Topic: Vibration over 70 & jerky feeling from steering - XJ (Read 5789 times)

eddscott · « **on:** April 16, 2010, 09:00:55 AM »

2 things bugging me with the Jeep.

When I bought the Jeep it had lock nuts on the wheels which I couldn't get off so took it to a local tyre place to get the nuts off and while there I asked them to change the wheels front to back to even out the wear. Now though, over 70 the Jeep vibrates quite badly. It was quite smooth before.

2nd issue is with the steering feel. Straight ahead its fine apart from the above. Close to lock its fine but either left or right at 1/4 to 3/4 turn it seems to jerk. Like a yanking sensation. Tyres are Goodyear Wrangler ATs - it wouldn't be as simple as the tyre tread would it? Haven't checked PS fluid but will do today. Would it be a worn steering rack? Its only done 55K.

Thanks chaps.

Dave69 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 16, 2010, 09:16:28 AM »

swap the wheels back and see if the vibration stops

Alucardtnuoc · « **Reply #2 on:** April 16, 2010, 11:56:07 AM »

Did you have the wheels rebalanced?

gazjeep · « **Reply #3 on:** April 16, 2010, 07:40:01 PM »

Tyres, do obvious, swap em back, if it goes away they need balancing.

As for the jerky bit, has it got a lift on it, if so, has the trackbar relocation bracket been welded on. If so, bet the weld has broken. Get someone to turn the steering back & forth while you look at all the steering rods & check the weld around said bracket, I speak from experience

tim_aka_tim · « **Reply #4 on:** April 16, 2010, 07:50:49 PM »

Quote from: eddscott on April 16, 2010, 09:00:55 AM

2nd issue is with the steering feel. Straight ahead its fine apart from the above. Close to lock its fine but either left or right at 1/4 to 3/4 turn it seems to jerk. Like a yanking sensation. Tyres are Goodyear Wrangler ATs - it wouldn't be as simple as the tyre tread would it? Haven't checked PS fluid but will do today. Would it be a worn steering rack? Its only done 55K.

Not quite sure what you mean by jerk, but the obvious thing would be to make sure you're in 2WD or Full time 4WD.

eddscott · « **Reply #5 on:** April 16, 2010, 09:43:03 PM »

Will do obvious and swap back and check. Tyres weren't re-balanced.

No lift on the jeep. Feels worse at low speeds at about 1/4 turn - like its notching over something.

Bubba · « **Reply #6 on:** April 16, 2010, 11:16:57 PM »

it sounds rather like ujs getting tight

scrw · « **Reply #7 on:** April 16, 2010, 11:23:43 PM »

eddscott · « **Reply #8 on:** April 17, 2010, 10:51:10 AM »

Thats what it feels like. Its like they are jerking as they rotate.

How do I fix it - or rather how much will it cost to fix it?

scrw · « **Reply #9 on:** April 17, 2010, 02:51:51 PM »

they cost around £20 each for a UJ & takes around 2-3 hours to do both sides, you'll need a decent sized bench vise & some big sockets to press them out (and sometimes some heat

)

prophet · « **Reply #10 on:** April 21, 2010, 10:36:01 PM »

The UJ on the driver's side of my cherokee is knackered.. I can feel a slight tug on the steering wheel when on roundabouts. One little tug for every revolution from the wheel. Open the windows and drive around in circles, can you hear a any noises from the front wheels?

sprintagogo · « **Reply #11 on:** April 21, 2010, 11:48:48 PM »

Quote from: V8 Bubba on April 16, 2010, 11:16:57 PM

it sounds rather like ujs getting tight

The problem with this knee jerk diagnosis is that personal experience is somewhat contadictory. When I bought my 2000 yr XJ the previous owner (a HGV maintenance/fitter for the local council) had replaced the front wheel bearings within the last 12 months. When I pulled the driveshafts out to replace the UJ's with genuine Spicer items (just a precaution, as you do?) I found the original(?) UJ's were so tight I had to clamp the stub end in a vice and tug in the long shaft to budge them. There was no play in the uj's to suggest wear and no symptoms to suggest they were seized. There was some jerkiness when in All Wheel Drive as you would expect with the non-linear action of a UJ at extreme angles (which is why the perm 4wd Grand Cherokee uses CV joint front drive shafts) but nothing untoward and not really any obvious symptoms when in 2wd.

