YJ: *FIXED* Slight steering wheel shake/shimmy/death wobble. - Great Lakes 4x4. The largest offroad forum in the Midwest

Plato2k5 · August 3rd, 2012, 05:44 PM

Over tight wheel bearing in combination with loose steering gear sector shaft caused this.

Driving down the road I can let go of the wheel and it will jerk back and forth. Not to the point where its going to cause me to get into an accident. I can stick my head out and watch the front tire and it looks like i'm turning the wheel very quickly left/right.

I thought it was the gear box so I put in the durango box. Its much better then my old so I'm sure that had some play .

All the heim joints on the steering are good.

Could this be caused by ball joints? I have not replaced them in 5 years since I put the front axle together. It has various off roading trips. How often do you replace?

Just seems odd I had no issues until coming back from Silver Lake.

The tires are IROK 39.5 but before SL i had zero issues.

the frame is not broke as I already redid that where the box connects.

My pitman arm will move UP a little before the tires turn.

winters98tj · August 3rd, 2012, 06:23 PM

oops!

Jeeperz Creeperz · August 3rd, 2012, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plato2k5

My pitman arm will move UP a little before the tires turn.

As in the arm and sector shaft together, or just the arm? The pitman arm should NEVER move separately from the sector shaft.

Jeeperz Creeperz · August 3rd, 2012, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winters98tj

Best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=gVJx8buTE8I

He lost me when he called the tie rod a drag link and then improperly called his "T" style steering a Y" style.

Quote:

Originally Posted by winters98tj

Info:

http://www.jeeperz-creeperz.com/off-road-blog/?p=21

That's some good info there!

Plato2k5 · August 3rd, 2012, 07:15 PM

It moves as one sector and pitman. I thought there should be ZERO play though? You can hear it clunk a bit. Second rebuilt box... first one was horrid!

treky67 · August 3rd, 2012, 07:55 PM

Seems like a tire balance issue. Did you by any chance loose a wheel weight, or some thing along those lines. Tires that big can be hard to balance because of how much rubber they loose, and how fast they loose it. Even a balanced tire can become unbalanced in a hurry with on road driving.

Plato2k5 · August 3rd, 2012, 08:06 PM

They have never been balanced. They are mounted on 15" waggy wheels with DIY bead locks. I guess its possible the tire shifted on the rims after having them aired down to 3psi?

I should break them down and put some airsoft BBs in there to see if that helps.

Plato2k5 · August 4th, 2012, 01:00 PM

ball joints good. Next up is to put 12oz of airsoft .12 gram BBs in the tires. I'll report back

chadcooper55 · August 4th, 2012, 01:21 PM

Have you tried putting a set of balanced street tires on and drive down the road? It is an easy way to eliminate that as the problem.

Plato2k5 · August 4th, 2012, 01:29 PM

No I don't have any laying around but that is a great idea. I don't have anyone near that shares the same pattern as me either. I'll just put the BBs in... should have them in there anyhow.

chadcooper55 · August 4th, 2012, 01:36 PM

i bet if you put a thread up somebody close to you would help you out. even if it is just stock tires and rims off a tow rig or something. i dont know what bp you have but if you were closer i would help you out. i got a little bit of everything

Plato2k5 · August 4th, 2012, 06:05 PM

Thank you Chad. I think I have it nailed down finally.

I added 13 oz of BBs. Took it for a spin and its MUCH MUCH better. Almost gone completely. At slower speeds you can feel it....around 30-35 maybe? No speedo.

However, I noticed I have my wheel bearings to tight so when you spin the rotor, you get that notchy feeling...it spins, stops, spins, stops. So I would suspect that is the cause.

I left the tool in the trailer box which is in waterford. Not about to drive 40 mins for it so it will wait till Monday when I make it out that way.

Even if the bearings are not causing this, I could live with this.

Jeeperz Creeperz · August 7th, 2012, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plato2k5

However, I noticed I have my wheel bearings to tight so when you spin the rotor, you get that notchy feeling...it spins, stops, spins, stops. So I would suspect that is the cause.

Do you drive this every day, every few days, or let it sit for long periods of time?

Sometimes, if you let them sit too long, the bearing rollers will start to rust to the race and then when you turn the wheel it peels small amounts of the race off. If this is the case, you'll have to replace your wheel bearings and races.

Plato2k5 · August 8th, 2012, 08:45 AM

Interesting Jeeperz. It does sit a good bit. I try and drive it once a week just to keep everything lubed up in the engine and battery charged up.

I did manage to figure out the issue though. The pass. side wheel bearing was on WAY to tight. Backed it off and re-torqued it to spec. Problem is gone. I think this issue was a combination of the steering gear box, and the wheel bearing.

Thanks for the help and suggestions guys.

