2000 Jeep Cherokee - Vibration between 50mph and 55mph (about)
 

Hi, everyone. I have done some reading of past posts on this newsgroup
and also on the web in general, and I'm hoping that some people won't
mind discussing what seems to be a not uncommon issue. I'm not a
mechanic at all, so I don't have a tremendous amount of confidence in
thinking about most of these sorts of problems, and I'd like a little
bit of help or guidance before I take my jeep to the garage.

Before this problem appeared in its current obvious fashion, I may have
noticed some sort of *slight* vibration in this ~55mph range.

3 months ago, at inspection time, I needed one new tire. I got the
same tire as I already have on - Goodyear Wrangler GSAs. They balanced
and mounted the tire. They also put on new ball joints all around and
did an alignment. It was a pricy visit.

For the next week, everything was *perfect*. Then I was on a weekend
drive and all of a sudden it felt like the jeep was falling apart. I
could feel the vibration through my feet and through my seat, but it
was very strong through the steering wheel. Braking to slow down out
of the offending speed, or accelerating to speed up out off it cures
everything.

So, yes, I've been driving like this for a while, now, trying to take
care not to spend time in the vibrating range. It's odd, the problem
only seems to occur if I stay in that range, not if I speed up steadily
through it or slow down steadily through it.

My inaction is from lack of trust in the mechanic who did the ball
joint work and the lack of funds I'll need in case it's a huge job.

Now, my reading has led me to have hopes that it's simply a matter of a
possible weight fallen off a tire or a wheel out of balance for another
reason. Is there anything else I should consider? I need to get this
taken care of.

The vehicle seems fine except for this. Sometimes the vibration
doesn't seem that bad, other times it seems like the wheels are falling
off.

Thanks for any help, here!

Re: 2000 Jeep Cherokee - Vibration between 50mph and 55mph (about)
 

sounds like a tire is unbalanced.
make sure a weight has not fallen off.
old john



Hello, mr!
You wrote on 21 Jul 2005 08:20:56 -0700:

mr> Before this problem appeared in its current obvious fashion, I may have
mr> noticed some sort of *slight* vibration in this ~55mph range.

mr> 3 months ago, at inspection time, I needed one new tire. I got the
mr> same tire as I already have on - Goodyear Wrangler GSAs. They balanced
mr> and mounted the tire. They also put on new ball joints all around and
mr> did an alignment. It was a pricy visit.

mr> For the next week, everything was *perfect*. Then I was on a weekend
mr> drive and all of a sudden it felt like the jeep was falling apart. I
mr> could feel the vibration through my feet and through my seat, but it
mr> was very strong through the steering wheel. Braking to slow down out
mr> of the offending speed, or accelerating to speed up out off it cures
mr> everything.

mr> So, yes, I've been driving like this for a while, now, trying to take
mr> care not to spend time in the vibrating range. It's odd, the problem
mr> only seems to occur if I stay in that range, not if I speed up steadily
mr> through it or slow down steadily through it.

mr> My inaction is from lack of trust in the mechanic who did the ball
mr> joint work and the lack of funds I'll need in case it's a huge job.

mr> Now, my reading has led me to have hopes that it's simply a matter of a
mr> possible weight fallen off a tire or a wheel out of balance for another
mr> reason. Is there anything else I should consider? I need to get this
mr> taken care of.

mr> The vehicle seems fine except for this. Sometimes the vibration
mr> doesn't seem that bad, other times it seems like the wheels are falling
mr> off.


With best regards, ajeeperman@comcast.net. E-mail: ajeeperman@comcast.net

Re: 2000 Jeep Cherokee - Vibration between 50mph and 55mph (about)
 

sounds like a tire is unbalanced.
make sure a weight has not fallen off.
old john



Hello, mr!
You wrote on 21 Jul 2005 08:20:56 -0700:

mr> Before this problem appeared in its current obvious fashion, I may have
mr> noticed some sort of *slight* vibration in this ~55mph range.

mr> 3 months ago, at inspection time, I needed one new tire. I got the
mr> same tire as I already have on - Goodyear Wrangler GSAs. They balanced
mr> and mounted the tire. They also put on new ball joints all around and
mr> did an alignment. It was a pricy visit.

