Hey Team,

Sorry for another post, but here with another issue (they seem to never end at the moment).

Driving today I noticed the drivers front wheel was making a noise and then noticed the front left wobbling. Pulled into a park, jacked up the front and can shake the wheel side to side pretty easily.

I changed the tie rod ends 10 days ago*

My guess is wheel bearings?

What is the best method to check this?

Cheers!

 

The best method is to jack it up, have someone wobble the wheel side to side, top to bottom while you look for whatever is moving about. Are your wheel nuts all tightened? Are the tie rod end thread clamps tightened? It really is a look and see game.

 

Off the ground, just wobble the wheel vertical then horizontal axis just enough to hear/see the play, not too much or you'll make everything move. You should be able to see if you can move the wheel (bearings) without moving the steering/linkages. If'n you can then it's WB, if not then have helper move the steering wheel back'n forth till you isolate where the play is. Some parts might require use of a pry bar, see related u-tube tutorials.

 

I usually just take it to Les Schwab and they'll (probably) tell you what's wrong with it.

 

Thanks mate!

I was driving to the mall and once there the first thing I did was try the wheel nuts, as it felt like the wheel was wobbling off…. All tight.
I then jacked up the drivers front and with hands either side gave it a shack and it shook! There was a fair amount of movement and clunking from that. Wheels nuts still tight.
I could only use my hand to check the tie rod ends, so need to get some tools on them tomorrow.

I’ll jack both sides up tomorrow and have a better look around, get the wheel moving, shake the tire etc and see what I find.

I did just do the tie rod ends, so maybe it is that…. But would the tire shake that much if it’s only jacked one side and a tie rod issue?

Will report back.

Cheers!

 

Thanks mate!

When I jacked the side up and moved the tire it was like when you sit at a table and only three legs are on the ground….. there was play in there 100% and I could hear clunking on each movement.

And when driving the front drivers side was shaking, hence why I thought the wheel nuts might be loose. It was like tire was buckled 😂

Cheers

 

Yep, you sure it's the WB? I guess a clue is if you have the exact same play vertical axis as horizontal but always good to have someone else shake it whilst you peer at the parts just to be sure. Btw you haven't lived till you've experienced spontaneous death-wobble at freeway speeds- super fun.

 

Yeah I’ll have a shake from top and bottom, check the tie rod ends etc etc tomorrow and report back.

It wasn’t a full wobble today, but kept the speed down as it felt like it was coming 😂

 

So I finally got under the old girl and......
It is only shaking left/right (hands at 3 and 9) and only on the drivers side. So I had my partner do the shaking whilst I got under and the tie rod is moving with every shake. I put both hands on at the join to hold tight and it stopped the shaking and moved the tire/steering.

Everything else around seems tight. Would this be because I haven't lined the ends up when I changed them?

I am guessing the tie rod is out and needs an alignment? And is this what is done with the alignment?

And thanks in advanced, this forum is a bloody life saver!

 

The tie rod end moving like that sounds like it's loose, the wrong joint (smaller taper) or the knuckle is worn where it bolts through. If the knuckle were worn and the joint tight however, you're not likely to notice shaking by hand.

Not lining the ends up just means your tyres are likely out of alignment and toeing in or out more than they should, which will result in excess tyre wear and possibly extra wear on the steering joints.

 

Thanks mate!

So I got the tools on things and the nut was loose on the tie rod end at the drag link. I got about 3/4 to a full turn on it to tight.
Once tightened up the shake stopped and drives true again.

I recently added “the cure” in when changing out the tie rod end and they recommend not “over tightening”. So I’ve either under tightened or it’s moved/broken in a bit with driving and needed a bit more.

I’ll take it in for an alignment this or next week too and true everything up with the shop.

One fricken thing I noticed is I’ve split a tire on that same side and it’s bulging…. Nashville roads have to be the worst I’ve ever seen, holes in these roads you could put a pool in!

Cheers.

 

Good to hear you found it. Honestly a lot of times on these Jeeps, a visual check is the best way to diagnose issues. I had a road near a friends they nicknamed "The Gauntlet" as it was so bad trying to avoid holes.

 

Yeah mate, it’s always good. I’m a novice, but always have a crack and have fixed most everything with help here.

Oh man it’s the whole city here ah! The amount of holes (and big enough to swallow half a tire deep) on every road is crazy! And the freeways too.
The busiest businesses in town are tow trucks and mobile tire repair trucks 😂😂😂.

I’ll keep an eye on the tie rod, get a new tire and get it in for an alignment (which probably hasn’t been done in 5yrs).

Thanks again ah!