Hello
1986 Cherokee Waggoneer 4x4 with the 2.8 V6, 88,000 miles. Manual transmission.

Had a bad shutter/shake at 75 mph, like an out of balance wheel. On a hot day after 15 miles or so it would shake a bit. The tires were from 2004 so I am thinking tire separation.

Cold weather no issues drove it around town, never above 50.

Today I spent $700 on new tires form a reputable chain.

Took it out for a test drive, 75 mph a little shake passing through 70 but much better. Five miles later and it's shaking like all 4 wheels have tire separation, hit the next ramp hitting the brakes make it worse, shakes all the way to a stop in gear or out.

Drive it home - slowly - slight smell of burning something very faint. Clearly in the front end somewhere, as braking makes it worse... CV boots not cracked, nothing seems amiss visually.

I recently redid brakes they are solid. This is much worse than a warped rotor.

Drove it again. You can just feel the slightest shake at 50 ish. Drive it a bit, 10, 15 miles and it gets worse. I have no clue...

So whatever it is.. Takes heat to make it fail, the faster you go, the faster it fails, take it out of gear makes no difference so suspension... Tracks straight, steers well, everything seems tight.

 

Following!

 

Check all front steering/suspension/driveline equipment yet ?

 

Visually + jacking up and yanking on things to see if they are loose/have play, yes.

Vehicle has been in the family since new, spent most of it's life in a garage, never in salt or offroaded.

What I don't understand is that bad vibration comes from spinning parts, so it should vibrate ALL the time at some speed/resonance... but that's not what happens, it only vibrates when it reaches a certain temperature. That should be a big clue but i am no sure where to start looking.

 

I would more than likely say it's a driveshaft u joint gone rouge.

Try taking out a driveshaft and see if the problem persists. If it does, try taking out the other driveshaft after you put the other one back on.

 

Ah so you're suggesting removing the front wheel driveshaft and taking it for a spin in 4wd and , if that doesn't change things put that back on and remove the rear one.

UJoints are pretty cheap.... If I'm taking the shafts off I might as well replace as I plan on keeping the vehicle.

Thanks

 

Just for some clarification,

When you take out the front driveshaft just keep it in 2wd, if the shaking has stopped you know it is something on the front driveshaft causing the problem.

When you take out the rear driveshaft, you will need to go into 4wd to move(Do you have a 'full time' option on your transfercase?) If you do, use that.

But yes it sounds like you're going in the right direction. Replacing the u joint's before they fail is a great idea. It's cheap insurance.

Good luck.

 

It's an 86 so I have a manual transfer case with 2wd 4 HI and 4 LO :-)

 

Search "Death Wobble" and compare the symptoms.

 

@ Rising Fawn. You nailed it. I have Death Wobble.