Symptoms
Violent side-to-side shaking of the front end after a bump at 45–65 mph that won't stop until you slow right down.
The fix, step by step
- Start with the front track bar.
- With the Jeep on the ground, have a helper turn the wheel about a quarter turn each way while you watch the track-bar ends and bracket holes; any movement is a fault.
- Then check the tie-rod ends, drag link, ball joints, control-arm bushings, wheel bearings, and tire balance and pressure.
- Quadratec says a stabilizer 'rarely fixes the root cause'.
- Replace the worn parts, torque all front-end hardware to spec (Northridge4x4's chart gives 125 ft-lb for both front track-bar bolts and 63 ft-lb for the tie-rod end nuts; confirm against the factory manual), and finish with a proper alignment.
- On lifted trucks, a correctly sized adjustable track bar re-centers the axle.
Tools & part numbers
- Helper
- pry bar
- torque wrench
- sockets
- tape measure.
Where to buy the parts
Rancho RS62115 front adjustable track bar, 2007–18 JKQuadratec ↗Amazon ↗
Rough Country 1118 front track-bar bracket, 2007–18 JKQuadratec ↗Amazon ↗
TeraFlex 1344410 HD steering ball joint (tie rod or drag link), JKQuadratec ↗Amazon ↗
Fox 2.0 Performance Series steering stabilizer, 2007–18 JKQuadratec ↗Amazon ↗
Hunting a used or discontinued part? Search eBay Motors for Jeep Wrangler JK (2-door) parts →
Rated for a competent home mechanic with a decent tool kit. Confirm torque figures, fluids and procedures against the factory service manual for your VIN, support the truck on stands rather than a jack, and work at your own risk (disclaimer). Some parts links are affiliate links, which pay us a small commission at no cost to you.