....fatigued front lift springs be causing my steering shimmy?

I have had the old school TeraFlex 2.5" HD front springs (the bronze ones) on my Jeep for about 2 years now. They have had a constant load of heavy duty bumper/winch combo since day 1.

Well I had a episode of death wobble once. Turned out to be worn bushings on my track bar. Tera hooked me up with a rebuild kit until they could send me the MONSTER track bar that were backordered. (Tera's been awsome by the way!) Track bar fixed the wobble but I have had a constant shimmy in the steering wheel for awhile now. ALso the new track bar fixed the DW. Well, tonight is the first time I drove the Jeep in close to 70 degree weather in about a month. We have been in a pretty constant heat wave here in SoCal for some time now, even up to 110F!!! Well anyway, my Jeep drove almost normal in the cool weather which got me thinking...since I have tried almost every trick in the book to get the shimmy to go away, could the warmer than normal weather be causing the fatigued springs to soften just enough to allow the shimmy? I know it's a long shot but there's no other way I can think that the cool weather would cause my Jeep to drive so nice. Keep in mind this is the same route I drive everyday home from work....

Let me know your thoughts/opinions!

Thanks!

 

It also makes me wonder if the steel expands/contracts enough (whether it be the coils, rods, trac bars etc..) causing the front or rear to be out of alignment. I dunno...

But theoretically speaking, if you adjust your alignment in hot weather (when metal/steel expands) wouldn't/couldn't it be possible, that when the metal or steel contracts (during colder weather) it could throw off your alignment? Usually when wobbles or shimmy's occurr everyone acts to correct the issue (especially with bigger tires) rather than waiting till the metal or steel returns to the installed version of itself, thereby correcting itself.

 

I don't know if you're crazy, but springs are seldom the cause of a shimmy.

 

I know. That's why it never occurred to me to even consider them.

For the life of me I can figure out why the Jeep drove like silk last night.

I've even replaced the shocks themselves.

 

I am not concerened about the alignment itself. But, the spring rate being comprmised by fatigue. I think I might give Joe at Tera a call and see if they have any thoughts on this as well.

 

you crazy!

 

LOL!!!! Man, then that explains it!!!

 

What about tire pressure? That would change a lot more with changing temps than steel would.

 

 

Tire pressure is one of the first and most often thing minitored.

I may have to just replace the springs and see how this pans out.

I know it's a long shot. But, on the way home with such a nice drive it was one of those "AH HA" moments, being that I have been racking my brain about this problem for about 5 weeks now. Which happens to be just about the length of this crazy heat wave. It's just now cooling back down.