New 2.5" lift = shake/shimmy at highway speeds
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Denver Colorado
New 2.5" lift = shake/shimmy at highway speeds
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[TD="class: alt1, bgcolor: #9C9673"]Hi all,
I my wifes 2011 JK 2 door with an automatic transmission that I just put a 2.5" lift on (springs and shocks only) with 17x9 pro comp wheels and 33" mickey thompson tires. I also put new bolts in all the control arms and track bar since the factory ones simply suck.
The Jeep drives awesome except at 73mph+ the whole jeep shakes, this gets worse up to 85mph. This is NOT death wobble, nor do I think it is anything in the front end the steering wheel is 100% still. When looking at the tires at this speed they don't seem to be shaking or moving uncontrollably. I know jeeps are not "highway" vehicles but my TJ with a longarm kit on 37's could cruise at 85mph without trouble, this thing should be fine.
Does anyone have any help or advice?
The only two things I think it could be are
1) Tires not being balanced properly, but the there is no shake in the steering (They were balanced with a liquid agent, so they should balance out, but it still could be the culprit)
2) Stock driveshaft angles are poor (rear possibly since the 2 dr ones are so short) but it is only a 2.5" lift, can this really be the issue?
Any help is appreciated.[/TD]
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[TD="class: alt1, bgcolor: #9C9673"]Hi all,
I my wifes 2011 JK 2 door with an automatic transmission that I just put a 2.5" lift on (springs and shocks only) with 17x9 pro comp wheels and 33" mickey thompson tires. I also put new bolts in all the control arms and track bar since the factory ones simply suck.
The Jeep drives awesome except at 73mph+ the whole jeep shakes, this gets worse up to 85mph. This is NOT death wobble, nor do I think it is anything in the front end the steering wheel is 100% still. When looking at the tires at this speed they don't seem to be shaking or moving uncontrollably. I know jeeps are not "highway" vehicles but my TJ with a longarm kit on 37's could cruise at 85mph without trouble, this thing should be fine.
Does anyone have any help or advice?
The only two things I think it could be are
1) Tires not being balanced properly, but the there is no shake in the steering (They were balanced with a liquid agent, so they should balance out, but it still could be the culprit)
2) Stock driveshaft angles are poor (rear possibly since the 2 dr ones are so short) but it is only a 2.5" lift, can this really be the issue?
Any help is appreciated.[/TD]
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Last edited by the owl; Jul 20, 2015 at 08:16 PM.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,463
Likes: 165
From: Austin <--> Colorado Springs
Stuck to the top of the JK Writeups section is a diagnosis thread. Yes, it says Deathwobble in the title. No, you say you don't have Deathwobble. Doesn't matter. It is a good resource to track down any component issues you might be having.
Any time I get tire related wobbles, I have always had steering wheel shakes as well. Never hurts to get them rebalanced, though. (I have had mine balanced and left with worse shimmy than I started, went back the next day to be told that 2 of the 4 were out of balance...)
Visually, how do the driveshaft angles look? Maybe post a pic or two? The lift will bring the pinions up a bit, but I wouldn't think that this is your issue. Have you thrown an angle finder on?
Do you have the alignment specs? (no caster correction, correct?)
And just for the heck of it, what load rate and psi in the tires?
Any time I get tire related wobbles, I have always had steering wheel shakes as well. Never hurts to get them rebalanced, though. (I have had mine balanced and left with worse shimmy than I started, went back the next day to be told that 2 of the 4 were out of balance...)
Visually, how do the driveshaft angles look? Maybe post a pic or two? The lift will bring the pinions up a bit, but I wouldn't think that this is your issue. Have you thrown an angle finder on?
Do you have the alignment specs? (no caster correction, correct?)
And just for the heck of it, what load rate and psi in the tires?
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Denver Colorado
I don't have alignment specs on hand, you are correct no caster correction, I am still utilizing the stock control arms. I'll snap a few pics of the driveshaft angles tomorrow. I will also check tire PSI, I just trusted the guys at the tire shop that they did not over-inflate them. But then I am back to not thinking it is tire related due to no wheel shake.
I am going to throw the stock wheels/tires on tomorrow to rule out balancing/wheel tire issues. If it still has a vibration with the stock wheels and tires then it has to be driveshafts or driveline angles I would guess.
I am going to throw the stock wheels/tires on tomorrow to rule out balancing/wheel tire issues. If it still has a vibration with the stock wheels and tires then it has to be driveshafts or driveline angles I would guess.
Last edited by the owl; Jul 20, 2015 at 08:19 PM.
JK Junkie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,697
Likes: 2
From: Grosse Pointe, MI
I'd have to agree that tires are most likely. Normally, it would start at a little over 50mph, but given that they are new tires, it could be a higher speed. Also possible that it could be a wheel.
One thing to check that can often be overlooked, is the stock rotor retaining washers. They are flat metal clips that sit on a few of the studs to hold the rotor on. The stock wheel is machined to fit around them. Most aftermarket wheels are not. They need to be removed when putting new wheels on. If you don't, your wheels will likely be slightly off center and that would definitely cause the shake.
If you don't have stock wheels, check to make sure those rings are removed and then rotate the wheels. Often times it is not all 4 new tires that are out of balance.
One thing to check that can often be overlooked, is the stock rotor retaining washers. They are flat metal clips that sit on a few of the studs to hold the rotor on. The stock wheel is machined to fit around them. Most aftermarket wheels are not. They need to be removed when putting new wheels on. If you don't, your wheels will likely be slightly off center and that would definitely cause the shake.
If you don't have stock wheels, check to make sure those rings are removed and then rotate the wheels. Often times it is not all 4 new tires that are out of balance.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Denver Colorado
I'd have to agree that tires are most likely. Normally, it would start at a little over 50mph, but given that they are new tires, it could be a higher speed. Also possible that it could be a wheel.
One thing to check that can often be overlooked, is the stock rotor retaining washers. They are flat metal clips that sit on a few of the studs to hold the rotor on. The stock wheel is machined to fit around them. Most aftermarket wheels are not. They need to be removed when putting new wheels on. If you don't, your wheels will likely be slightly off center and that would definitely cause the shake.
If you don't have stock wheels, check to make sure those rings are removed and then rotate the wheels. Often times it is not all 4 new tires that are out of balance.
One thing to check that can often be overlooked, is the stock rotor retaining washers. They are flat metal clips that sit on a few of the studs to hold the rotor on. The stock wheel is machined to fit around them. Most aftermarket wheels are not. They need to be removed when putting new wheels on. If you don't, your wheels will likely be slightly off center and that would definitely cause the shake.
If you don't have stock wheels, check to make sure those rings are removed and then rotate the wheels. Often times it is not all 4 new tires that are out of balance.
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Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Denver Colorado
Well I took the rotor clips off and now the vibration/shimmy is more mild and starts around 85-87mph. which is MUCH more liveable. At that point I think it is the tires, I think they were balanced poorly. It seems like it is coming from the rear more than the front.