mr> For the next week, everything was *perfect*. Then I was on a weekend
mr> drive and all of a sudden it felt like the jeep was falling apart. I
mr> could feel the vibration through my feet and through my seat, but it
mr> was very strong through the steering wheel. Braking to slow down out
mr> of the offending speed, or accelerating to speed up out off it cures
mr> everything.

mr> So, yes, I've been driving like this for a while, now, trying to take
mr> care not to spend time in the vibrating range. It's odd, the problem
mr> only seems to occur if I stay in that range, not if I speed up steadily
mr> through it or slow down steadily through it.

mr> My inaction is from lack of trust in the mechanic who did the ball
mr> joint work and the lack of funds I'll need in case it's a huge job.

mr> Now, my reading has led me to have hopes that it's simply a matter of a
mr> possible weight fallen off a tire or a wheel out of balance for another
mr> reason. Is there anything else I should consider? I need to get this
mr> taken care of.

mr> The vehicle seems fine except for this. Sometimes the vibration
mr> doesn't seem that bad, other times it seems like the wheels are falling
mr> off.


With best regards, ajeeperman@comcast.net. E-mail: ajeeperman@comcast.net

Re: 2000 Jeep Cherokee - Vibration between 50mph and 55mph (about)
 

sounds like a tire is unbalanced.
make sure a weight has not fallen off.
old john



Hello, mr!
You wrote on 21 Jul 2005 08:20:56 -0700:

mr> Before this problem appeared in its current obvious fashion, I may have
mr> noticed some sort of *slight* vibration in this ~55mph range.

mr> 3 months ago, at inspection time, I needed one new tire. I got the
mr> same tire as I already have on - Goodyear Wrangler GSAs. They balanced
mr> and mounted the tire. They also put on new ball joints all around and
mr> did an alignment. It was a pricy visit.

mr> For the next week, everything was *perfect*. Then I was on a weekend
mr> drive and all of a sudden it felt like the jeep was falling apart. I
mr> could feel the vibration through my feet and through my seat, but it
mr> was very strong through the steering wheel. Braking to slow down out
mr> of the offending speed, or accelerating to speed up out off it cures
mr> everything.

mr> So, yes, I've been driving like this for a while, now, trying to take
mr> care not to spend time in the vibrating range. It's odd, the problem
mr> only seems to occur if I stay in that range, not if I speed up steadily
mr> through it or slow down steadily through it.

mr> My inaction is from lack of trust in the mechanic who did the ball
mr> joint work and the lack of funds I'll need in case it's a huge job.

mr> Now, my reading has led me to have hopes that it's simply a matter of a
mr> possible weight fallen off a tire or a wheel out of balance for another
mr> reason. Is there anything else I should consider? I need to get this
mr> taken care of.

mr> The vehicle seems fine except for this. Sometimes the vibration
mr> doesn't seem that bad, other times it seems like the wheels are falling
mr> off.


With best regards, ajeeperman@comcast.net. E-mail: ajeeperman@comcast.net

Re: 2000 Jeep Cherokee - Vibration between 50mph and 55mph (about)
 

sounds like a tire is unbalanced.
make sure a weight has not fallen off.
old john



Hello, mr!
You wrote on 21 Jul 2005 08:20:56 -0700:

mr> Before this problem appeared in its current obvious fashion, I may have
mr> noticed some sort of *slight* vibration in this ~55mph range.

mr> 3 months ago, at inspection time, I needed one new tire. I got the
mr> same tire as I already have on - Goodyear Wrangler GSAs. They balanced
mr> and mounted the tire. They also put on new ball joints all around and
mr> did an alignment. It was a pricy visit.

mr> For the next week, everything was *perfect*. Then I was on a weekend
mr> drive and all of a sudden it felt like the jeep was falling apart. I
mr> could feel the vibration through my feet and through my seat, but it
mr> was very strong through the steering wheel. Braking to slow down out
mr> of the offending speed, or accelerating to speed up out off it cures
mr> everything.

mr> So, yes, I've been driving like this for a while, now, trying to take
mr> care not to spend time in the vibrating range. It's odd, the problem
mr> only seems to occur if I stay in that range, not if I speed up steadily
mr> through it or slow down steadily through it.

mr> My inaction is from lack of trust in the mechanic who did the ball
mr> joint work and the lack of funds I'll need in case it's a huge job.

mr> Now, my reading has led me to have hopes that it's simply a matter of a
mr> possible weight fallen off a tire or a wheel out of balance for another
mr> reason. Is there anything else I should consider? I need to get this
mr> taken care of.

mr> The vehicle seems fine except for this. Sometimes the vibration
mr> doesn't seem that bad, other times it seems like the wheels are falling
mr> off.


