SP1990

I have a 1990 2door 5 speed xj. My first Jeep vehicle and so far it's been good. The issue ive been having lately is what I thought was a bubble in one of my tires. After I replaced those she started driving smooth again. Until a few days later felt like another bubble. After thorough inspection tires are bubble free. So leaving work that night Jeep was running smooth again. Next morning same thing ran smooth. Went to store that afternoon and when leaving store felt like a bubble in tire again but came with other symptoms also, steering got a little tighter, truck felt unstable at all speeds , coming from a stop felt like a brake was possibly dragging, truck not rolling freely. And noticeable wobble or feeling like driving with a tire with a big *** bubble in it. So I made it home and left for work a few hours later and she was back to smooth normal driving, like I said new to jeeps so new to their suspension, is this a common problem? What's the fix?

jordan96xj

Hmmm. That's a good one.

My first guess would be front axle u-joints. Based on the steering feeling tighter, and a feeling of not rolling freely. Have you had any unusual binding when making sharp slow turns? Crow hopping?

I'm also curious if any noise comes with the problem? any at all?

My next guesses would be:
1. Failing wheel bearing (would normally make noise if it was that bad)
2. Stuck brake caliper (can be quiet, but does match some of the symptoms, but normally would damn near set the Jeep on fire they get so hot!) But they do have a reputation for coming and going like you describe (mine did).
3. Differential problem (also would expect noise of some sort).

Next time it happens, try to gather more data. For example, when it happens, is it sensitive to throttle inputs? If you shift into reverse is it still there? If you shift into neutral when it is happening does the problem change or go away?