Suggestions for steering upgrade

[Buck]

I've gotten a bad case of death wobble. It seems the steering and suspension have given up at about the same time. I've parked the Jeep until I get it fixed, can't drive over 40mph.

I'm looking for recommendations on new steering. I see the Currie system posted on here but I don't want to spend almost $600. Is there a system better then stock but less then the Currie?

My Tj is mostly stock with 31x10.50x15 tires. I do take it off road and camping some, but nothing too crazy.

Thanks for any ideas.

 

[Steel City 06]

The ZJ steering conversion is much less but still quite popular:
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/zj-tie-rod-conversion.2373/#js-post-28359https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/zj-steering-upgrade.11895/

 

[Steel City 06]

Also check all control arms and track bar ends for play. Any play, especially in the track bar, may lead to death wobble. Excessive play in the steering box can also lead to a similar issue.

Consider having your tires rebalanced, or at least rotated. You can also consider an auto balancer like beads or the Centramatic balancers.

Get the alignment checked as well.

You might also consider replacing the steering damper. While it is not a solution to DW, a worn out damper can make DW more frequent and severe.

 

[Buck]

Also check all control arms and track bar ends for play. Any play, especially in the track bar, may lead to death wobble. Excessive play in the steering box can also lead to a similar issue.

Consider having your tires rebalanced, or at least rotated. You can also consider an auto balancer like beads or the Centramatic balancers.

Get the alignment checked as well.

You might also consider replacing the steering damper. While it is not a solution to DW, a worn out damper can make DW more frequent and severe.

Yes I have other bad parts besides the steering. The steering is the only thing I'm having problems deciding what I want to do with right now.

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

I've gotten a bad case of death wobble. It seems the steering and suspension have given up at about the same time. I've parked the Jeep until I get it fixed, can't drive over 40mph.

My Tj is mostly stock with 31x10.50x15 tires. I do take it off road and camping some, but nothing too crazy.

How many miles on this mostly stock TJ? How long have you had the 31x10.50x15 tires and wheels and did your DW kinda show up close to the same time?

Is it true DW? I ask this because I don't remember any certain speed causing mine, it depended much more on what I happened to drive over at the time.

Regardless, your best bet for steering is probably the ZJ stuff. Why Chrysler only used it on the V8 ZJs is probably because of accountants that would only lease one for a couple years and never get farther off road that the fire lane in front of the mall.

 

[Oldguy]

this cured my death wobble

 

[Buck]

It is an 03 Sahara with 120,000 miles. The 31's have been on it for about 3 years with no problems until now. The track bar bushing went from a little bad to completely blown out. Anything over 40 mph causes enough vibrations to set the entire steering and the Jeep into a shake that can't be controlled, death wobble. The steering parts have play in them. If you shake the steering wheel back and forth hard you can feel and hear the joints clank.

I plan on replacing the track bar, steering, ball joints, and hub/wheel bearings as they are all the same age and have the same abuse on them.

 

[ranger101]

Stock height, I’d throw on one of the Rough Country front track bars(adjustable in case you were to ever add spacers or springs) and the ZJ steering like everyone suggested. Very budget friendly and a nice upgrade from stock. Other than that make sure none of your control arm bushings are shot and keep on having fun.

 

[JMT]

Tire balance always triggers death wobble. Replace other components if they’re bad, checking with a 10-2 steering test with someone underneath, but tire balance for sure.

If you don’t have to come to a stop to get it to go away, it’s not DW.