With best regards, ajeeperman@comcast.net. E-mail: ajeeperman@comcast.net

Re: 2000 Jeep Cherokee - Vibration between 50mph and 55mph (about)
 

On Thu, 21 Jul 2005 21:09:02 -0700, <ajeeperman@comcast.net> wrote:

>
>sounds like a tire is unbalanced.
>make sure a weight has not fallen off.
>old john
>
>
>
>Hello, mr!
>You wrote on 21 Jul 2005 08:20:56 -0700:
>
> mr> Before this problem appeared in its current obvious fashion, I may have
> mr> noticed some sort of *slight* vibration in this ~55mph range.
>
> mr> 3 months ago, at inspection time, I needed one new tire. I got the
> mr> same tire as I already have on - Goodyear Wrangler GSAs. They balanced
> mr> and mounted the tire. They also put on new ball joints all around and
> mr> did an alignment. It was a pricy visit.
>
> mr> For the next week, everything was *perfect*. Then I was on a weekend
> mr> drive and all of a sudden it felt like the jeep was falling apart. I
> mr> could feel the vibration through my feet and through my seat, but it
> mr> was very strong through the steering wheel. Braking to slow down out
> mr> of the offending speed, or accelerating to speed up out off it cures
> mr> everything.
>
> mr> So, yes, I've been driving like this for a while, now, trying to take
> mr> care not to spend time in the vibrating range. It's odd, the problem
> mr> only seems to occur if I stay in that range, not if I speed up steadily
> mr> through it or slow down steadily through it.
>
> mr> My inaction is from lack of trust in the mechanic who did the ball
> mr> joint work and the lack of funds I'll need in case it's a huge job.
>
> mr> Now, my reading has led me to have hopes that it's simply a matter of a
> mr> possible weight fallen off a tire or a wheel out of balance for another
> mr> reason. Is there anything else I should consider? I need to get this
> mr> taken care of.

A tire that is separating can do that, too. And some brands of off
road tires begin vibrating with increasing intensity as they wear. It
can start at as little as 5,000 miles with some brands. A Google
search on your tire will turn up magazine tests and forums of messages
posted by individual users. Such a search kept me from buying Dunlop
Mud Rovers, for example. But I don't recall seeing any negative
comments on Wranglers. But I've had similar problems to yours, in
that same speed range, and only new tires fixed it completely.
Re-balancing all four tires has sometimes helped for a short time. If
it does, slight tread separation of a least one tire is the culprit.
It's a common problem with all terrain tires run on the road. Also,
spin your tires on a balancing machine and make sure they're all still
round (that was one of the major problem with Mud Rovers). At the
same time, also look closely for a slightly warped rim.

Dan
>
> mr> The vehicle seems fine except for this. Sometimes the vibration
> mr> doesn't seem that bad, other times it seems like the wheels are falling
> mr> off.
>
>
>With best regards, ajeeperman@comcast.net. E-mail: ajeeperman@comcast.net
>

Re: 2000 Jeep Cherokee - Vibration between 50mph and 55mph (about)
 

On Thu, 21 Jul 2005 21:09:02 -0700, <ajeeperman@comcast.net> wrote:

>
>sounds like a tire is unbalanced.
>make sure a weight has not fallen off.
>old john
>
>
>
>Hello, mr!
>You wrote on 21 Jul 2005 08:20:56 -0700:
>
> mr> Before this problem appeared in its current obvious fashion, I may have
> mr> noticed some sort of *slight* vibration in this ~55mph range.
>
> mr> 3 months ago, at inspection time, I needed one new tire. I got the
> mr> same tire as I already have on - Goodyear Wrangler GSAs. They balanced
> mr> and mounted the tire. They also put on new ball joints all around and
> mr> did an alignment. It was a pricy visit.
>
> mr> For the next week, everything was *perfect*. Then I was on a weekend
> mr> drive and all of a sudden it felt like the jeep was falling apart. I
> mr> could feel the vibration through my feet and through my seat, but it
> mr> was very strong through the steering wheel. Braking to slow down out
> mr> of the offending speed, or accelerating to speed up out off it cures
> mr> everything.
>
> mr> So, yes, I've been driving like this for a while, now, trying to take
> mr> care not to spend time in the vibrating range. It's odd, the problem
> mr> only seems to occur if I stay in that range, not if I speed up steadily
> mr> through it or slow down steadily through it.
>
> mr> My inaction is from lack of trust in the mechanic who did the ball
> mr> joint work and the lack of funds I'll need in case it's a huge job.
>
> mr> Now, my reading has led me to have hopes that it's simply a matter of a
> mr> possible weight fallen off a tire or a wheel out of balance for another
> mr> reason. Is there anything else I should consider? I need to get this
> mr> taken care of.

