Bad vibes over 50 mph
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 48
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From: Logan, UT
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
I know that its a jeep and there will be some vibes and noise in the cab. However when ever I get above 55 mph I get terrible vibes and the noise gets so loud you can't hear anything. And as hard as it is to believe when I let off the gas and coast it gets even worse vibes and louder. I'm running 5.5" of lift with a SYE and a t-case drop. I just rebuilt both drive shafts, I've checked the hubs with tires on and off, no play in either. Both u-joints look good. Where is the vibes and noise coming from?
Cherokee Forum Vendor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 249
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From: Banning
Year: 8
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.o high output
Check your yoke at rear pinion and see if its making contact. Also do you have degree shims on rear axle? You might want to try a set of 3 or 5 degree shims to bring up pinion angle. Even with SYE kit if angle is to much your yoke will rub on pinion.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Logan, UT
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
The tcase is because the exhaust hangs to low for me to bolt it up snug. I would address that but bigger things keep coming up. It is shimmed, and I have a double sheer track bar that I recently tightened up. Would a worn pinion bearing cause it. There is no rubbing on the yolk from what I could see. Like I mentioned I just rebuilt both shafts and spent alot of time under the jeep. What about worn motor mounts, would they be loose enough to cause vibes and shaking while decelerating?
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Originally Posted by jeepsurfer1
Corect me if I'm wrong but couldn't it be a loose trans case chain? (Rubing)
Last edited by dogger15; May 17, 2012 at 11:18 PM.
Originally Posted by dogger15
That would be more of a clunking noise.
Originally Posted by jeepsurfer1
Well I'm in the same boat 4.5 with sye... I'll check it one day but it stoped for a while after the sye now its back...
Originally Posted by dogger15
Could just open up your t case and see if the chain is slapping. Also check your motor and tranny mounts
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Logan, UT
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Well I have had this problem for some time and am tired of it. I ordered some brown dog motor mounts and am going to replace the transmission mount, and hub assemblies as well. Where is a good place to get a chain for the np231 t-case?
Vibrations come from rotating parts. First thing I would do is try to isolate the problem to a set of axles/driveshafts.
1) Pull the front drive shaft. Have vibes?
-No? The problem exists between your front output on the x-fer case and the pumpkin. Could be u-joints, slip joint, pinion bearings, or just bad geometry (i.e. pinion angle).
-Yes?: Keep going.
2) Put the front back in, pull the rear, put the tranny in 4wd. Still vibes?
-No?: Problem exists between your rear x-fer case output shaft and the pumpkin. See #1.
-Yes:? Problem (likely) exists between the axles & the ground: U-joints, bent shafts, balanced tires/wheels.
If you still haven't found it, then you need to start looking at the x-fer case/tranny/engine rotating components and mounts. You can probably get these to show up by putting the Jeep in neutral (@ the tranny to test the engine, and @ the x-fer case to test the tranny) and bringing up the rpms while at rest.
To me, the added vibes under deceleration point to bad DS geometry (most likely the front pinion angle, but if your rear pinion is too high you could get the same result).
And just to round it all out, here is the standard DS geometry link:
http://www.4xshaft.com/driveline101.html
1) Pull the front drive shaft. Have vibes?
-No? The problem exists between your front output on the x-fer case and the pumpkin. Could be u-joints, slip joint, pinion bearings, or just bad geometry (i.e. pinion angle).
-Yes?: Keep going.
2) Put the front back in, pull the rear, put the tranny in 4wd. Still vibes?
-No?: Problem exists between your rear x-fer case output shaft and the pumpkin. See #1.
-Yes:? Problem (likely) exists between the axles & the ground: U-joints, bent shafts, balanced tires/wheels.
If you still haven't found it, then you need to start looking at the x-fer case/tranny/engine rotating components and mounts. You can probably get these to show up by putting the Jeep in neutral (@ the tranny to test the engine, and @ the x-fer case to test the tranny) and bringing up the rpms while at rest.
To me, the added vibes under deceleration point to bad DS geometry (most likely the front pinion angle, but if your rear pinion is too high you could get the same result).
And just to round it all out, here is the standard DS geometry link:
http://www.4xshaft.com/driveline101.html
Last edited by TheNerd; May 18, 2012 at 12:39 PM.
Cherokee Forum Vendor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 249
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From: Banning
Year: 8
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.o high output
Ok have you checked your Harmonic Balancer? If the rubber is coming out of the balance or is missing this will cause a vibration at speed. Just replace one for a customer and it fixed his issue with vibration. Try that and the Brown Bag set up is nice installed some pretty clean set up. But check that
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 798
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From: Elgin,Il.60124
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 1997 4.0 I6
Ok have you checked your Harmonic Balancer? If the rubber is coming out of the balance or is missing this will cause a vibration at speed. Just replace one for a customer and it fixed his issue with vibration. Try that and the Brown Bag set up is nice installed some pretty clean set up. But check that


