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-   -   Possible U-joints (https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/possible-u-joints-170279/)

CrawlinPepper May 20, 2013 04:13 PM

Possible U-joints
 
Symptoms (they may or may not be related considering that I have had problem 2 for a while now but 1 just started):

1) The steering wheel has started to pulsate back to center while turning.
2) The truck starts to vibrate in a pulsating way when going over 55 mph.

I did some research and I have come up with them being possible u-joint issues. I do not know a lot about u-joints so I was hoping someone could chime in to help point me in the correct direction. I've heard there are two types - axle u-joints and drive shaft u-joints. I am not sure which would case these problems to occur.

Any experienced input would be very helpful. Lift specs are in my sig and I do have an SYE if that matters at all. Thanks.

freegdr May 20, 2013 04:15 PM

Drive shaft joints are not affected by steering being turned .

CrawlinPepper May 20, 2013 04:24 PM


Originally Posted by freegdr (Post 2472432)
Drive shaft joints are not affected by steering being turned .

That is what I thought for steering but for driving on the highway I figured it could be a possibility.

freegdr May 20, 2013 04:34 PM


Originally Posted by CrawlinPepper (Post 2472443)
That is what I thought for steering but for driving on the highway I figured it could be a possibility.

Easy diagnosis remove shaft and drive.

CrawlinPepper May 20, 2013 04:39 PM

Can I drive with the front drive shaft off or will the yoke come flying out?

freegdr May 20, 2013 05:31 PM


Originally Posted by CrawlinPepper (Post 2472464)
Can I drive with the front drive shaft off or will the yoke come flying out?

Yokes are bolted on.

CrawlinPepper May 20, 2013 09:42 PM


Originally Posted by freegdr (Post 2472541)
Yokes are bolted on.

K, I will give it a shot Saturday when I get to work to see if it changes the high speed vibration. Thanks for the input. Any ideas for the steering issue?

I ARE EL1TE May 21, 2013 05:51 AM


Originally Posted by CrawlinPepper (Post 2472922)
K, I will give it a shot Saturday when I get to work to see if it changes the high speed vibration. Thanks for the input. Any ideas for the steering issue?

Could be the u joints on the axle shafts

CrawlinPepper May 25, 2013 03:02 PM

I just lifted the front end in the air and felt for any play in each axle u-joint - both were solid and didn't have any play.

Track bar is tight and I have 1-ton UTK JCR steering that was installed last year that is all tight as well.

I think it may be time to change the power steering box based on the steering vibrations. Any thoughts on this or anything else I can check? I am going to remove the front drive shaft and drive home without it to see if that rids of the driving vibrations.

CrawlinPepper Aug 31, 2013 03:04 PM

Update to an old thread:

I removed the driveshaft a while back and drove it home - it felt much better. Little to no vibration like before. Now I am wondering, is it my driveshaft that is causing the issue, or the transfer case end that it bolts up to? Could it be that my front driveshaft needs to be rebalanced?


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