You might have tight UJ's or maybe you are driving in part-time 4x4 mistakenly or due to bad selector adjustment?

Bubba · « **Reply #12 on:** April 22, 2010, 06:01:21 PM »

sorry if it sounded kneejerk but your findings in your post is exactly what i mean they have possibly dried out and got tight they dont always show wear

and as always rather than saying that was the problem i was hoping to shed light on the possable cause

eddscott · « **Reply #13 on:** May 13, 2010, 07:42:47 PM »

Just coming back to this issue. I do think the diagnosis of tight UJs is the problem. The inside wheel isn't hopping under full lock and the jerk is worse on part turn and when moving slowly its in time with the revolution of the wheel.

When SCRW says the UJs are £20 is that for the whole thing or just the star (The bit in between the two shafts) I don't know what it should be called. I will probably have to get a mechanic to do the job for me.

Bubba · « **Reply #14 on:** May 13, 2010, 07:51:16 PM »

it is not a overly hard job tech wise

but you do sorta need to be used to using tools

tim_aka_tim · « **Reply #15 on:** May 13, 2010, 08:05:15 PM »

This is what you need to replace. Ask for a universal joint and this is what the box will contain.

Here is the top cap of a UJ, as you can see, it has lots of needle bearings. If they go dry or contaminated,
or disintegrate etc, then it's fecked. Greasable ones (of which the above is not, being a genuine Spicer) negate
the drying by allowing you to apply more grease without taking the fecker to pieces.

Bubba · « **Reply #16 on:** May 13, 2010, 08:07:04 PM »

no it will contain one other item too that has never been properly acounted for

Dave69 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 13, 2010, 08:55:58 PM »

this ??

tim_aka_tim · « **Reply #18 on:** May 13, 2010, 08:59:37 PM »

Funnily enough I was thinking the exact same thing!

Bubba · « **Reply #19 on:** May 13, 2010, 09:02:38 PM »

no a square of carboard that if cut in half is exactly the same width of the bearing cups but as i say have never been able to find out why

tim_aka_tim · « **Reply #20 on:** May 13, 2010, 09:08:49 PM »

You make me want to go down AutoZone (300 metres away) and buy a greasable UJ for $8.99 + tax
just to see what it is.

Bubba · « **Reply #21 on:** May 13, 2010, 09:09:58 PM »

it wont tell you

prophet · « **Reply #22 on:** May 15, 2010, 02:48:12 PM »

UJ's are £24 including postage from mansfield 4x4.. they sell over ebay: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JEEP-CHEROKEE-DRIVE-SHAFT-UJ-ABS-1993-2001-/400122063645?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5d29222b1d

or you can give them a ring on 01206 396644.

prophet · « **Reply #23 on:** June 03, 2010, 11:32:59 PM »

Just as an addition to the above. My friendly local garage took just under two hours to replace a really knackered UJ. They said they could get a recon (driver's side) shaft with a joint for under £200 on an exchange basis, if the bits that held the star were worn away. Main stealer prices were off the scale!

Anyway, I've got my truck back now and it goes around roundabouts without trying to jerk the steering wheel out of my hands.

Bubba · « **Reply #24 on:** June 03, 2010, 11:45:16 PM »

Author Topic: Vibration over 70 & jerky feeling from steering - XJ (Read 5789 times)

eddscott

Alucardtnuoc

eddscott

scrw

eddscott

scrw

prophet

sprintagogo

eddscott

prophet

prophet