(If you have questions or a comment… post it below, and we’ll answer you ASAP!)
Death Wobble Cures: KOR-9001 Trackbar Conversion for Jeep XJ, MJ, ZJ
Imagine a fully adjustable track bar that eliminates the weak/worn stock upper tie rod end on ZJs and XJ/MJs factory track bar and will allow for AMAZING amounts of droop and tighten up your steering responsiveness at the same time. This kit includes a modified upper track bar mount and the highest quality track bar that exists, custom built specifically for us to KOR’s specifications, and fully adjustable to center your front axle perfectly. It won’t interfere with any existing suspension components and will allow MAXIMUM articulation out of your front axle assembly and a larger resistance to Death Wobble. It’s been designed to work with XJs and ZJs from 0″=>8″ of lift.
ARTICULATION INCREASES:
From the factory, your passenger front tire can only droop approximately 8″ from stock height due to the upper tie rod end on the factory track bar. Now, subtract the height of YOUR lift from the maximum of 8″, and that’s how much passenger side droop you have before the tie rod end binds causing wear and then Death Wobble. You can test this yourself if you don’t believe me. Just remove the lower bolt on the stock track bar and allow it to hang. Pretty scary, huh? Bet you didn’t know that!! That’s the maximum it will go before it binds on itself, which is a future failure in the making!!! Other track bar manufacturers use Heim® joints and Johnny® joints in a vertical orientation, which allow the track bar to drop a bit further than stock, but still not as much as you need.
DEATH WOBBLE RESISTANCE:
Due to the superior strength and thickness of our custom bar (.156 wall 1.25″ OD tube), my custom interference-fit ultra-thick bushing inserts and the 1/2″ Grade 8 hardware that comes included in the kit (50% more strength than stock bolts so that you can really torque it down without worrying about snapping the bolt off), you will see a higher Death Wobble resistance as the entire kit stiffens up the front suspension. An added bonus: There are two additional benefits you may discover as well: an substantial increase in steering response (tighter steering = less wandering) and slightly reduced bump steer, most evident on the taller rigs.
EVEN BETTER DEATH WOBBLE RESISTANCE:
Recently, I’ve had some SUPER-hard Rockwell Durometer bushings made by our poly molding company. You can’t get these anywhere else, folks. The stock rubber bushing material that comes in the stock track bars is less than the 45d hardness of the “regular” bushings that we have used over the years. The SUPER-hard bushings are a 60d harness, or 33% stiffer, giving even better resistance to Death Wobble. Since others have asked, there is a less-than 5% increase in shock transmission to the cabin at 8″ of lift, so with 4″ or less, you will likely never even notice the change, but in any case, it’s a very low price to pay for what MAY cure your Death Wobble completely.
|
Kevin: The new track bar works wonders. I had the XXX traditional Adjustable TB and even with it, I was will getting DW. I have put over 150 miles with the new KOR bar and have not had one incident. Thanks! -Chris Miller – Sandy, UT =============== A word about the change from the factory bar and bracket to yours – WOW!!! The steering feels almost as tight and accurate as my buddy’s Boxster! And the constant clunking, shaking, and imminent death-wobble that plagued nearly every minute of travel, gone! There is a HUGE difference; the truck feels better than new! In all my years of playing with cars, I don’t think I’ve installed anything that’s made as significant a difference as your track bar conversion! Definitely money well spent. As always, I will continue to shout your name and website from the rooftops to every Jeep person I find! Greg Dubbe – Longmont, Colorado. =============== About the track bar…..I was considering the =============== Your Adjustable Trackbar w/ super hard durometer bushings ROCKS!!! Cured my DW! The manufacturing and powder coating is top notch. James Stott – Ventura, CA =============== Hello guys, I would like to thank you for a great product!! I purchased the TB conversion and installed it last week end. HUGE difference!!! I had a XXXX bar and was having problems with it eating bushings. Come to find out a weld had broken in the stabilizer mount that the XXXX bar uses. (Poor design on their part) Now all the “popping” is GONE!!! -Brian Schoonmaker – Meriden, CT |
Here’s what the kit will look like under your Jeep:
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
This item has a “core-charge deposit” attached to it, which will be applied to the price in the shopping cart. I NEED THESE BRACKETS BACK FROM YOU GUYS!!! I don’t want to keep your “core-charge” money…I want the brackets back, and if you don’t send them back to me, I have to buy them somewhere else, and that costs me time and money, which eventually gets passed back along to you guys. So, when you get the kit installed, simply take your old bracket & mail it back to us, and we’ll pay you for your core! WITH YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND CONTACT INFORMATION and I will promptly send you a check back for the core charge. Alternately, if you want more parts from our Manufacturing Division, I will put your core charge credit on file for you to use ALONG WITH $10 EXTRA, compliments of Kevin, to be put toward the purchase of another “KOR Manufacturing Division” part (ONLY) in the future. SURFACE RUST IS OK, BUT IF YOUR BRACKET IS PITTED OR BADLY RUSTED, WE CAN’T USE IT!!!!!!!! *THOUGH YOU ARE WELCOME TO PURCHASE PARTS FROM OUR PERFORMANCE DIVISION IN THE FUTURE, THIS $10 ADDITIONAL OFFER DOES NOT APPLY TO OUR PERFORMANCE DIVISION PARTS* |
Kevin’s Horizontal-Mount Track Bar Conversion Kits |
|||||||||||||||
|
For those who did not order a TBC but want to send me your extra brackets (must be from a ZJ or ’87+ XJ), I can give you cash (price varies, depending on how much stock we have) or $10 more in credit (than what we are paying cash) per bracket. SURFACE RUST IS OK, BUT IF YOUR BRACKET IS PITTED OR BADLY RUSTED, WE CAN’T USE IT!!!!!!!!
