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Jeep Wrangler Wheel Wobble

54 messages,  Last post on Jul 09, 2012 at 4:26 PM

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What is this discussion about? Jeep Wrangler, Jeep, SUV

Messages Page 1 of 6

#1 of 54 Jeep wheel wobble by walleye6

May 31, 2009 (5:10 pm)

Has anyone ever experienced an uncontrollable wheel wobble after they have hit a pot hole while driving on the highway at a high rate of speed and had to pull over and stop to gain control of the vehicle?

#2 of 54 Engine Shimmy above 50pmh by engelatnona

May 31, 2009 (6:05 pm)

I have a 97 Wrangler and it only has 10K miles. Recently it drives fine up to around 45-50mph when it goes into a crazy shaking sensation that feels like one of the engine mounts has snapped (it hasn't since I had it checked). Not sure what this is and once it starts the engine decelerates until I downshift to 3rd and it can then climb back to 45 or so. Any ideas??

#3 of 54 Re: Engine Shimmy above 50pmh [engelatnona] by llexor1973

Jun 07, 2009 (7:22 am)

Replying to: engelatnona (May 31, 2009 6:05 pm)
I have experienced similiar issues with my 05 wrangler. at 52 mph it begins shimming and by 55 it stops. this is caused by chauking of the front tires. with jeeps you MUST rotate tires every 5k miles.

#4 of 54 Re: Jeep wheel wobble [walleye6] by wobbleripoff

Jun 24, 2009 (8:46 pm)

Replying to: walleye6 (May 31, 2009 5:10 pm)
hey I own a 07 4 door jeep wrangler, I have not got a wobble, but an earthquake in my vehicle. wheels shake, steering wheel vibrates purfusely, vehicles front end hops off the ground and the vehicle shimmeys off the road while doing all of these things. has been brought back to dealer 10 times but they wont admit there is a problem with the vehicle. It never happens when they test drive the jeep, sooo made a video of what happens and they still wont do anything. this past week i took it to another dealer and they changed the steering damper and say its fixed. I pick it up tomorrow we will see but if you saw what happens to this jeep you would be shocked. Good luck to all who have a jeep im getting rid of this vehicle soon as I can.

#5 of 54 Re: Jeep wheel wobble [walleye6] by Stever@Edmunds HOST

Jul 20, 2009 (4:59 pm)

Replying to: walleye6 (May 31, 2009 5:10 pm)
There are a lot of posts here about this issue (Jeep owners call it "death wobble"). Check the other Wrangler maintenance discussions or search for it.
 
Here's what one owner did with his TJ.
 
This forum post is a good one too.

#7 of 54 jeep "wobble" by wranglerfan

Jun 05, 2010 (4:09 pm)

ok, i have read the threads on this website, and not sure it that (wobble) is what my problem is..
I have a 99 jeep wrangler and have had it for almost 6yrs, never had any problems..now i have put smaller tires, went from 32 to 31. and it drove nice for about a week..started with just a little small shimmer.,,well low and behold lost reardriveshaft on interstate,,since then replaced that and now got one heck of a shake...does not wait till i hit 45mph. but as soon as i start moving,,by the time im in 3rd gear, anything on dash is on floor..have replaced driveshaft,universals had tires balanced again, and it acts like it has no get up and go..any suggestions as to where i start at trying to fix this problem.. and when i took it to have them check it, was told tierods look good..

#8 of 54 Re: jeep "wobble" [wranglerfan] by mac24

Jun 06, 2010 (7:55 am)

Replying to: wranglerfan (Jun 05, 2010 4:09 pm)
If as you say, the only item that was changed before the vibration started was the rear propeller shaft, then that's the best place to start looking for a solution.
(Hopefully, although it wouldn't be connected to the vibration, there was no damage to the brake or fuel lines when the propshaft was thrashing around?)
 
On the face of it, it sounds like you either have an unbalanced propshaft, or the 'U' joints are out of phase.
It's also possible that when the old shaft failed the rubber transmission mount was damaged, or that there was even damage to the transfer case output shaft or it's housing.
 
There's no reason to suspect wheel balance or steering/suspension wear should have suddenly appeared.

#9 of 54 Re: jeep "wobble" [mac24] by wranglerfan

Jun 06, 2010 (4:54 pm)

Replying to: mac24 (Jun 06, 2010 7:55 am)
Before driveshaft feel out, there was a little shake, but not bad enough for me to worry,,Changed steering stabalizer today, no difference.,, guess i need to start with the rearend.and work from there. How would you know if transfer case was damaged.

#10 of 54 Re: jeep "wobble" [wranglerfan] by mac24

Jun 07, 2010 (8:27 am)

Replying to: wranglerfan (Jun 06, 2010 4:54 pm)
.,, guess i need to start with the rearend.and work from there. How would you know if transfer case was damaged.
 
It's likely that the boot where the rear propshaft enters the transfer case would be leaking oil.
You should also remove the propshaft so that you can watch the splined output shaft in the transfer case rotate; it should be perfectly centered and turn without any wobble or deviation.
 

 
While the propshaft is out take a look at the yoke on the rear axle to see if there's any play there as well.
 
What was the cause of the propshaft failure, a seized 'U' joint or was it something else?

Messages Page 1 of 6

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