tie rods

04kjsport · **Posted:** Wed Jan 02, 2008 7:22 pm

is there any other way to check the tie rods other then to wiggle the wheel from side to side when its on a lift??? i have a vibration that i can't seem to figure out so any input would be appreciated. i've already balanced the tires, i recently changed both upper arms due to holes in the joints and both of the lower joints have no movement in them any ideas!!???

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:18 pm

could be the tierods, but usually bad tie rods just make the steering lose and a lot of play correct? im not sure. what about brake rotors? does it do it when you brake? they could be warped. or you could have a bent rim, did you hit any potholes? or maybe its just a bad tire. im sure others will chime in with more ideas with what it could be

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Jan 02, 2008 9:30 pm

outer tie rod ends will cause a vibration. I know one of my wheels is bent...but they'd tell you that if you had the tires balanced though. My first thought is a bent wheel..are yours the steelies or OEM aluminum wheels?

Where's the vibration showing up? your butt, or your hands?

04kjsport · **Posted:** Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:42 pm

Its in the front florr mainly i really dont feel it in the steering. i balanced the tires myself and they are steel cragers. i rotated them after i balanced them and its still there. i know that the inner or otr rods could cause a vibration if they are bad but i don't know of any other way to check them other than to move the wheel back and forth and feel for play. could a wheel bearing cause this??? i do hear a odd noise from the same location when going slow

desertrat · **Joined:** Sun Feb 26, 2006 11:53 pm **Posts:** 25

I experienced a similar vibration problem you are having (felt like right under the floor board of driver's side) and it turned out it was a vibration coming from the front CV shaft. It feels like a tire out of balance and may be more noticeable at certain speeds, like mine was really noticeable around 70 mph. I went crazy trying to track down the vibration, from balancing tires at three different tire shops, to buying new front tires, to finally doing a search on this website and the common problem identified over and over was the front cv shaft. Do a search under "vibration" and you'll see a bunch of possibilities out there. Took printouts from this website to the dealer and they went through each one and was able to pinpoint it to the drive shafts. Had both shafts replaced and it immediately solved the problem. The noise you are hearing at slow speeds may also be from a bad cv axle. If you put it into 4wheel drive and put some stress on it (like going up a small hill for instance), is the noise worse? If so, that could be your problem.

Also, because I have so many miles already on my vehicle (120,000), I've already gone through a rack & pinion steering system so I can tell you a little how that feels. I was experiencing a "slow sway" and that's the only way I could describe it on the front end when driving slow. Felt like my tires were doing a very slight slow sway, especially when rounding corners. They said the ball joints of the steering system were well worn, due in part to the larger tires I'm running I'm sure (255/70/16), and the replacement system took care of swaying problem. With my worn rack & pinion system, I did not experience a vibration that you mention, so that's why I'm suspecting your problem may be what I mentioned first relating to the axle drive shaft. Either option unfortunately is not cheap. Maybe someone else has ideas?

04kjsport · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2008 9:26 am

so are u saying that u had both driveshafts (front and rear) replaced or that u had both front cv axles replaced??

desertrat · **Joined:** Sun Feb 26, 2006 11:53 pm **Posts:** 25

Sorry for the confusion. Pulled my repair bill to be sure I say this correct. They "replaced both front CV Axles and also replaced R/F Intermediate Shaft (seized on axle)". Parts 603351 Axle Shaft, 603352 Axle Shaft, 5066057AB Shaft and 5066066AA Seal-Axle Drive Shaft.

Mechanic put on repair bill: "...vibration due to modified suspension lift changing the pinion angles on the front half-shafts." "Recommend customer contact company that did lift (Daystar 2.5" lift) to see if a spacer of any kind is available that would lower transfer case and obtain less drastic pinion angles."

What do you think? Am I going to be going through this repair again in the near future because of my lift?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:15 pm

Many people have lifts higher than the Daystar spacer lift and have zero problems with the cv's.

The Cv's dont have a pinion either, so idk why he said the lift changed the pinion angle.

You should not have any problems with the cv's and Im amazed BOTH needed to be replaced. CV's usually click and carry on when they are going south, not cause vibrations. Im not saying they cant cause vibrations, but they usually have other symptoms.

Did he actually show you the bad cv's?

Also, lowering the transfer case will lower the drive shaft and help the pinion angle, but a lift does not change the pinion angle on the front of the liberty.

Shew, that mechanic doesnt know what hes talking about.

desertrat · **Joined:** Sun Feb 26, 2006 11:53 pm **Posts:** 25

The mechanic did not show me the CV axles that they removed but the difference in the vehicle after the new ones were installed was amazing so I can only think the axle replacements solved the vibration problem. Have not had the vibration problem since.

tie rods

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