2000 XJ Death wobble questions

hightime81

hightime81

New Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2005
Location
Holly Springs, NC
HI all!
i have been helping out a neighbor with some upkeep on his XJ, it is auto, inline 6, 4x4 and about 92K miles. He says that between 50-55, he gets the DW when he brakes. So we put on new pads which were needed anyways, and the shudder still occurs at that exact speed set. I was thinking maybe a steering stabilizer, but does anyone else have an idea of a fix?

Thanks!
 
Does it have a lift? But sounds like a DD. I would say check all bolts, and bushings. Any place something is connected to axle or steering. Sounds like play in it that allows stuff to move once brake pressure is applied.
 
No lift, this is a completely stock DD. However, it is noteworthy to mention that he drives daily on a dirt road for about 10 miles each way. So that supports the loose bolt theory.
Thanks, i will check that out.
 
Doesn't sound like true DW. I've had it on my XJ, and the cure was to replace the ball joints which were worn out. (205K+ miles) If you get DW you have to come to a stop for it to go away and then you have to pry the seat cushion from you ass. I'd say warped rotors since it happens when you brake.

Gary
 
OBX Fisherman said:
Doesn't sound like true DW. I've had it on my XJ, and the cure was to replace the ball joints which were worn out. (205K+ miles) If you get DW you have to come to a stop for it to go away and then you have to pry the seat cushion from you ass. I'd say warped rotors since it happens when you brake.

Gary
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ditto to it not being true DW...

also...replacing the steering stabilizer isn't the fix...if everything is set up right, you could run without the stabilizer completely and it would be right...

definitely check the trackbar bolts and control arm bolts...plus the brake rotors...

Greg
 
Checked for ovaled holes on the cb and tb
 
i just tossed new pads on this past saturday and the rotors seemed in good shape, however, i probably could not tell if they were warped or not anyways. i asked him if the shudder happens when he brakes at any other speed, say braking at 70mph, and he said no. i will bring up turning the rotors and i will inspect the track bar and control arms later this week.

thanks for all the ideas!
 
I would definately go and have the rotors turned/replaced. If it is just a shudder in the steering wheel and you can feel the vibration under braking only that is probably the culprit. The vibration feels different/more or less noticible at different speeds depending on how bad they are warped.
 
StretchASU said:
I would definately go and have the rotors turned/replaced. If it is just a shudder in the steering wheel and you can feel the vibration under braking only that is probably the culprit. The vibration feels different/more or less noticible at different speeds depending on how bad they are warped.
Click to expand...

Yeah, new rotors are like $30 each. A couple of times I have just gone and gotten new ones because I was too lazy and didn't have time to find someone to turn mine, then had them turned later to have as spares. Was nice to have an extra set around too when I had to torch a lugnut off...

Hey stretch, where do you instruct? I work in operations at hawksnest.
 
i would check the track or allignment that made my tj shake
bad !!! it was only at certain speed
 
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