*Note-1: The Rubicon Express Conversion uses their Heavy Duty bar and will work for added articulation, but unfortunately they are not as stiff as the JKS bar, nor is their bracket as stiff as our modified stock bracket (it flexes), so it won’t give you the Death Wobble resistance that I designed my conversion kit to offer your Jeep.
**Note-2: The bar and bracket we use in our kit will *NOT* work with any other manufacturer’s kit. The JKS bar we use has a special part number for only us, and the bracket is bent/folded by our machine shop, and is not compatible with anyone else’s bar or anyone else’s bracket, unfortunately. If you have part of a kit from another manufacturer, my only recommendation to make this work for you is to sell the partial kit on eBay or your local Jeep board.
**Note-3: When adding an aftermarket diff cover on the front axle, bear in mind that if it’s thicker than the stock one, it may need to be slightly clearanced so that it doesn’t cause rubbing on the track bar.
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
Do you make this for rhd xj cherokee?
Do you have a DW fix for a 04 Grand Cherokee WJ
Hi Kevin,
I have a 2000 Cherokee whose Track Bar bracket on the axle has rusted severely. I have not been able to find a bracket that can be welded/attached to the axle–suggestions ?
Hi Kevin,
Just bought a 2001 wrangler sahara, that already has a 4″ lift. I haven’t even driven it enough to know if it has the death wobble, but it does have some pretty crappy steering. I want to fix it before I drive it very much.
Do you have a package for this vehicle? If so can I have a link to it. I tried to scroll through and find one on my own, but didn’t see it.
Thanks,
Cindy
Yes, we do, Cindy. The Death Wobble kit will not only keep it from happening, it will also tighten down your steering substantially, which is what I think you’re looking for mostly. Here’s a link: http://www.kevinsoffroad.com/cart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=42_65
Thanks, this is the most imformative straight up answer webswite I have ever seen. As soon as a verify beyond a shadow of a doubt what my lift is, I will be placing my order.
When I move to AZ next year, I will be in to see you!
Thanks again
Oh also I need front shocks, one is leaking terribly. What do you recommend?
Your product looks good. do you make one for a 2008 Dodge 3500?
Here’s all of our Dodge stuff we currently have listed. We’ll have more in the next few days.
http://www.kevinsoffroad.com/cart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=42_82
Hi there
Will this fit a 1998 RHD ZJ?
Thanks
No, it won’t, Antonio. LHD only.
I have a 99 jeep grand cherokee 4 by 4 4.0 and it is scarry when it starts shaking how much is the kit u can also reach me a 815-566-7046 thanks
Larry:
This kit is not going to fit your ’99 Grand, however, these will:
http://www.kevinsoffroad.com/cart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=42_62
Kevin,
I have a stock 2009 Jeep Wrangler JK Sahara Unlimited and am constantly having problems with wobble and steering wander. Does anyone offer your type The track bar for my year JK? Also wondering if you know of anyone who manufactures a steering gearbox brace for stock (no lift) JKs? I have replced the steering stailizer 3 times and final have a billstein installed. I have also replaced the crummy ball joints with Synergy greasable ball joints. Any suggestions/options you may have would be appreciated.
