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Vibration in steering wheel under acceleration

Old Mar 25, 2014 | 12:44 AM
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Default Vibration in steering wheel under acceleration

I have a 96 jeep cherokee 4.0 4x4 3inch lift and 31s.
Last weekend I went out wheelin and came over a hill a hit a nice big pot hole. Ever since I've had vibrations in the steering wheel under acceleration. Anyone else have this problem? I already got my wheels rebalanced because the researching I did said that could be a cause. Also i replaced the steering stabilizer just because I needed a new one anyways. Alignment? U joint? Tie rod? I don't know. Help me out please.
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Old Mar 25, 2014 | 01:20 AM
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Originally Posted by PissedOffCherokee
Alignment? U joint? Tie rod?
Could be any of those things and more, no way to tell without crawling under and giving everything a good shake. Might swap the front and rear tires to see if anything changes, broken belts do odd things too.
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Old Mar 25, 2014 | 01:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Radi
Could be any of those things and more, no way to tell without crawling under and giving everything a good shake. Might swap the front and rear tires to see if anything changes, broken belts do odd things too.
I got them rotated when I balanced them. Belt was replaced a month ago. What should I shake and what should I look for while doing it?
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Old Mar 25, 2014 | 01:37 AM
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Originally Posted by PissedOffCherokee
I got them rotated when I balanced them. Belt was replaced a month ago. What should I shake and what should I look for while doing it?

I meant a belt in the tire, but if you rotated them you already swapped front/rear.
Does it go away if you are in 4WD?
I'd inspect everything I could in the front suspension, from the wheel bearings, ball joints and tire rod ends to the trac bar, bushings and control arms. U-joints and drive shaft too. Something got bent or knocked loose when you hit that bump and its changing position when you accelerate. Just gotta look one piece at a time until you find it.
If I had to guess (and that is exactly what I'm doing) I'd start with a tie rod end, possibly loose and allowing the tire to pull itself out of alignment (toe) when you accelerate. I've had that happen.

Last edited by Radi; Mar 25, 2014 at 01:43 AM.
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Old Mar 25, 2014 | 06:03 AM
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if you feel it while accelerating and tends to go away while you coast i would suspect u-joints either in the axles or the drive shaft. while inspecting those inspect the other components that were listed
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Old Mar 25, 2014 | 08:10 AM
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Check your motor mounts and trans mount.

See if the motor mount brackets haven' come loose from the block or have broken bolts.
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Old Mar 25, 2014 | 10:46 PM
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Could it be a wheel bearing making it vibrate? Went to les schwab for a balance again today and they said my front left wheel bearing is out. Replacing it tomorrow
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Old Mar 26, 2014 | 07:01 AM
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Maybe.
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Old Apr 3, 2014 | 09:10 PM
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I replaced my left front hub assembly and my track bar. Still having the same vibrations.
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Old Apr 4, 2014 | 06:27 AM
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I'm still thinking U-joints. are there any play in either of them you'll need to use a pry bar or see if there is any bright orange dust around any of them. that dust is powdered rust caused by play in the joints.
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Old Apr 4, 2014 | 08:06 AM
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I get steering wheel vibes at 30mph only... I think its my front pinion angle...
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Old Apr 5, 2014 | 08:32 PM
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I replaced all my u joints in my front drive shaft today. Still vibrating....
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Old Apr 5, 2014 | 10:16 PM
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My jeep is a 5 speed and it's only under acceleration when I get vibes. I hit a large pot hole wheeling on the right side and ever since it's done it. So far I've replaced the driver hub assembly just because it was out, the track bar because there was play and today I replaced the u joints in my front driveshaft. Anymore ideas would help a lot
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Old Apr 6, 2014 | 09:04 AM
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Did you drive it w/o the front driveshaft?
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Old Apr 6, 2014 | 10:07 AM
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No I did not.
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