Super Shaker...wheel bearings? driveshafts? something else?

Neatus · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2007 12:27 pm

Help....does anyone know what the symptoms of a bad wheel bearing are. I think I may have a problem with my right front bearing or with the CV shaft. Three times now while coasting under 40 mph the front right wheel has started shaking the Jeep like crazy. Sounds like when you run over the wake up strip on the side of the highway but muh louder and shakier. Any ideas on what this might be and how I can further diagnose the problem. It was -28 with windchill last night so i didnt last very long trying mess with it.

I have about 100,000 miles on the KJ now if that is helpful.

phxtoad · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2007 12:51 pm

First - are your tires inflated correctly and are they balanced?
Second - check to see if your brake rotors are warped.
Third - ball joints - any play will induce a vibration at times.

The hub/bearing will run you anywhere from $130 to $290 each. I tried to install one last weekend but ran out of time and didn't have a breaker bar to free the spindle bolt. Check the tech section for Roachman's installation instructions if you are going this route.

A drive shaft is a whole 'nother ballgame. Keep your fingers crossed that it's not.

Neatus · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2007 1:11 pm

Tires are inflated and wheels have no packed snow or any ice in them. Brake rotors are new.
just had the ball joints replaced under recall again...guess i will take it in to the garge at work and see if they messed that up.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2007 1:49 pm

Sounds simple but check and make sure your lugs are tight as well... (eliminating the cheap fixes before worrying about the half shaft)

OzLtd · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2007 5:43 pm

I'd check to see if I had any debis, snow,mud,small animal ( :lol:

) inside the rim 1st.

Neatus · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2007 5:46 pm

Okay...my KJ is now sitting in the parking lot of some convinience store. There is definitly something bad/broke within the front right side. I am either thinking wheel bearing of CV shaft. The boots are not torn or anything. I am praying for the bearing to be the problem. Can anyone describe their experince with either a failed bearing or CV shaft, i.e....how your KJ reacted once the part failed.....thanks for your help.

grumppee · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:22 pm

sleeve84028 is right, please check the lug nuts before moving the vehicle again.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:41 pm

Ive never heard of a bad bearing or cv causing a vibration..

Unless the bearing is in bad shape and the wheel is getting ready to fall off.

Jack it up and check for any play in the tire while the wheel is off the ground.

Check lugs as said. That could do it.

phxtoad · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:48 pm

I've had to replace the passenger side shaft when I noticed vibrations at speed and determined all the other items we've been discussing were OK. It will definitely vibrate at speed if it's got any internal issues. It also could be the shaft bearing on the axle housing.

SnowgodCCR · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:44 pm

Super Shaker, eh?

I'm thinking that you should see this as a gift from god. It's obviously a sign that you need to be mixing some drinks and using your jeep as the ultimate blender/shaker. It's obvious to me, I don't know why nobody else saw it. Margaritas all around!

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2007 10:40 pm

The bearing comes in a pretty hefty housing. I had one go bad but it was really the four "nuts" that held it on. Felt just like you were describing. There are two types...one with ABS fittings and one without ABS fittings...

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:02 am

If you don't have 2or3 cans of "Fix-a-Flat" in that tire I'd probably check the tierod end next.

Neatus · **Posted:** Wed Mar 07, 2007 1:44 am

DarbyWalters wrote:

The bearing comes in a pretty hefty housing. I had one go bad but it was really the four "nuts" that held it on. Felt just like you were describing. There are two types...one with ABS fittings and one without ABS fittings...

are those nuts towards the inner part of the shaft getting close to the dif or the outer part close to the wheel?

Jeger · **Posted:** Wed Mar 07, 2007 7:03 am

Check the Ball joints like toad said, and also your tie rod ends.

WV(0)IIIIIII(0) · **Posted:** Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:14 am

I had the same problem when I was coasting to come to a stop. It ended up being bad u-joints in the rear driveshaft. I had about 60K when these went bad.

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:16 am

Neatus wrote:

DarbyWalters wrote:

The bearing comes in a pretty hefty housing. I had one go bad but it was really the four "nuts" that held it on. Felt just like you were describing. There are two types...one with ABS fittings and one without ABS fittings...

are those nuts towards the inner part of the shaft getting close to the dif or the outer part close to the wheel?

Access is from inside the wheelwell side.

tulsa · **Posted:** Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:16 am

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Ive never heard of a bad bearing or cv causing a vibration..

Unless the bearing is in bad shape and the wheel is getting ready to fall off.

Jack it up and check for any play in the tire while the wheel is off the ground.

Check lugs as said. That could do it.

I have had CV joints make a vehicle shake violently. Also look for a slipped radial tire belt.

Neatus · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:54 pm

Okay...got the KJ into a heated garage and checked the CVs, U Joints, brake calipers etc...turns out the my fornt dif developed a massive leak and it seems as if my 4WD is not disengaged all the way. going to tear it open in the morning and see if I chewed up all the gears. Yay for me:(

raceinfan · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2007 6:43 am

dude that sucks :shock:

did it leave a big puddle or any indication that it was leaking

Super Shaker...wheel bearings? driveshafts? something else?

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