Hi there, Gene,
The upper track bar mount on your wrangler, is welded to the frame, and is not a separate bracket, like the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee are, so, we don’t have a replacement bracket available…
I will tell you, however, that the JKS track bar, along with our SuperDurometer bushings, seems to tighten during down the steering substantially, and is often enough to stop the problem you describe, without doing anything else. Here is a link to the track bar: http://www.kevinsoffroad.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19_41&products_id=773
And, here is a link to the bushings: http://www.kevinsoffroad.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19_41&products_id=1079
i have a 90 model xj and i put 6 or 8 inch coil up font and leafs in the rear i have an adjustable panhard bar i installed and just cant figure out the wobble, but i have suspicion that the stock control arms may be my problem i also do not have a stabilizer, any suggestions? thanks kevin
Death Wobble is almost unheard of on a Long Arm System’d Jeep. With as much lift as you have, you really need to have Long Arms under there. Your geometry is all off, and your lower control arms are badly angled downward, propagating the problem. Reduce lift or upgrade to a , get nice solid bushings in your track bar (like our KOR-1189-kit ) or replace the track bar completely with one of our , which is well-known to reduce Death Wobble. Make sure your stabilizer is extremely tight, and if not, our is a great product!
I need to order a ZJ Track Bar kit…what is the best way to do so?
The best and only way is to hit up our shopping cart, via this link, and order it with a credit card or wire transfer. Here’s the link: http://www.kevinsoffroad.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19_41&products_id=1017 . We also offer an entire Death Wobble package, which includes our Track Bar Conversion, which is located here: http://www.kevinsoffroad.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=42_63&products_id=1084 .
kevin i purchased your track bar conversion for my 97 zj so far no dw . do you still want the old bracket sent to you for a core charge credit ? i am planing to purchase a steering box brace and a steering stabilizer .
That would be awesome, Doug…we need them back from you guys, so we don’t have to source more of them! We’ll give you $45 credit, or $35 cash, and the address to send it back to is:
KevinsOffroad.com, LLC attn: Cores
5025 N. Central Ave #503
Phoenix, AZ 85012
i have a 2004 dodge 3500 4wd with a 2 inch leveling kit and 22.5 alcoas with about 35 in tires. it has new steering dampenners, a new tire rod set from dodge (which they said would fix my DW) with an alignment. new ball joints and bearings the only thing left that is stock is my track bar. the only way i can cure my DW is to toe my tires way out to 1.5 degrees. will this new track bar cure my DW because im out of answers on how to fix it since everything else under my truck is new
Landon:
The track bar we’re offering fits ONLY the Jeep vehicles, not Dodge, unfortunately.
Will this rub anything on a stock 2wd xj?
I am asking this because you indicated that it would rub the front differential cover on a stock 4wd xj.
Nope, not at all…should work at 0″ on a 2wd.
Hey Kevin,
I have a ’92 Cherokee lifted 3″ with 2″ pucks, so aroudn 4.5″. I was driving to work in it today and had to turn around and go home due to the slightest turn of the steering wheel causing death wobble.
I am now rushing myself to figure out what to do right away to make it road-worthy. I was reading another one of yuor aticles, and am interested to hear what you would have in mind in terms of lessening it, or fixing it.
Any help/input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Taylor.
Taylor, do yourself a favor and read through our death wobble cure write-up, which is extremely informative, and will probably help you out immensely. Here’s the link: http://kevinsoffroad.com/death-wobble-cures/how-to-fix-your-own-death-wobble/
Hello Kevin,
I have a ’95 zj 5.2 (good old Mopar 318) 4×4 Quadra-Track with 260+k miles. I’ve had it since 60k mi – about 10 years as a daily driver – no offroad except on our farm. We absolutely love it.
It’s bone stock, no lift, no off-road goodies and routine maintenance only with oem/aftermarket parts – several tie rod ends over the years, brakes, exhaust, engine mounts and such. I replaced the track bar and the steering damper about 20k miles ago and developed the death wobble recently. It does not happen everytime but we drive it as little as possible and in anticipation of the dw breaking out any time. It’s down right now for a rear axle outer bearing investigation.
I find the only way to stop the death wobble is to STOMP on the brakes very aggressively and thus compress the front end while heading for the shoulder as running slow on a highway is not recommended with today’s iPhone generation. This means that you have to constantly watch out and make sure no one is close behind you. Most times I can make the wobble go away while still moving at about 35mph or so and don’t have to fully stop.
It’s a nice monday here in DE and I am heading out to my driveway to check my control arm and track bar bushings. I caught your youtube track bar kit video and that led me to your website.
QUESTION: since my zj is stock and no lifted, will your zj track bar kit fit without interference with the front differential? I am also curious whether there is any drilling required for the beefed up bracket and how hard is it to remove the stock bracket?
Thank you,
Ladd
Harrington, DE
Hey there Ladd:
The only reason why it WON’T work on a stock-height vehicle, is because the thickness of the beefier track bar we include, rubs slightly on the differential cover when you hit bumps. This can be remedied at least three different ways:
1) You can shorten the control arms by 1/4″ in length, and that should alleviate the problem completely.
2) You can tap the cover inward about 1/8″ where it rubs, so that it clears the track bar. There is nothing but air behind this portion of the differential cover, so there is no worries about it contacting anything rotating on the inside of the differential.
