[Pilgrim_Jeep]

Ok, so I was having really bad vibrations 55mph+. Teeth chattering, feel it in the wheel and through the pedals bad.

Had the tires balanced and rotated. It 90% better, but it's still there.

I did notice the steering damper is leaking. Could this be the culprit? If so, I can probably do this myself...or could it be something else?

The vibration doesn't come through the steering wheel anymore, but it's there...just a ghost of its former self.

Note: I probably waited way too long to get the tires rotated and balanced, but the first guy I hired to do the job stripped a lugnut on two different wheels, and told me there was nothing he could do. I had to wait for an appointment at the local body shop to get the lugnuts off...heat, chisels, and eventually new wheel studs were needed.

 

[jeepinsc]

My guess would be U-joints. That's what my culprit was.

 

[TJDave]

I would also guess U-joints.

Start the process of elimination: Remove front driveshaft, and drive it. If that's not it. Replace front and remove rear ds. Drive it in 4hi.

U-joints are not hard at all to replace and wear out with age. You might as well replace them with some quality joints when the driveshafts are out.

If it still vibrates, at least you know what it isn't!

 

[Pilgrim_Jeep]

Thanks. I'll get the u-joints replaced and see what happens.

 

[SecretAgentMan]

Note: I probably waited way too long to get the tires rotated and balanced . . .

I had a tire that was unevenly worn from a front-end out of alignment. Rotating and balancing took care of some of the issue, but it didn't fully go away until I bought new tires.

 

[Chris Larabell]

to check the u-joints, you have to try and turn the shaft both ways and check for play in the end caps. Use blocks or something to secure the jeep from rolling, put it in N so the shaft isn't bound up and see if you have play in it at all. You should feel a slight knocking or snapping feeling in the shaft when turning it back and forth by hand. That says theres a U-joint going bad...

 

[Wattapunk]

Why not replace a bad steering stabilizer? It easy install and cheap. There's also the possibility of used oversize tires that won't balance perfectly or even a bad wheel. This can be ruled out by throwing on your stock wheels/tires if you still have them .You should also have the shop check your alignment or do it yourself.