I bought a Cherokee in 2001 knowing that it will be the last year. It is manual. It is Stock. never saw snow and very little water at all. It is full of gooooowey oil under so no rust at all. It have 100K Km only. Never saw a trail. I never change any parts except tires 12 years ago. But since many years i have the same problem that drives me nuts : at 55MPh, the steering shakes very bad and just above or below it, is is ok (but i can feel a little vibration in the upper speed limit).


3 shops balance my wheels and i rotate front / rear a couple of time without result. I also change my brakes rotor and asbestos.


I check all suspension and steering part and everything is like new, no rust, no damage bushing, no play except for a play in the steering rod joint but i think it is normal. The steering box has a little internal play , but probably normal.


Is it possible that wheels and tires check ok with shop balance machine but are bad?


Do tires like to be in the garage for months in winter without moving, can the have a "memory" that makes them uneven?


Is it possible that the steering rod noisy "play" can be the culprit? A steering box is not cheap for a try...


That's is why my Jeep is like new, if i don'T find the problem, i will put it back in my garage and use my Escape... :-(


Thanks for helping me reviving my Jeep!

 

Hmm from the sounds of it look at the date codes on the tires. Many cherokees do NOT like old tires on the front, If theyre old (past 5 years) get new tires. And for a bandaid fix a new steering stabilizer and track bar.

 

I'm not certain which joint you mean has play but it shouldn't have any. Have you checked the condition of the bushes on the control arms or the bush at the base of the track bar?