3) The track bar can be lengthened slightly longer (1/4″ usually does it) than it’s “proper” length, which will move the axle to the passenger side slightly, allowing the differential cover to move upward/downward without contacting the big, beefy track bar. Your alignment will need to be reset after the install ANYWAY, irrespective of whether you lengthen the track bar or not, and this will NOT negatively affect the alignment of the Jeep.
4) You can add on a set of 3/4″ coil spring spacers, which will raise the front of the Jeep up a bit. It may not COMPLETELY solve the possible rubbing, but it will help substantially. The part number is KOR-KJ0-9107-BK and can be found at http://www.kevinsoffroad.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19_39&products_id=1112
Hello, I have an 88 XJ currently sitting at stock height. I believe the track bar is ready for replacement. I hope to lift the jeep in the future so i’m looking for an adjustable track bar. Will yours fit the XJ sitting at stock height?
Thanks, Bryan
The only reason why it WON’T work on a stock-height vehicle, is because the thickness of the beefier track bar we include, rubs slightly on the differential cover when you hit bumps. This can be remedied at least four different ways:
1) You can shorten the control arms by 1/4″ in length, and that should alleviate the problem completely.
2) You can tap the cover inward about 1/8″ where it rubs, so that it clears the track bar. There is nothing but air behind this portion of the differential cover, so there is no worries about it contacting anything rotating on the inside of the differential.
3) The track bar can be lengthened slightly longer (1/4″ usually does it) than it’s “proper” length, which will move the axle to the passenger side slightly, allowing the differential cover to move upward/downward without contacting the big, beefy track bar. Your alignment will need to be reset after the install ANYWAY, irrespective of whether you lengthen the track bar or not, and this will NOT negatively affect the alignment of the Jeep.
4) You can add on a set of 3/4″ or greater coil spring spacers, which will raise the front of the Jeep up a bit. It may not COMPLETELY solve the possible rubbing, but it will help substantially.
I have a 99 jeep grand 2 wheel drive. Do you have a track bar for this vehicle?
Sure, Tony…the WJ JKS track bar we sell for the 4×4 also fits the 4×2 model.
My mother in law’s 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee has the death wobble.
It is a 2wd though. We are worried she is going to get hurt in it.
Will your Hard-KOR TBC kit fit it?
Thanks.
Jake:
It should fit just fine, and in fact, should have more clearance than a 4×4 version because it doesn’t have the differential in the way.
I recently bought a 1997 jeep grand cherokee limited I like it but shortly after buyin the jeep I ran into the “death wobble”. Is it worth trying to fix or should I try and sell my jeep? Its in good condition but kind of has high miles 160k
I am currently having the DW. I want to go fix it at the car shop and the mechanic suggests changing my damper. I have read. Your article about the track bar being the main cause of DW. I live in Nigeria so I don’t know how to get your conversion track bar. Suggest reliable track bars I can use. I drive a Cherokee jeep (probably 90′s model)
Obinna:
We ship worldwide, and have several customers in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and South Africa. The Track Bar Conversion with SuperDurometer bushings and a new upgraded steering dampener would likely go a long way toward curing the problem for you. E-mail us through our contact us page if you have questions, and if you’d like a shipping quote, just add it to your cart and put your address in. Thanks.
hey kevin, i have a 04 jeep grand cherokee that i put a 4 inch suspension lift on, no body lift or coil lift, and the kmc addict wheels 17 in, and 31 in nitto terra grapler tires. the lift kit was a very good kit and i havent had any problems out of it till now. i am having terrible death wobble issues rite now. the company i bought the lift from sells a performance 2.2 dual steering stabilizer kit and adjustable track bar and a-arms. what do u suggest because from reading your front page it looks like u know what ur talking bout with th death wobble. thanks! the website is roughcountry.com.
I would recommend the WJ Death Wobble package we sell, which is a LOT easier than trying to piece-meal a solution. I wish I could tell you what the one or two components are that are bad on your Jeep, but without seeing it, it’s impossible for me to do.
The nice thing about the kits is that they have been proven to work over and again. It’s a good “shotgun” approach to replacing the “Usual Suspect” parts that give Death Wobble problems.
Kevin
my mechanic has it rite now and he said that i need the dual steering stabilizer and adjustable track bar immediately, and eventually need to get the control arms but just new bushings would do for now. wat do u think? i dont know if that was much help
Did that cure the problem, Zach?
Kevin
I’m looking for a death wobble cure for a 06xj with a 3in body lift all I can find is up to 01 not a 06
The XJ is a Cherokee, which was manufactured from 1984 to 2001. Are you sure you don’t have a 2006 TJ Wrangler? If so, here is the link you’re looking for:
http://www.kevinsoffroad.com/cart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=42