman arm The steering initially felt much better until the first test drive where it still had Death Wobble.
Steering setup is similar to Rusty's Offroad over the knuckle convension with heim joints and DOM tubing at the drag link and tie rod. The heim joints do not appear to have excessive play.
Because of the custom / homemade lift that was on the truck when I got it there has never been a steering stabilizer and this has never presented any issues. After researching and getting much advice on this death wobble I have purchased one and I am working on a mounting point. I view the stabilizer as a bandaide that will help regardless but I would like to track this down and find the root of the problem instead of masking it.
I have now mounted the stabilizer and it seems to help, but I would like to remove it and find the root of the problem.
I will be experimenting with different tire pressures to see if that makes a difference. I typically run 30-32 psi when fully aired up.
I have worked diligently through each possibility for the cause of this and I am reaching the end. I am puzzled by the truck driving down the road better than my lifted '99 wrangler for months, then one pothole later death wobble renders the truck useless.
I have heard of tire cords breaking loose inside the tire that can also be hidden when balanced that can initiate DW?
At any speed over 25 mph the smallest crack / bump in the road triggers a uncontrollable shake. This is not eliminated untill the truck nearly reaches a complete stop.
I feel like I have repaired, replaced, inspected, tightened, adjusted everything from the axle up and I am still having this problem. The trackbar mount seems solid on the frame side, but I am wondering if it is possible that the unibody has more severe hidden damage than I thought. When I removed the steering box and found cracks I was again happy to find a source of slop and to reinforce it properly. Can DW be caused by unibody / frame rails allowing slop?
I am truly at the end of my rope and next step is to find a shop that knows a thing or two that will help. Like anyone I am on a budget but I also want this to be fixed properly so that it is a reliable and fun vehicle.
Any and all advice / information is greatly welcomed.
1987 Comanche - 4.0
7.5" lift
35" tires
OX lockers front and rear
This started several weeks of repairs in my spare time.
1-piece TJ style axle conversion (from vac disco setup)
new upper and lower ball joints
alignment (Done @ Gross and Stevens Visalia, stated dead on, no changes made)
Tires balanced
Newer used TJ wheel bearings
New trackbar bushings (Kevins Offroad Superdurometer Bushings)
New Durango Steering box
New Synergy Pitman Arm
Plated frame / unibody 1/4 plate both sides w/ 1 1/2 round stock welded between due to severe cracks found originating from steering box mounting holes.
All front suspension components have been checked at mounting points and bolts torqued to proper spec. Control arms are custom radius arms with a combination of johnny joints and bushings, all of which seem to be tight and in good condition.
I found visible play in the pitman arm when I had someone turn the wheels side to side. after removing the nut the pitman arm basically fell off. This was exciting to finally find a source of slop. After replacing the pitman arm The steering initially felt much better until the first test drive where it still had Death Wobble.
Steering setup is similar to Rusty's Offroad over the knuckle convension with heim joints and DOM tubing at the drag link and tie rod. The heim joints do not appear to have excessive play.
Because of the custom / homemade lift that was on the truck when I got it there has never been a steering stabilizer and this has never presented any issues. After researching and getting much advice on this death wobble I have purchased one and I am working on a mounting point. I view the stabilizer as a bandaide that will help regardless but I would like to track this down and find the root of the problem instead of masking it.
I have now mounted the stabilizer and it seems to help, but I would like to remove it and find the root of the problem.
I will be experimenting with different tire pressures to see if that makes a difference. I typically run 30-32 psi when fully aired up.
I have worked diligently through each possibility for the cause of this and I am reaching the end. I am puzzled by the truck driving down the road better than my lifted '99 wrangler for months, then one pothole later death wobble renders the truck useless.
I have heard of tire cords breaking loose inside the tire that can also be hidden when balanced that can initiate DW?
At any speed over 25 mph the smallest crack / bump in the road triggers a uncontrollable shake. This is not eliminated untill the truck nearly reaches a complete stop.
I feel like I have repaired, replaced, inspected, tightened, adjusted everything from the axle up and I am still having this problem. The trackbar mount seems solid on the frame side, but I am wondering if it is possible that the unibody has more severe hidden damage than I thought. When I removed the steering box and found cracks I was again happy to find a source of slop and to reinforce it properly. Can DW be caused by unibody / frame rails allowing slop?
I am truly at the end of my rope and next step is to find a shop that knows a thing or two that will help. Like anyone I am on a budget but I also want this to be fixed properly so that it is a reliable and fun vehicle.
Any and all advice / information is greatly welcomed.
1987 Comanche - 4.0
7.5" lift
35" tires
OX lockers front and rear