A tire that is separating can do that, too. And some brands of off
road tires begin vibrating with increasing intensity as they wear. It
can start at as little as 5,000 miles with some brands. A Google
search on your tire will turn up magazine tests and forums of messages
posted by individual users. Such a search kept me from buying Dunlop
Mud Rovers, for example. But I don't recall seeing any negative
comments on Wranglers. But I've had similar problems to yours, in
that same speed range, and only new tires fixed it completely.
Re-balancing all four tires has sometimes helped for a short time. If
it does, slight tread separation of a least one tire is the culprit.
It's a common problem with all terrain tires run on the road. Also,
spin your tires on a balancing machine and make sure they're all still
round (that was one of the major problem with Mud Rovers). At the
same time, also look closely for a slightly warped rim.

Dan
>
> mr> The vehicle seems fine except for this. Sometimes the vibration
> mr> doesn't seem that bad, other times it seems like the wheels are falling
> mr> off.
>
>
>With best regards, ajeeperman@comcast.net. E-mail: ajeeperman@comcast.net
>

Re: 2000 Jeep Cherokee - Vibration between 50mph and 55mph (about)
 

On Thu, 21 Jul 2005 21:09:02 -0700, <ajeeperman@comcast.net> wrote:

>
>sounds like a tire is unbalanced.
>make sure a weight has not fallen off.
>old john
>
>
>
>Hello, mr!
>You wrote on 21 Jul 2005 08:20:56 -0700:
>
> mr> Before this problem appeared in its current obvious fashion, I may have
> mr> noticed some sort of *slight* vibration in this ~55mph range.
>
> mr> 3 months ago, at inspection time, I needed one new tire. I got the
> mr> same tire as I already have on - Goodyear Wrangler GSAs. They balanced
> mr> and mounted the tire. They also put on new ball joints all around and
> mr> did an alignment. It was a pricy visit.
>
> mr> For the next week, everything was *perfect*. Then I was on a weekend
> mr> drive and all of a sudden it felt like the jeep was falling apart. I
> mr> could feel the vibration through my feet and through my seat, but it
> mr> was very strong through the steering wheel. Braking to slow down out
> mr> of the offending speed, or accelerating to speed up out off it cures
> mr> everything.
>
> mr> So, yes, I've been driving like this for a while, now, trying to take
> mr> care not to spend time in the vibrating range. It's odd, the problem
> mr> only seems to occur if I stay in that range, not if I speed up steadily
> mr> through it or slow down steadily through it.
>
> mr> My inaction is from lack of trust in the mechanic who did the ball
> mr> joint work and the lack of funds I'll need in case it's a huge job.
>
> mr> Now, my reading has led me to have hopes that it's simply a matter of a
> mr> possible weight fallen off a tire or a wheel out of balance for another
> mr> reason. Is there anything else I should consider? I need to get this
> mr> taken care of.

A tire that is separating can do that, too. And some brands of off
road tires begin vibrating with increasing intensity as they wear. It
can start at as little as 5,000 miles with some brands. A Google
search on your tire will turn up magazine tests and forums of messages
posted by individual users. Such a search kept me from buying Dunlop
Mud Rovers, for example. But I don't recall seeing any negative
comments on Wranglers. But I've had similar problems to yours, in
that same speed range, and only new tires fixed it completely.
Re-balancing all four tires has sometimes helped for a short time. If
it does, slight tread separation of a least one tire is the culprit.
It's a common problem with all terrain tires run on the road. Also,
spin your tires on a balancing machine and make sure they're all still
round (that was one of the major problem with Mud Rovers). At the
same time, also look closely for a slightly warped rim.

