BearBrown

I'm new on this board as of today. Glad to be here, but I was drawn here in the first place because of issues I am having with my Jeep.

Here are the details of my vehicle:

1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee LE
5.2L V8
Quadratrac 4 wheel drive all the time. (Just has 4 high and low)

My problem:

Two months ago my Jeep suddenly started to vibrate and shake for no apparent reason during normal driving conditions. I am having a difficult time locating the source of the vibration, but it kind of feels like the entire vehicle shakes. The steering wheel vibrates pretty heavily, but does not pull side to side and the vehicle seems to handle well.

The shaking/vibration is at it's worse at two periods of time during acceleration. The first wave of vibration happens when I let my foot off the brake and the vehicle starts to idle forward. Once I hit the gas pedal and the rpms go up the shaking lessens. There is still a small amount of shake from 5-41 mph. After that, my jeep shifts into its highest gear at about 42 mph, the rpms drop and the vehicle begins to shake very noticeably. From 42-55 mph the shaking is very present but then it gradually lessens again as I reach highway speeds.

Things I have tried:

1.New caps, rotars, and plug wires. (No improvement)
2.Removed the rear driveshaft, installed new Universal joints and had the driveshaft balanced. (No improvement)

What should I be trying next? How should I diagnose this problem?

Thanks for the help in advance, anything would be much appreciated.

tiwvr1

front shaft, axle joints, tranny mount

99FreshenedCherokee

tranny mount or motor mount

BearBrown

Well, I tried to remove my front driveshaft yesterday, but I have run into an issue. I was able to remove all of the bolts except for one that I found that was stripped to the point that it is nearly round. My brother and I tried for a couple of hours to get a grip on the bolt and break it free, but we couldn't do it. How the heck am I supposed to remove this bolt? Its in a tight space and on the side of the driveshaft by the tranfer case. The bolt is also small so there isn't much to grip.

johnbanghart

try heating it up with a propane torch and maby tapping on it with a hammer and punch once hot, then try either needle nose vise grips or vise grips to break it loose, some times these parts have a lil loctite on them

mrfajita

Front hub bearings, almost sounds like the vibrations I get from mine. See if it lessens or gets worse depending on the direction you steer. mine is the left bearing going out and the vibes get worse when I turn left.

BearBrown

Updated list of things I have done

1. Caps, rotars, plug wires (no improvement)
2. Took off rear driveshaft, installed new u joints, had it balanced. (No improvement)
3: Removed front drive shaft and took the jeep for a test drive (still had the shaking issues) so that elimnates the front drive shaft as the problem. Reinstalled front drive shaft.
4. Pried on transmission mount, seemed firm and in good shape to me.
5. Motor mounts seem to be doing their job.

Thoughts anyone? I could really use some input on this. Thanks.

01XJ1833

I think you might need to check your bearings out like some others have suggested, I have a bad left front bearing and it vibrates pretty badly at speed. Jack up the front axle and shake the front wheels with your hands at 12 and 6 o'clock, you feel some movement that is probably where your issue is.

BearBrown

Wheels have no wobble or shake to them at all. Forgot to mention that.

01XJ1833

If there is no play in the suspension, the next thing I would do is take it to a shop and have them put the tires up on a balancer and see if any of the tires are out of round.

Chevokeeman

Instead of a regular U-joints on the front driveshaft Crysler must have, in their short sighted wisdom used a viscous coupling on the front driveshaft where it bolts up to the front differential. Try removing the front driveshaft and take it for a drive, bet the vib will be gone, the full time drive is disabled this way, you won't be able to disengage the front axles and they will turn so if the vibe is still there you will probably have to look in the front end, with all the parts turning all the time the incidence of failure in the front end goes way up but the front driveshaft is most likely, hopes this helps you. Chevokeeman.

BearBrown

Chevokee man,

I thought that might be my problem as well, but I have already tried taking the front driveshaft out and took it for a drive. The shaking was still present afterward.

tiwvr1

I vote have tire balanced checked, check rear wheel bearings also. Are you getting a hum at all? Does it change at all when you steer left or right?