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shimmy @ 55-60 mph

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Old 01-07-2011, 04:10 AM
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Default shimmy @ 55-60 mph

so i have a 2000 cherokee. 3" lift with 35's. at precisly 55mph it commences to shimmy and shake and feels like the front end is falling off.
i've searched and i'm not finding any answers on here so far.
complete front end overhaul was done less than 5,000 miles ago. tie rods, u joints (all of them) rotors brakes and front end alignment.
At the same time i had the front rear end housing (not technically correct term I know) welded back into it's proper place. it had broken doing wheeling i guess and rust finished the job over time.
so... is it a trackbar or a blowout shock or front end alignment (dont think its that) or steering stabilizer? or do i live with th fact that i can't drive 55-60?
ANY and All imput greatly appreciated. sorry so lengthy!
Old 01-07-2011, 05:29 AM
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I'd keep it stupidly simple. Start with a wheel balance, go from there.
Old 01-07-2011, 07:16 AM
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Originally Posted by Bustedknuckle
I'd keep it stupidly simple. Start with a wheel balance, go from there.
X2

Around that speed, a shake normally means wheel balance issues
Old 01-07-2011, 07:19 AM
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Use the SEARCH button above. Enter DEATH WOBBLE in the search field.
Old 01-07-2011, 07:20 AM
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Originally Posted by FrankZ
Use the SEARCH button above. Enter DEATH WOBBLE in the search field.
Doesn't sound like death wobble
Old 01-07-2011, 07:22 AM
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Originally Posted by N20jeep
Doesn't sound like death wobble
Really?

Originally Posted by 00Pajeepcherokee
so i have a 2000 cherokee. 3" lift with 35's. at precisly 55mph it commences to shimmy and shake and feels like the front end is falling off.
Old 01-07-2011, 07:30 AM
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Originally Posted by FrankZ
Really?
In my experience most people that complain about death wobble have never even felt death wobble. And have a false idea of what exactly death wobble feels like.

Sounds like a wheel balance problem. He just said shaking at around 55 mph.
Old 01-07-2011, 07:55 AM
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Death wobble can happen at any speed.

Take the OP's description at face value since your past expeience means nothing to anyone except you and the individual instances that you dealt with.

Until the OP says otherwise, he's got death wobble.

Reread the original post, he's already had exstensive repairs made to the front end. Seems to me that although wheel weights might be a concern, the problem is probably steering related.
Old 01-07-2011, 08:37 AM
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mine did that for a while after I got it stuck in some clayish mud. turns out I didn't clean my front wheel out well enough. It had a pretty good chunk of dried mud in it, effectively throwing the wheel off balance. so... +1 to check your wheel balance.
Old 01-07-2011, 08:41 AM
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i work at discount tire
bring it in i can almost garauntee its a wheel balance issue
and its most likely not death wobble because he said he replaced the front end components 5K ago
Old 01-07-2011, 09:02 AM
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Swap tires front to rear and see what happens.
Old 01-07-2011, 09:09 AM
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What if he tryed swapping tires out to a smaller size to see if it makes any difference, if so then its the tires. If not then I would assume its a different issue
Old 01-07-2011, 09:16 AM
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Yeah, sounds like a balance issue. I just did a rotation and a balance on my tires yesterday and it rides so much better. Mine wobbled from 45-50 then quit. Gotta keep your tires frequently rotated or they will try to cup. Especialy mud tires!
Old 01-07-2011, 09:53 AM
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Originally Posted by widefieldcherokee
i work at discount tire
bring it in i can almost garauntee its a wheel balance issue
and its most likely not death wobble because he said he replaced the front end components 5K ago
Corrected me if I'm wrong but death wobble comes from your trackbar being to short after lifting. So even if he got all new parts if there stock length the problem still will romain...and I know it said he only has 3inch lift with 35s but if your runing 35s on an xj you need way more lift than 3 inchs . So I'm thanking (after you CLEAN and blance you wheels) check your track bar angle/length
Old 01-07-2011, 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted by tytank7
Corrected me if I'm wrong but death wobble comes from your trackbar being to short after lifting. So even if he got all new parts if there stock length the problem still will romain...and I know it said he only has 3inch lift with 35s but if your runing 35s on an xj you need way more lift than 3 inchs . So I'm thanking (after you CLEAN and blance you wheels) check your track bar angle/length
your right but most lifts come with a trac bar relocater
the little tab that goes under the stock mount
it makes the angle on em bad but is supposed to fix the issue
my xj has one cuz i got a 4.5" lift


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