steering wheel shake

Ronnie Helmo · **Posted:** Sat Aug 15, 2009 8:27 pm

All,

Good afternoon. My KJ has been plagued with a shaking steering wheel for some time and I can't seem to figure out what is the problem. I have done all the simple things to solve it (wheel balance, new brakes, etc) with no luck. Anyone have this issue and solved it? Ball joints? Bearings? Thanks in advance.

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 15, 2009 8:32 pm

Bent wheel?

kvenner · **Posted:** Sat Aug 15, 2009 8:41 pm

I had the same problem. Checked the alignment, replace the tires, bearings and LBJs. Still shook. Turned out I needed new brake rotors, one was warped. Just something to check.

mrpink417 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:01 pm

jeepkj02 wrote:

Bent wheel?

most, if not all wheel balancers will show a bent rim.

when you say new brakes... do you mean new pads and rotors? or just a pad slap?

x2 on checking alignment, front toe being off will cause tire scrubbing that will shake the wheel. also, run your hand over the inner edge of the tire, check for any cupping.

p!nK

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:43 pm

Could also be a broken belt in the tire.

tan's2002kjlimited · **Posted:** Sat Aug 15, 2009 9:52 pm

Does it shake all the time, or just when you apply the brakes?

DryBones · **Posted:** Sat Aug 15, 2009 10:49 pm

DryBones says rotate your tires front to back 1 side at a time and see if it still shakes up front or if the back starts vibrating. this will at least rule out a tire issue and may point you to the one that is causing the problem.

nosnorb_808 · **Posted:** Sat Aug 15, 2009 10:52 pm

Nosnorb_808 thinks DryBones is starting to talk like TBJ :lol:

DryBones · **Posted:** Sat Aug 15, 2009 10:55 pm

DryBones is in mourning and will stop talking this way in 30 days! :lol:

djui5 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:38 am **Posts:** 536

jeepkj02 wrote:

Could also be a broken belt in the tire.

Yep, which is really hard to diagnose aside from changing them out with your spare until it stops

67Customs · **Posted:** Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:35 am

I have had the same problem. The front shakes around 65-70 mph. I have replaced the wheels and tires. Balanced and rebalanced them. Had an alignment done twice. Rotated them two times. Turned the rotors and added new pads.

Nothing.

Still shakes.

Someone please tell me what the problem is.

Ronnie Helmo · **Posted:** Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:45 am

67Customs,

Sounds like the same thing. I too have changed brakes and tires multiple times. The symptom is only the steering wheel shaking at highway speeds.

So, question - what are the symptoms of worn ball joints or wheel bearings? Thanks in advance.

djui5 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:38 am **Posts:** 536

Did you guys check your CV axles? Mine shakes at that speed and it's the CV assemblies. Boots are fine and I only get a slight clicking around corners. Can barely hear it. You can check it by seeing if there is any side to side play in your CV shafts (between the boots) while the Jeep is sitting on flat ground with everything installed. Just park it, crawl under it and see if it moves side to side at all. Anything more than 1/8" or so and there is a problem. Also my passenger side would move up and down at the inner connection where the CV shaft meets the axle housing. Don't be afraid to push hard up and down, you won't break it. I had to really push on it to get it to move, but it moved and that is a problem. My drivers side slides side to side (moves left/right between the wheel and engine)

Ronnie Helmo · **Posted:** Sun Aug 16, 2009 7:21 pm

djui5,

Thanks man. I took your advise and messed with the half-shafts. Well, they both move a small amount side to side - seems normal. When I push up on them they both moved a good bit at the input to the differential - even a bit of clunking. What does that mean? Both were the same.

djui5 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:38 am **Posts:** 536

What do you mean by a good bit? An 3/4" or more? If so, that is your problem and you need new axle assemblies.

hoku5 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:55 pm

mine started a shimmy about 65-75 and also when going offroad going through rocks the spotter notice my wheels were acting funny, When turning one wheel would turn while the other would turn only slightly. Changed the steering rack solved the problem. I'm running MTR 245-75-16, and lifted I guess it just wore out the rack. I found out by jacking one wheel at a time under the lower control arm, hand brake on, gear in park, block the rear wheels start the engine to get pressure in the steering rack. Grap hold of the tire on the sides and move it in and out, watch movement of the tie rod in the rack with the other wheel on the ground it shouldn't move also good time to check your rack bushing. I had the shimmy for at least 6 months trying to figure it out until the spotter (Mike) notice my wheels acting strange. Hope this help you guys.

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:24 pm

also check steering components. inner and outer tie rods, along with steering rack.

Ronnie Helmo · **Posted:** Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:50 am

Fellas,

Good morning. I think that it is a steering issue - I say that because the steering wheel is the only thing shaking. I will check the steering components this evening. If I start pulling on these things what should I be looking for? How do I know that there is an issue? I know this is a tough question but any advice that you could give will be great appreciated. Thanks in advance.

67Customs · **Posted:** Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:13 pm

I'll get to work checking on eveything also.

Thanks for the suggestions. This is annoying.

Ronnie Helmo · **Posted:** Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:24 pm

All,

Well, I did as suggested and ......... nothing. I had high hopes - too bad. Any other suggestions?

steering wheel shake

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