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TJ vibration/steering wheel shake

16K views 8 replies 8 participants last post by  jwyman1996 
#1 ·
So I've been looking up all different posts and threads on this and still felt my best option might be posting myself. I have an 06 TJ that is showing a heavy vibration and steering wheel shake around 45-50mph. It is extremely smooth before 45 and after 50. It had a slight vibration so last week I took it to the shop I always do (Pepboys) to get a tire rotation and balance, and it seems to have gotten worse. I brought it back in asking for the tires to be re-balanced and they assured me the balance was perfect when I left the second time but I am still having the same vibration and steering shake. I wanted to ask everyone's opinion on what to look at front end wise if I eliminated the tire balance being a variable. I'm mechanically inclined, built motors and such. Just never touched a front end or suspension as I never have needed to.

Thank you!!
 
#2 ·
So I've been looking up all different posts and threads on this and still felt my best option might be posting myself. I have an 06 TJ that is showing a heavy vibration and steering wheel shake around 45-50mph. It is extremely smooth before 45 and after 50. It had a slight vibration so last week I took it to the shop I always do (Pepboys) to get a tire rotation and balance, and it seems to have gotten worse. I brought it back in asking for the tires to be re-balanced and they assured me the balance was perfect when I left the second time but I am still having the same vibration and steering shake. I wanted to ask everyone's opinion on what to look at front end wise if I eliminated the tire balance being a variable. I'm mechanically inclined, built motors and such. Just never touched a front end or suspension as I never have needed to.



Thank you!!


Check the torque of the steering damper bolts. Every time I have my Jeep aligned this happens. Mine is currently shaking between 55-60. It's on today's to do list.


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#4 ·
Had same problem around 55 but would only shake when I hit a bump and then only maybe once a week. Have tires rotated and balanced. Every time got up to 55 the shake was there. Rotated wheels back to original position and switched damper(don't know it that done anything) have not had problem since. Think maybe having front tires balance may have fixed the problem.
 
#7 ·
Appreciate all the responses. I will recheck the front end around the steering dampner, trackbar ends and tie rod ends, and will bring it back for another tire balance. I will add I do not know the quality of the workers at pepboys in regards to tire work, when I bought the tires they came with free balancing for the life of the tires.
 
#8 ·
I'd bet a paycheck that it's the tire balance. When I purchased my 06 LJ, it had a set of tires. It had the vibrations, that could be felt in the steering wheel between 45-50mph. I replaced the budget lift with a zone lift, and adjustable track bar, and still had the vibrations. I purchased brand new wheels and tires. Still had the vibrations, but not as bad. I took it to a mechanic, and he assured me it was the tire balance. He balanced them and the vibrations hot alot better, but I could still tell. I just recently sold those wheels/tires and just got new ones. No vibrations anymore! It was driving me nuts and I was having a hard time believing that 2 different sets of wheels, 2 different sets of tires, and multiple balances could still produce the vibrations. But now, I'm obviously convinced. Side note, I also added centric rings when I installed these new wheels. Most people say u don't need them, they supposedly help center the wheel onto the hub. They're just small plastic rings, $20 for set of 4. Not sure if they made any difference, but the vibration is gone, so I'm keeping them!
 
#9 ·
I would have to x9 on the multiple advisories to do another rotate and balance if you can. I had the exact same problem on my truck before I got my TJ. Same speeds. Same steering vibrations.
On the other hand, i had a very similar vibration ONLY while accelerating. Took it to a trusted mechanic of mine and he put his hand on my rear drive shaft and was basically able to wiggle it by hand. Took out my rear U-joint and about have of it was shaved off! Replaced it, not a slight problem.
Also, could be a track bar issue. I replaced my steering stabilizer in my Jeep to see if it solved some of the problems of the crappy roads here in Arizona. No dice. Put on a new track bar about a month later and it was like putting on a new pair of glasses. Night and day difference in road vibration that was translated into the steering wheel. And I'm running a 4" lift with 33" MT/s.
 
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