Always wanted a jeep. Just picked up a clean 98 cherokee classic. Ive been looking around trying to get informed. Im getting a vibration that i think is coming from the front end. Ive found alot of info on the ujoints/bearings. Im pretty sure it has a lift. The rearend has blocks that measure about 2". Ive read that even a 2" lift can cause vibrations and may need a tcase drop. Is there any way i can isolate the problem to the front end? can i take the front driveshaft off and drive it to see if the problem continues? Sorry if that sounds dumb. This is the first 4wd ive owned. Also, im not to sure how the front axle works. I dont see any locking hubs so is the front driveshaft turning all the time? Thanks for the help. Ill be posting pics soon

 

search death wobble see if it sounds like your prob

 

vibrations and death wobble caused by many of the same things
Read this:https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/di...-wobble-55021/

 

That's a whole lot of info. Thanks for the DW heads up. The vibrations start at about 15 mph and continues. The vibration changes when i let up off the gas also.

 

yes you can remove the front driveshaft and drive it. before you do that raise 1 front wheel at a time off the ground and see if you can move it back and forth. look for any slop.. IE tie rods/wheel bearings/ect it should all be tight NO PLAY ANYWHERE.is the steering wheel/system tight. how far can you move the streering wheel without seeing any movement? are the wheels/tires balanced? death wobble comes from any or all of these..

 

Besides getting under the front of the jeep and grabbing suspension parts, give them a push and pull, up and down, looking for anything loose like ball joints, ect.

You may also want to have your tires balanced, there is a tire balancing machine called 'Road Force' that is well worth the few dollars more than simple spin balance. Road Force places a wheel against the tire as they spin blance and replicates tire on the road forces. Helped me with 2 vehicles that had vibration problems.

 

 

Did a quick check of the steering by turning the wheel. Both sides seem to be tight. I do notice that it leans to the drivers side a bit, not much. Im gonna go jack up the front end and see if the ball joints are good. Ill look and see if any thing else is loose.

 

hey thanks for the picture.
i didnt really know what some of the parts where called and im having the same problems with vibations.
if yall have any advice on joints,bearings and the boots please send it. thats where i think its coming from (the joints), and the bolt next to the tire for the track bar keeps loosening after every time i take it on a trail.

 

Here's a pic

 

NICEEEEE !!!

 

I didn't know it had a lift before I went to go buy it. I see blocks in the back and what I think are spacers on top of the coils up front. I was originally looking for an XJ that wasn't lifted

 

Only because im not familiar with the right mods to make it all work right. Looks kind of nice. Maybe ill put some bigger tires on, and some more lift, and a winch, and....... oh no im hooked

 

All right...gonna go jack up the front end

 

very first thing I would do is make sure there is not any mud or anything on the inside of the rims throwing everything off balance, then check everything else,lol.