sgt_why
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Sultan, Wa
Hello everyone!
I have a 1992 Jeep Cherokee with a Rubicon Express 3.5" lift. Have had the lift on it for about a year now, w/ no complaints.
Just a couple weeks ago, I replaced the stock (29x8.5) tires with a set of (4) Green Diamond Icelander M/Ts ... 31x10.5r15
For the first (4) days, everything was great! Had the tires mounted, balanced and my alignment done all at once.
Then I took it off-road through some mud and dirt trails -- to test out the new traction. (which I had already done a couple times since installing the tires)
When heading home, it started getting some serious vibration which at first seemed to come from the drive line ... then it "moved" to the center of the Jeep and the front end. And stayed in the front-end from then on-ward.
I had the tires re-balanced and the alignment checked, but they were OK.
It seemed to happen everytime now when I hit about 35mph, the front end starts vibrating and increases in pitch to the extent I have to pull over for fear of loosing control. Feels like the front tires are going to come flying off!
At first, thought maybe it was my brakes sticking causing the vibration -- because I had problems a few months back and had replaced the calipers and rotors on the front. No problems from the back end. However, I bled the front brakes on both sides and other than a little dirt in the oil everything seemed ok.
I went to Olympic 4x4 in Snohomish thinking I'd buy a new power brake booster/master cylinder and see if that helped. When I explained the problem, they said right away it was "DEATH WOBBLE" ... and that it was likely front worn tire rod ends, track bar and/or the steering stabilizer.
They talked me into buying a new heavy duty "Carrie" front suspension, including new adjustable tie rods and adj. track bar. Also picked up a new steering stabilizer as well.
After a weekend tearing out the old tie rods and drilling a 5/8" hole for the new track bar ... I thought the problem was solved.
But when test driving it, the "wobble" was only very slightly diminished. Still happens at ~35 MPH and feels like the wheels are going to rip off the Jeep.
So, I brought it back in to Les Schwab and had them check the front-end alignment and adjust the tie rods if necessary (since I had only eye-balled the adjustments when I put the new ones in). 2 hours later, they took my $55 and said that it was OK and that the tie rods hadn't needed adjusting.
I did some searching around and can't decide what to do next ...
- balanced the tires
- aligned front end
- replaced steering stabilizer (w/ Rancho)
- replaced tie rod ends
- installed new, adjustable track bar (Rubicon Express one)
Everything else under the Jeep looks like brand new -- so Im at a loss what could be causing all this and why its so extreme.
Most others that complain of DW make it sound like it only happens after they hit a bump or something ... but the DW happens to me ONLY when accelerating towards 35 MPH -- if I push in the clutch, NO vibration.
Any suggestions out there ?
Will I end up having to replace part by part until the problem just goes away ??
Is there any hope ???
*sigh*
I have a 1992 Jeep Cherokee with a Rubicon Express 3.5" lift. Have had the lift on it for about a year now, w/ no complaints.
Just a couple weeks ago, I replaced the stock (29x8.5) tires with a set of (4) Green Diamond Icelander M/Ts ... 31x10.5r15
For the first (4) days, everything was great! Had the tires mounted, balanced and my alignment done all at once.
Then I took it off-road through some mud and dirt trails -- to test out the new traction. (which I had already done a couple times since installing the tires)
When heading home, it started getting some serious vibration which at first seemed to come from the drive line ... then it "moved" to the center of the Jeep and the front end. And stayed in the front-end from then on-ward.
I had the tires re-balanced and the alignment checked, but they were OK.
It seemed to happen everytime now when I hit about 35mph, the front end starts vibrating and increases in pitch to the extent I have to pull over for fear of loosing control. Feels like the front tires are going to come flying off!
At first, thought maybe it was my brakes sticking causing the vibration -- because I had problems a few months back and had replaced the calipers and rotors on the front. No problems from the back end. However, I bled the front brakes on both sides and other than a little dirt in the oil everything seemed ok.
I went to Olympic 4x4 in Snohomish thinking I'd buy a new power brake booster/master cylinder and see if that helped. When I explained the problem, they said right away it was "DEATH WOBBLE" ... and that it was likely front worn tire rod ends, track bar and/or the steering stabilizer.
They talked me into buying a new heavy duty "Carrie" front suspension, including new adjustable tie rods and adj. track bar. Also picked up a new steering stabilizer as well.
After a weekend tearing out the old tie rods and drilling a 5/8" hole for the new track bar ... I thought the problem was solved.
But when test driving it, the "wobble" was only very slightly diminished. Still happens at ~35 MPH and feels like the wheels are going to rip off the Jeep.
So, I brought it back in to Les Schwab and had them check the front-end alignment and adjust the tie rods if necessary (since I had only eye-balled the adjustments when I put the new ones in). 2 hours later, they took my $55 and said that it was OK and that the tie rods hadn't needed adjusting.
I did some searching around and can't decide what to do next ...
- balanced the tires
- aligned front end
- replaced steering stabilizer (w/ Rancho)
- replaced tie rod ends
- installed new, adjustable track bar (Rubicon Express one)
Everything else under the Jeep looks like brand new -- so Im at a loss what could be causing all this and why its so extreme.
Most others that complain of DW make it sound like it only happens after they hit a bump or something ... but the DW happens to me ONLY when accelerating towards 35 MPH -- if I push in the clutch, NO vibration.
Any suggestions out there ?
Will I end up having to replace part by part until the problem just goes away ??
Is there any hope ???
*sigh*