Steering issues

I hope that I am not asking a question that has been answered already, but here goes....
I am experiencing a pretty severe shake back and forth in the sterring when I get up to 40 mph. It disappears when I turn the wheel. What should I be looking for? Is this common? What other info do you need to answer (I'm still very new at the vintage Jeep thing)? Thanks!

 

Check for play at tie rod ends: have someone turn the steering wheel while you watch the tie rod ends.
Check for bearing wear by jacking up front and rock the tire in vertical direction.
Alignment.

 

Thanks for the quick response, Fred. I'll start there and let you know what happens.

 

I also noticed in one of the other threads that it is a good idea to have the service / repair manual. Where can I get one?

Should I just plan on redoing the whole front end?

 

Any of the parts vendors will sell you a reprint service manual. You can find them on ebay too.

On ebay they also have the manual on CD-Rom. Call me old fashioned, but I like the hard copy manual better than the electronic version.

Re the steering. There are a lot of things that can go wrong here, and in some cases there may not be any single thing that is way out of whack.

It could be just the sum of a lot of little problems in the system.

I assumed you checked all of the usual suspects by trying to wobble the tie rods, steering bellcrank, and drag link.

If any of those are wobbling then I'd go for them first.

Alignment is in order?

Shocks good?

Tires good? If they are not the stock size but one of the mega tires, that could be the problem.

If you replace something in the steering system with new and don't see an improvement, you are not wasting your money, because most of the moving parts probably are marginal by now anyway.

If the problem is dynamic at around 40, then I'd suspect the steering box last.

If you take it apart far enough to do the kingpin bearings, be sure to replace bearing and cup and knuckle seals. You will have to press it out and in.

You know, I've seen a similar problem in a later model jeep (cj-7) that was caused by bad universal joints in the front axle shafts. Now, you'd think that with free wheeling hubs and all that the axle shafts would not affect it, but in fact the axle shafts to have a tendency to turn somewhat even when the hubs are unlocked and in 2wd.

 

I have experienced the " VIOLENT RAGE"in all the jeeps I have owned and even in my 0ld F350, Alittle more caster helps, but I have found most of my problems come from bent rims or out of balance tires Usually both .
Jon

 

DEATH WOBBLE

Also know as "death wobble" also check your tow in on the front wheels make sure it's correct as that affects it also. Been there done that! Check the bellcrank for play is so equipped.

 

What everybody said above goes. Several years ago a friend of mine spent a lot of money on his front end, new box, kingpins. tie rods etc. Was looking at the front of mine and saw my steering stabilizer, ask me why I had it on there. Explained to him I had the "death wobble" and this helped. Thats when he told me about all the stuff he had done to his. He put the stabilizer on his and it went away. Not a cure all, but every little bit helps. Oh yeah balanced front tires help also.

 

Death wobble on the XJs is almost always due to unbalanced tires, or so I've read. I'd look to the steering parts last (makes it sloppy, not wobbly), and check the tires and wheels first.

BTW even brand new Jeeps got the wobbles to some degree. A steering stabilizer was routinely fitted as a warranty repair, until they started coming as OE. It's a harmonic oscillation - add a little damping and it goes away.

 

I appreciate all of the help! I have brand new tires and rims on it and put a new stabilizer on it. The stabilizer took 80% of the wobble out of it, but I know it is only masking the problem. I will start looking at the front end and replace anything obvious. :? I will keep you all posted on what I find. Thanks again!

 

sounds like tie rod ends. I would start at the knuckle, and go through everything. then the bell crank, the drag link, and lastly the box.

 

Yup, I'm a believer now. Last week I was passing a semi-truck that had death wobble. I'd never seen it from the side. The guy kept going straight seemingly unfazed.

 

With all new steering parts, all of a sudden i got the deaath wobble. It turned out to be a lack of toe-in. Without some toe-in, the wheels develop a harmonic vibration at speed. Jack up the front tires, lay a straight edge along the rear tire to the front tire and turn the steering wheel until front and back tires are parallel. Take straight edge to other side of Jeep and lay it up against the tires on that side, through the centerline of the wheels. the sidewall of the front tire should have about a 1/4" space between the straight edge and the tire.

 

A new lift would cause toe to be out and contribute to wobble... right?

 

balance the tires. i used to have the same problem in an m38a1. the entire steering column was shaking, i was able to see the axle while i was driving and it was shaking to.