I've been getting a bad front end shimmy intermittently at speeds 40+. Similar to what you feel when you have a out of balance wheel. It only happens though when I'm over 40 and I catch a good cross breeze, or hit the draft from traffic. The bigger the other vehicle, the bigger the problem.

I've double checked my suspension components and everything is torquesd down, and bushings aren't worn. Tires are balanced using dynabeads.

I'm running an OME lift with 35's. Not sure which, or if any upgraded steering stabilzer, high steer kit, or adj. track bars would fix the problem.

Any suggestions on what to check/upgrade or replace that would fix the problem would be appreciated.

 

have you tried rotating the tires?
maybe the dynabeads aren't cutting it (I know nothing about them) but if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck...
steering stabilizers just mask underlying problems.

 

I'd agree, but this is like I said, intermittent. I was on the freeway earlier this week with light traffic. The only time it would shimmy was when I would hit the draft from other vehicles. If it were every time I hit 40+ then I would look at the wheels, and if they were indeed balanced. But driving 15 - 20 minutes at 70 without a shake, and then having a camry blow past you, and sending the jeep into an epilectic seizure, I don't think it's the tires.

 

I'd tend to agree with the alignment advice. The balancing beads usually work pretty well. You might need a bit more toe-in or a caster adjustment to compensate for the bigger tires.

David

 

Reading this has me wondering if I'm having the same issue... I have 35"s on 15" wheels, and was attributing the "shimmy" to sidewall flex and wind, but that can't be the problem, because (like you said) it's intermittent. Sometimes I can ride down the highway doing 70 without issue, and other times I hit 50 and feel like I'm being pushed out of my lane - not cool.

I actually had an issue with my stock SS, where it had shifted out of position and was prohibiting me from turning full-right. Fixed that (or so I thought) but it would make sense that a part I already had a little trouble with would be the cause of the problem I'm having now...

 

As you have already double checked all the bolts and bushings, my next guess would be tires are toed out. Just an 1/8" can cause it to handle differently. Plus if you are running with zero toe, instead of a little toe-in, it will drive straight as long as all conditions are cool... but throw a cross wind, cambered road, ruts, etc... it can act up. Also, do you have adj control arms up front and did you roll your axle back to adjust your caster? If your caster is a little too upright, it can cause the same thing... It would drive fine until a little outside influence and it would react differently...

 

I was suprised at the difference an adjustable track bar made. The rest of the posts are correct...

Steering stabilizer will help but not solve,
Lower tire pressure will help but not solve,
Toe adjustment will definately help and maybe fix. If you have 35 inch tires you WILL need to adjust your toe.

The track bar will make a big difference and may fix as well. I am very happy with the change my track bar made in the handling.