August 3rd, 2012, 05:44 PM	#1
Plato2k5 In Da Faaaaaace!!! Join Date: 12-25-05 Location: WMU Kzoo Mi / Livonia, MI Posts: 5,323 iTrader: (16)	FIXED Slight steering wheel shake/shimmy/death wobble. Over tight wheel bearing in combination with loose steering gear sector shaft caused this. Driving down the road I can let go of the wheel and it will jerk back and forth. Not to the point where its going to cause me to get into an accident. I can stick my head out and watch the front tire and it looks like i'm turning the wheel very quickly left/right. I thought it was the gear box so I put in the durango box. Its much better then my old so I'm sure that had some play . All the heim joints on the steering are good. Could this be caused by ball joints? I have not replaced them in 5 years since I put the front axle together. It has various off roading trips. How often do you replace? Just seems odd I had no issues until coming back from Silver Lake. The tires are IROK 39.5 but before SL i had zero issues. the frame is not broke as I already redid that where the box connects. My pitman arm will move UP a little before the tires turn. Last edited by Plato2k5; August 8th, 2012 at 08:46 AM.

August 3rd, 2012, 06:23 PM	#2
winters98tj Senior Member Join Date: 06-20-07 Location: Madison Heights,MI 48071 Posts: 312 iTrader: (16)	oops! Last edited by winters98tj; August 3rd, 2012 at 11:07 PM.

August 4th, 2012, 01:21 PM	#9
chadcooper55 expert jeep disassembler Join Date: 08-28-08 Location: kent city mi Posts: 5,916 iTrader: (18)	Have you tried putting a set of balanced street tires on and drive down the road? It is an easy way to eliminate that as the problem. __________________ I hate being bipolar, its great! basic tj turned buggy build http://www.greatlakes4x4.com/showthread.php?t=175584

August 4th, 2012, 01:36 PM	#11
chadcooper55 expert jeep disassembler Join Date: 08-28-08 Location: kent city mi Posts: 5,916 iTrader: (18)	i bet if you put a thread up somebody close to you would help you out. even if it is just stock tires and rims off a tow rig or something. i dont know what bp you have but if you were closer i would help you out. i got a little bit of everything __________________ I hate being bipolar, its great! basic tj turned buggy build http://www.greatlakes4x4.com/showthread.php?t=175584

August 3rd, 2012, 07:15 PM	#5
Plato2k5 In Da Faaaaaace!!! Join Date: 12-25-05 Location: WMU Kzoo Mi / Livonia, MI Posts: 5,323 iTrader: (16)	It moves as one sector and pitman. I thought there should be ZERO play though? You can hear it clunk a bit. Second rebuilt box... first one was horrid!

August 3rd, 2012, 07:55 PM	#6
treky67 millwright/jeepwright Join Date: 01-30-09 Location: Windsor Ontario Posts: 88 iTrader: (0)	Seems like a tire balance issue. Did you by any chance loose a wheel weight, or some thing along those lines. Tires that big can be hard to balance because of how much rubber they loose, and how fast they loose it. Even a balanced tire can become unbalanced in a hurry with on road driving.

August 3rd, 2012, 08:06 PM	#7
Plato2k5 In Da Faaaaaace!!! Join Date: 12-25-05 Location: WMU Kzoo Mi / Livonia, MI Posts: 5,323 iTrader: (16)	They have never been balanced. They are mounted on 15" waggy wheels with DIY bead locks. I guess its possible the tire shifted on the rims after having them aired down to 3psi? I should break them down and put some airsoft BBs in there to see if that helps.

August 4th, 2012, 01:00 PM	#8
Plato2k5 In Da Faaaaaace!!! Join Date: 12-25-05 Location: WMU Kzoo Mi / Livonia, MI Posts: 5,323 iTrader: (16)	ball joints good. Next up is to put 12oz of airsoft .12 gram BBs in the tires. I'll report back

August 4th, 2012, 01:29 PM	#10
Plato2k5 In Da Faaaaaace!!! Join Date: 12-25-05 Location: WMU Kzoo Mi / Livonia, MI Posts: 5,323 iTrader: (16)	No I don't have any laying around but that is a great idea. I don't have anyone near that shares the same pattern as me either. I'll just put the BBs in... should have them in there anyhow.

August 4th, 2012, 06:05 PM	#12
Plato2k5 In Da Faaaaaace!!! Join Date: 12-25-05 Location: WMU Kzoo Mi / Livonia, MI Posts: 5,323 iTrader: (16)	Thank you Chad. I think I have it nailed down finally. I added 13 oz of BBs. Took it for a spin and its MUCH MUCH better. Almost gone completely. At slower speeds you can feel it....around 30-35 maybe? No speedo. However, I noticed I have my wheel bearings to tight so when you spin the rotor, you get that notchy feeling...it spins, stops, spins, stops. So I would suspect that is the cause. I left the tool in the trailer box which is in waterford. Not about to drive 40 mins for it so it will wait till Monday when I make it out that way. Even if the bearings are not causing this, I could live with this.

August 8th, 2012, 08:45 AM	#14
Plato2k5 In Da Faaaaaace!!! Join Date: 12-25-05 Location: WMU Kzoo Mi / Livonia, MI Posts: 5,323 iTrader: (16)	Interesting Jeeperz. It does sit a good bit. I try and drive it once a week just to keep everything lubed up in the engine and battery charged up. I did manage to figure out the issue though. The pass. side wheel bearing was on WAY to tight. Backed it off and re-torqued it to spec. Problem is gone. I think this issue was a combination of the steering gear box, and the wheel bearing. Thanks for the help and suggestions guys.