Hey all,

I know it has been beaten to death 65 million times but I believe I have a shake that is not death wobble related.

I picked up an XJ with 120k on it yesterday for super cheap. The front tires are completely bald on the inside from a "shake" from 55-60 MPH. Bummer is they were BF Goodrich T/A KO's. Why the PO drove them with the shake for 10k and balded $300 in tires I do not know.

I've done quite a bit of research but it seems like most DW occurs at 40 MPH or so. This wobble is from 55-60 and is fine at 61! I haven't done much checking on the actual Jeep as I am waiting on my lift to be returned to me. Only thing I could notice when turning the wheels is a little pitman arm play but it drives fairly straight and doesn't have much slop in the wheel at all.

Idea's? Please don't post links to a troubleshooting thread, I've read them all. I would just like to know if this could simply be balancing/alignment related because it dissapears at anything over 60 MPH.

Thanks in advance.

 

You say the tires are bald on the inside? Get an alignment! That would most likely solve your problem

 

Yeah, I figured so. I just don't want to pay for an alignment and then have to do it again if that doesn't fix it and I end up having to do a pitman arm, ball joints, bushings etc. If it is death wobble, caused by one of the above, does the wobble continue at any speed above when it first occurs. For instance, if it starts at 45 will the axle "re-align" itself at any speed above 45 or does it continue?

 

Might need new tires/alignment, or u-joints, I had a 97 f-150 that had a bad vibration/ wobble and it was the u joints

 

Just get some new tires and get them properly aligned and check the air pressure I work in a tire shop an most tires go bald because of low air pressure
My wobble is so random it doesn't shake at high speeds like 50 or so but might shake at 25-30

 

I agree to disagree. I believe the tires went bald on the inside for a reason unrelated to the tires themselves and according to the PO they did this even while new, albeit they could have been improperly balanced and alignment could have been off. I agree on the alignment but the tires wouldn't bald on only one side due to air pressure, at least not any that I've ever seen.

 

I just bought my first xj 4 mos ago. had the same syptoms55-65 mph .it has new tires. had them balanced yesterday and the shake is Much better. I think I need to look further but the problem was amplified by the tires/rims being unbalanced

 

Your correct air pressure balds the inside didn't read that it was just the outside edge

 

Mine death wobbled anywhere from 52-60 but would be perfect at any other speed. I worked in automotive shops for 7 years and I'm willing to bet it needs an alignment more than anything. At least have it checked and if the toe is off, have them fix it. If the camber is off, then throw some ball joints on there before the alignment. How are the back tires? Rotate them to front and see if the vibe goes away

 

Every XJ I have ridden in has a small shake at EXACTLY those speeds. Things to help this will be new tires, proper alignment, a new steering stabilizer (it actually does help), and checking your track bar mounts and bushings. Also check your wheel bearings

 

And motor mounts

 

Honestly never thought of that

 

Could do wonders

 

i was also going to say steering stabilizer, had a jk in at work last week that was the problem but an alignment doesnt sound like a bad idea either with the tire wear

 

ball joints...