Font end vibration troubleshooting...getting nowhere

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Oct 31, 2010 | 09:05 PM

#16

gpXJ

CF Veteran

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 1,142

Likes: 2

From: Grand Prairie, Texas

Year: 1998

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0 HO I6

My driveshaft turns when I'm in 2wd, but it doesn't actually provide power to the wheels.

Oct 31, 2010 | 09:09 PM

#17

mwdouglas

CF Veteran

Joined: Feb 2010

Posts: 1,010

Likes: 0

From: gloucester va

Year: 1990

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

Quote:

Originally Posted by four_wheel_n

My buddy is having the same problem, make sure your hubs aren't looked in still. Your front driveline shouldn't be turning if you're in 2wd.

your front drive shaft turns in 2wd and 4wd

Oct 31, 2010 | 09:50 PM

#18

four_wheel_n

Newbie

Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 10

Likes: 0

Year: 1999

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

I had an 87 that had a vacuum actuator that locked in the hubs when you put it in 4wd, when in 2wd the hubs were out and the front driveline didn't turn. Just found another thread that says they did away with this vacuum actuator in 91 or 92. Might look into that, it's on the passenger side on the backside of the axle tube.

Oct 31, 2010 | 10:48 PM

#19

jweier111

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 9

Likes: 0

From: Wisconsin

Year: 1992

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0L

I checked yesterday to confirm that it is not in 4WD. It's not, the truck drives totally different when it's in 4HI (part time only on my beasty).

Yeah, prior to 92 they had the vacuum and an indeterminate shaft. Most everything after used a fixed shaft and diff locker set up. Mine is the later, though. Great info on the subject here.

http://jeephorizons.com/tech/xjstockspecs.html

Hence my questions about the shafts. The plan for now is to get the tires balanced and go from there. If the problem persists I'm going to look into upgrading to 96+ shafts to bump up to the 5-297 u joints. I had planed on this eventually anyway, but had some more pressing issues to take care of first. If the tire balancing is the ticket then the shaft replacement will get pushed back until after all the springs are replaced. I'll let you all know if the tire balance and track bar bushing solves the problem. No "Death Wobble" yet...and don't want any!

Nov 1, 2010 | 04:00 AM

#20

xjfanatic

Member

Joined: Jul 2009

Posts: 232

Likes: 1

From: Glendale, AZ

Year: 1999

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0 I6

Quote:

Originally Posted by jweier111

One other question regarding shafts (not that I'm disregarding the wheel balancing). My D30 is the type that does NOT have the intermediate shaft or vacuum. So what I'm wondering is, if the "No shafts" test eliminates the vibration, what are my options for J/Y shafts? Would a 99 or 2000's shafts work? I was just out there Thursday pulling parts and they had a few. My understanding is that from 92-2001 they used 27 spline on the D30...am I right on that? It's going to be later this week before I can get it in for the tire balancing. I'm thinking I could try the shaftless test tomorrow just to narrow things down in the mean time and at least know for sure if that is or is not the issue. There was significant rust scale on the passenger side shaft on the yoke side. I sanded it down when I first had it out (60,80,100, 220, 400, 600, 1500 wet). I'm thinking now that may have been a mistake (done some further reading about shaft balancing).

Any suggestions on how to keep debris out of the axle when the shafts are out?

Again guys thanks for all the help.

I never said to drive it without the axle/stub shafts on a dana 30 the wheelbearing/hub assembly can seperate. Very bad. I said to remove the drive shaft aka prop shaft from the transfer case. That's an easy way to check the u joints splines and yokes on the drive shaft as well as the balancing

Nov 21, 2010 | 07:06 PM

#21

jweier111

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 9

Likes: 0

From: Wisconsin

Year: 1992

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0L

I got what your saying I think. But the drive shaft is not my problem, I'm almost positive it's the axle shafts, as the vibration is coming from the passenger side, not the T case. The set up I have the axle shafts rotate all the time. I replaced the whole track bar instead of just the bushing, sway bar links and had the tires balanced. No change at all...the wander in the steering is still there, as is the vibration. Keeping in mind everything else that has already been changed it's seeming like the only thing left to do is replace the hand full of things left (control arms, axle shafts, springs, and steering box).

Nov 22, 2010 | 02:19 PM

#22

1987XJ

Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 510

Likes: 0

From: Oak Harbor, Wa

Year: 1987

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0 Renix

Quote:

Originally Posted by jweier111

Wheel hub bearing. had the same problem.

Nov 22, 2010 | 03:58 PM

#23

bobvalli

Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2010

Posts: 501

Likes: 2

From: Connecticut

Year: 98

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0l

If you still haven't gotten your DW, I will reiterate.....PLEASE pull the steering box and check behind it. I know there's a lot of things that will cause DW, but I'm telling you....mine was doing the exact same thing. Felt it in the passenger floor board, progressively worse after 55, replaced a crap load of parts with little improvement. After re-reading your post, I swear....our trucks could be the Corsican brothers.

The spacer itself is crap (and a dissimilar metal to boot) and prone to failure. It could easily be damaged and you'd never know it unless you pull the steering box. You don't even have to remove the box. Just take out the bolts and push it toward the passenger side so you can get a good look behind it.

Last edited by bobvalli; Nov 22, 2010 at 04:53 PM.

Nov 22, 2010 | 04:33 PM

#24

1127xj

Junior Member

Joined: Jul 2010

Posts: 65

Likes: 1

From: Charlestown, NH

Year: 2000

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0L

Well I'll be curious to see if you get this resolved. Mine has a very similiar issue (possibly the same), and so far I have not cured it. If I remove the front driveshaft, it's gone, but I installed a new (but of questionable quality) front shaft and it did not fix it. To everyone who keeps recommending balancing the tires, if the problem is like mine, this is not going to help. There is a big difference between a tire balance vibration and a driveline vibration. If you've ever experienced the later, it's very easy to discern. Anyway, good luck!

Nov 22, 2010 | 04:47 PM

#25

CAEMI

Senior Member

Joined: May 2010

Posts: 889

Likes: 2

From: Detroit, MI

Year: 1994

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

Quote:

Originally Posted by cherokee-matt

Make sure wheels are balanced correctly (no cross wheighting and such) Have had problems like this run threw my shop before and 70% of the time it is balance and or bent wheel/tire belt issue. But considering you said you rotated the tires makes me think otherwise but go that route first...

Lata
Matt

x2. Balance and bent wheel a distinct possibility. Also, the other two ball joints, driveshaft balance, DS u-joints, belt separation in a tire, crappy tire (happens with cheapos from time to time), front DS balance.

I've got vibes, too. I dont worry overmuch but if I find out what causes them I'll fix it.

Nov 22, 2010 | 05:05 PM

#26

UserID6095

Newbie

Joined: May 2009

Posts: 3

Likes: 2

Model: Cherokee

Trac bar all day! If its a shimmy and not DW more then anything listed above the trac bar needs to be checked.

Nov 22, 2010 | 05:47 PM

#27

1127xj

Junior Member

Joined: Jul 2010

Posts: 65

Likes: 1

From: Charlestown, NH

Year: 2000

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0L

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAEMI

He rotated the tires and it didn't change, so you can pretty much rule the bent wheel out. From what he described, it's in the floor, not the steering wheel. When wheels/tires are involved in a front end problem, you'll almost always get a "shimmy" from the steering wheel, which is unlike a driveline vibration. The frequency and texture is much different with a tire balance problem.