Dan
>
> mr> The vehicle seems fine except for this. Sometimes the vibration
> mr> doesn't seem that bad, other times it seems like the wheels are falling
> mr> off.
>
>
>With best regards, ajeeperman@comcast.net. E-mail: ajeeperman@comcast.net
>

Re: 2000 Jeep Cherokee - Vibration between 50mph and 55mph (about)
 

On Thu, 21 Jul 2005 21:09:02 -0700, <ajeeperman@comcast.net> wrote:

>
>sounds like a tire is unbalanced.
>make sure a weight has not fallen off.
>old john
>
>
>
>Hello, mr!
>You wrote on 21 Jul 2005 08:20:56 -0700:
>
> mr> Before this problem appeared in its current obvious fashion, I may have
> mr> noticed some sort of *slight* vibration in this ~55mph range.
>
> mr> 3 months ago, at inspection time, I needed one new tire. I got the
> mr> same tire as I already have on - Goodyear Wrangler GSAs. They balanced
> mr> and mounted the tire. They also put on new ball joints all around and
> mr> did an alignment. It was a pricy visit.
>
> mr> For the next week, everything was *perfect*. Then I was on a weekend
> mr> drive and all of a sudden it felt like the jeep was falling apart. I
> mr> could feel the vibration through my feet and through my seat, but it
> mr> was very strong through the steering wheel. Braking to slow down out
> mr> of the offending speed, or accelerating to speed up out off it cures
> mr> everything.
>
> mr> So, yes, I've been driving like this for a while, now, trying to take
> mr> care not to spend time in the vibrating range. It's odd, the problem
> mr> only seems to occur if I stay in that range, not if I speed up steadily
> mr> through it or slow down steadily through it.
>
> mr> My inaction is from lack of trust in the mechanic who did the ball
> mr> joint work and the lack of funds I'll need in case it's a huge job.
>
> mr> Now, my reading has led me to have hopes that it's simply a matter of a
> mr> possible weight fallen off a tire or a wheel out of balance for another
> mr> reason. Is there anything else I should consider? I need to get this
> mr> taken care of.

A tire that is separating can do that, too. And some brands of off
road tires begin vibrating with increasing intensity as they wear. It
can start at as little as 5,000 miles with some brands. A Google
search on your tire will turn up magazine tests and forums of messages
posted by individual users. Such a search kept me from buying Dunlop
Mud Rovers, for example. But I don't recall seeing any negative
comments on Wranglers. But I've had similar problems to yours, in
that same speed range, and only new tires fixed it completely.
Re-balancing all four tires has sometimes helped for a short time. If
it does, slight tread separation of a least one tire is the culprit.
It's a common problem with all terrain tires run on the road. Also,
spin your tires on a balancing machine and make sure they're all still
round (that was one of the major problem with Mud Rovers). At the
same time, also look closely for a slightly warped rim.

Dan
>
> mr> The vehicle seems fine except for this. Sometimes the vibration
> mr> doesn't seem that bad, other times it seems like the wheels are falling
> mr> off.
>
>
>With best regards, ajeeperman@comcast.net. E-mail: ajeeperman@comcast.net
>

Re: 2000 Jeep Cherokee - Vibration between 50mph and 55mph (about)
 

mr,

I doubt you read any of my previous posts on this (they'd be old) and, right
up front, I cannot give you a solution. I can only tell you what I spent
many dollars having done to my '89 Cherokee Laredo to cure the same problem.

The tires were rotated and balanced. by a Goodyear dealer. No help.

A wheel alignment was performed. No help.

The steering dampener (a thing that looks like a shock absorber mounted
sideways on the front of the front axle was replaced. This did help more
than anything, but did not completely cure the problem because I could still
feel some shimmy going through 55mph.

It was after this that I started thinking that maybe, through some fluke or
wear-out, the front prop shaft had become warped or gotten out of balance
and was giving some serious thought to having it replaced to see if that
would stop the shimmy. Then, in our wonderful DC area traffic, the '89 got
rear ended. I replaced the '89 with a '99 Cherokee Classic. The '99 never
exhibited that problem through 104K miles when the 4.0L inline six decided
to break a connecting rod and punch a big hole in the side of the engine
block back in January. Now I have a new '05 Grand Cherokee.

If you find out what causes this ailment, let us know.

Best of luck,

Turner