Ever since I've had my jeep the steering wheel has be vibrating/shaking right around 45mph. The jeep had 33" Mickey Thompsons when I bought it and I figured they were worn extremely unevenly and that when I got new tires it would fix the issue. Few months ago I bought 35" MTRs and the problem continues. I have had the tires rotated and balanced twice hoping that would fix it. I've have them road force balanced which I've heard is the most effective way of doing it. The vibration is not the death wobble... I've experienced on other jeeps and trust me they are not the same!

Took my jeep up the road to the local mechanic recently and he said that it was "due to the chunky mud tires, and that it's just the way it is". Which I interpreted as "I have no freaking idea what's wrong with it so I'll blame it on your choice in tires".

This vibration is mostly just irritating, I do not feel unsafe at all as it is going on but I would like to get it figured out.

Any help or insight you all could give me would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Sloan

 

What do you have for a lift? And please list your driveline/suspension modifications.

 

I have a 2in coil spacer lift on there for now. With 2in bump stops (Bought the jeep used and that's what the previous owner had down to it). No other suspension mods. No driveline modifications.

 

Watch this video

http://youtu.be/9uQwlmlhiF4 And this one.

http://youtu.be/ii81V7XYr-k You will need to check everything in your front end. The ball joints and tie rod ends are very weak after a jeep has been lifted.

I have been running 35's for about a year now, my ball joints were shot (replacing them now) and the tie rod end on my drag link at the pitman arm is shot.

Also, do you know if you have the factory track bar? If so, you should replace the bolts as the factory bolts are threaded along the entire bolt and cause the mounts to wear.

Good luck.

 

I had a similar issue with my cooper stt tires and it turns out my friends a Goodyear were not balancing them correctly. Took it to the auto hobby shop on base and they were more than 5 oz out of balance. I would find someone with a good balancer that's not going to cheat ya. Now it rides smooth all the time.

 

Thank you that's some great info. Just gotta wait for next weekend to take check everything in my front end.

 

I've had it at discount tire multiple times and my local mechanic to try and balance them correctly. If the front end inspection yields nothing then I guess that'll leave me looking for a new tire place to balance them correctly!

 

most likely, will fix and balanced tires but a average tire balancing shop wont take time to do it right. least not in Newhampshire they have the un experienced do tire changes and balance

 

Likely an unbalanced tire(s), although could be something else, but a good place to start. A roadforce balance, is in my opinion, best if you have one near by.

 

I had some up/down play in the ball joints. It was very minimal, not as much as in the video. Is this normal? Also there was slight up/down play in the drag link end near the passenger tire. Also there is some oily residue on the outside of my steering stabilizer.

Am I looking at having to replace all of the above? Or should I do one at a time and see if it fixes the issue?