sbilbrey
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Marysville, Ohio
1998 Cherokee Sport, 150K Miles, totally stock. There is a ramp in my town where there is a transition from concrete to asphault with a large bump while turning. Going over it at about 70 to 75 the steering wheel shuck violently for a couple seconds.
I figured something was loose in the front end. Following the Haynes manual I jacked one side at a time and checked for movement in the lifted wheel. Both felt very tight. While I was in there I replaced the front brakes. While it was in the air I lubed the front end. I also had someone turn the wheel from side to side while I looked for anything wrong. I could not find anything. I also rotated the tires while I was working.
It felt better after the lube, but it does not feel as solid as I think it should. Some people suggested new tie rod ends and possibly a new dampner. Maybe a front end alignment, I am not thinking this will fix it, but maybe the shop will report an issue.
Yesterday I took the front end apart. I removed the tie rod and the center link (actually, center link is the Haynes term, everywhere else I look it seems to also be called a tie rod), as well as the dampner. Looking thru my Essentials catalog, it appears tie rod ends run about 16.99 each and that I need three of these. The dampner is 29.99. So far not bad. But to get the last bushing replaced it looks like you need to purchase the whole center link (or tie rod, the bar that goes from the pitman arm to the right side knuckle with the dampner and the tie rod bolted to it) and that is 64.99. It is piece number 19 in this diagram - http://www.quadratec.com/advisor/jeep_oem_replacement_parts/steering/Cherokee_steering.php. Is it true that the whole piece needs replaced? Is there a way to tell if it should be replaced, or is it enough to know that it is a 10 year old vehicle with 150K on it?
Maybe this would be a better option - http://www.quadratec.com/products/56117_06.htm
I am also planning on replacing the sway bar bushings with polyurethane kit such as the daystar set.
This is a street driven vehicle, it is my wifes daily driver and will be my daughters first car in a year. So I want something solid and I am not that concerned about offroading or putting big tires on it anytime soon.
After doing all this I plan on getting a front end alignment and hoping the death wobble is gone.
What do you guys think? Anything you would do differently?
Thanks,
Sammer
I figured something was loose in the front end. Following the Haynes manual I jacked one side at a time and checked for movement in the lifted wheel. Both felt very tight. While I was in there I replaced the front brakes. While it was in the air I lubed the front end. I also had someone turn the wheel from side to side while I looked for anything wrong. I could not find anything. I also rotated the tires while I was working.
It felt better after the lube, but it does not feel as solid as I think it should. Some people suggested new tie rod ends and possibly a new dampner. Maybe a front end alignment, I am not thinking this will fix it, but maybe the shop will report an issue.
Yesterday I took the front end apart. I removed the tie rod and the center link (actually, center link is the Haynes term, everywhere else I look it seems to also be called a tie rod), as well as the dampner. Looking thru my Essentials catalog, it appears tie rod ends run about 16.99 each and that I need three of these. The dampner is 29.99. So far not bad. But to get the last bushing replaced it looks like you need to purchase the whole center link (or tie rod, the bar that goes from the pitman arm to the right side knuckle with the dampner and the tie rod bolted to it) and that is 64.99. It is piece number 19 in this diagram - http://www.quadratec.com/advisor/jeep_oem_replacement_parts/steering/Cherokee_steering.php. Is it true that the whole piece needs replaced? Is there a way to tell if it should be replaced, or is it enough to know that it is a 10 year old vehicle with 150K on it?
Maybe this would be a better option - http://www.quadratec.com/products/56117_06.htm
I am also planning on replacing the sway bar bushings with polyurethane kit such as the daystar set.
This is a street driven vehicle, it is my wifes daily driver and will be my daughters first car in a year. So I want something solid and I am not that concerned about offroading or putting big tires on it anytime soon.
After doing all this I plan on getting a front end alignment and hoping the death wobble is gone.
What do you guys think? Anything you would do differently?
Thanks,
Sammer