The91XJ

So I've been trying to track down a pretty serious shimmy between 50-60 mph. It's like the shimmy you get right before real death wobble. The jeep also pulls right pretty good. I just noticed that the driver side control arm is pushed back a lot further in the bracket, I'm wondering if this may be a cause of the shimmy / pulling issue.

The wierd thing is my controls arms are exactly the same length (16") and caster is 7.1 degrees on both sides. So why would the driver side be set back further?

Driver side:





Passenger side:




Any input is mucho appreciated, thanks guys.

Note: I've literally replaced everything in the front end trying to track down the wobble/shimmy. The jeep is aligned within spec except for the thrust angle..?

Lowrange2

Not sure but that could certainly be an issue. Put them both in the same place and go from there.

Is the factory castor adjuster in the pocket or has it been removed and it's just flopping around in there?

Brandon77

It looks like you need to add more shims on the short side. Or take some out on the other side.

The91XJ

I didn't see any shims on either side.. but maybe you need the control arm unbolted to see them. Does any one know what the sleeve is called inside the bracket that the control arm sits in?

Lowrange2

Lay flat on the ground and look straight up at the LCA mount on the frame side. If it's in there you'd be able to see it.

http://www.cherokeetalk.com/forum/f8...ment-xj-12836/

The91XJ

Here's the weird thing.. no shims on either side..

Maybe the sleeves are different sizes? I'm stumped.

The91XJ

Bump for the morning crowd.

Lowrange2

Hmmm, that's strange.

Measure your wheel base on the left and right sides. Make sure it's square.

Then I'd measure from a stationary point on the Jeep to the center of the front wheel then do the same thing on the other side.

I'd measure from the bottom front corner of the front door to the center of the wheel.

Lowrange2

Honestly, looking back and forth at your first two pictures it just looks like the slot is longer on one side than the other...

I'd still measure the wheel base.

The91XJ

Thanks for the input lowrange. That sounds like a solid measuring point to me.
I guess the slots on the brackets could be uneven as well. I'll also try and measure those and see if that may be the issue.

Trumpster

I was reading an alignment thread/howto and the person had mentioned that the wheel base on the US jeeps is shorter on the drivers side to help combat the slant of the road for water run off. Whether or not that's true I don't know, but the the technical bits behind it makes sense. Shorter wheel base on the left would make the jeep turn left ever so slightly.

I'll check on my front end when I get home and see what mine looks like. I've got a 2000 classic that I just put a RC lift in (actually waiting on the rear leaf problem to be sorted out so it's still on jackstands) so I'll see if mine is the same way or not.

Do you have a TC drop or anything to correct driveline angles?

The91XJ

Please check your jeep and let me know! That would be awesome!

That does make sense with the road curve though...

I do have a 1" tc drop, I'm running ,~4.5" of lift.

Mendax13

it looks like your drivers side is ovaled/egg shaped out more than the passenger side. that would allow for excess play in the the movement of the arm making it shake/shimmy

The91XJ

Trumpster, you were right.

I had a night class tonight at the local university and I was able to find 2 other cherokees in the parking lot. They both had a slightly larger gap on the driver side lca bracket.

Guess I'm still on the search for my shimmy/shaking issue. It's seriously a love hate relationship with my jeep. Looks like ill be replacing upper control arm bushings this weekend.

Thanks to all those who contributed to my thread.