Dave Milne

Re the jerking steering - have you checked the box is bolted on tight ?

Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

"L.W.(Bill) ------ III" <----------@***.net> wrote in message
news:4547F22C.E589C393@***.net...
> Hi James,
> It may be any of the parts you mentioned, but it can't shimmy
> without a bad steering dampener.
> God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> James wrote:
> >
> > This is a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 130,000 miles.
> >
> > The sympton is just a bit hard to describe. When I am driving on a
rocky,
> > gravel road, I feel a shaking in my steering column. It is very
> > weird....... if the road is very rutty, I can only assume that
something
> > in the front end is worn and loose, and this sets up a shimmy that I
> > actually feel quite strongly in my steering column and steering wheel.
It
> > seems that I can actually "hear" rattling in my steering column.
> >
> > This is NOT death wobble. I have no such symptons at any speed, on a
> > smooth or even semi smooth road. It is only there when I travel up and
down
> > our very rutty gravel mountain road, and I feel it even at very slow
speeds.
> >
> > The "jerking" steering column is quite pronounced.
> >
> > I am thinking of tie rod ends............ or steering stabilizer , or
ball
> > joints ??
> >
> > What is the most likely culprit?
> >
> > BONUS QUESTION-- not related to above primary question..... I have
a
> > low frequency, rumble type rattle underneath my car. It sounds like it
> > comes from the center of the car, toward the back 1/2 of the car. Of
> > course, I can't be sure. It sounded so much to me like part of the
exhaust
> > system, I had my mechanic put in on the rack and check all of that very
> > carefully. He could find nothing loose. I only hear this when I am
going
> > over rough roads, with many bumps etc. It is not a high pitch rattle...
it
> > is more like a rumble.
> >
> > What other parts could I suspect, and inspect to locate this noise.
Could a
> > defective wheel bearing exhibit this noise? How does one check the
status
> > of a wheel bearing ?
> >
> > Thank you all very much !!!!
> >
> > --James--

Dave Milne

Re the jerking steering - have you checked the box is bolted on tight ?

Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

"L.W.(Bill) ------ III" <----------@***.net> wrote in message
news:4547F22C.E589C393@***.net...
> Hi James,
> It may be any of the parts you mentioned, but it can't shimmy
> without a bad steering dampener.
> God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> James wrote:
> >
> > This is a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 130,000 miles.
> >
> > The sympton is just a bit hard to describe. When I am driving on a
rocky,
> > gravel road, I feel a shaking in my steering column. It is very
> > weird....... if the road is very rutty, I can only assume that
something
> > in the front end is worn and loose, and this sets up a shimmy that I
> > actually feel quite strongly in my steering column and steering wheel.
It
> > seems that I can actually "hear" rattling in my steering column.
> >
> > This is NOT death wobble. I have no such symptons at any speed, on a
> > smooth or even semi smooth road. It is only there when I travel up and
down
> > our very rutty gravel mountain road, and I feel it even at very slow
speeds.
> >
> > The "jerking" steering column is quite pronounced.
> >
> > I am thinking of tie rod ends............ or steering stabilizer , or
ball
> > joints ??
> >
> > What is the most likely culprit?
> >
> > BONUS QUESTION-- not related to above primary question..... I have
a
> > low frequency, rumble type rattle underneath my car. It sounds like it
> > comes from the center of the car, toward the back 1/2 of the car. Of
> > course, I can't be sure. It sounded so much to me like part of the
exhaust
> > system, I had my mechanic put in on the rack and check all of that very
> > carefully. He could find nothing loose. I only hear this when I am
going
> > over rough roads, with many bumps etc. It is not a high pitch rattle...
it
> > is more like a rumble.
> >
> > What other parts could I suspect, and inspect to locate this noise.
Could a
> > defective wheel bearing exhibit this noise? How does one check the
status
> > of a wheel bearing ?
> >
> > Thank you all very much !!!!
> >
> > --James--

Dave Milne

Re the jerking steering - have you checked the box is bolted on tight ?

Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

"L.W.(Bill) ------ III" <----------@***.net> wrote in message
news:4547F22C.E589C393@***.net...
> Hi James,
> It may be any of the parts you mentioned, but it can't shimmy
> without a bad steering dampener.
> God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> James wrote:
> >
> > This is a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 130,000 miles.
> >
> > The sympton is just a bit hard to describe. When I am driving on a
rocky,
> > gravel road, I feel a shaking in my steering column. It is very
> > weird....... if the road is very rutty, I can only assume that
something
> > in the front end is worn and loose, and this sets up a shimmy that I
> > actually feel quite strongly in my steering column and steering wheel.
It
> > seems that I can actually "hear" rattling in my steering column.
> >
> > This is NOT death wobble. I have no such symptons at any speed, on a
> > smooth or even semi smooth road. It is only there when I travel up and
down
> > our very rutty gravel mountain road, and I feel it even at very slow
speeds.
> >
> > The "jerking" steering column is quite pronounced.
> >
> > I am thinking of tie rod ends............ or steering stabilizer , or
ball
> > joints ??
> >
> > What is the most likely culprit?
> >
> > BONUS QUESTION-- not related to above primary question..... I have
a
> > low frequency, rumble type rattle underneath my car. It sounds like it
> > comes from the center of the car, toward the back 1/2 of the car. Of
> > course, I can't be sure. It sounded so much to me like part of the
exhaust
> > system, I had my mechanic put in on the rack and check all of that very
> > carefully. He could find nothing loose. I only hear this when I am
going
> > over rough roads, with many bumps etc. It is not a high pitch rattle...
it
> > is more like a rumble.
> >
> > What other parts could I suspect, and inspect to locate this noise.
Could a
> > defective wheel bearing exhibit this noise? How does one check the
status
> > of a wheel bearing ?
> >
> > Thank you all very much !!!!
> >
> > --James--

swbell

I had a noise similar to the bonus question. It turned out to be shock
absorbers. When did you last change them? My 2000 has about the same
number of miles on it.

Reach under the front tire and grab the shock tube and give it a yank. You
might hear the rattle sound.

In any case, I doubt that the factory shocks last 130K.

Paul Nelson


in article 15GdnYE0L_BTd9rYnZ2dnUVZ_sydnZ2d@comcast.com, James at
jnipperxxx@nospamfdn.com wrote on 10/31/06 6:31 PM:

> BONUS QUESTION-- not related to above primary question..... I have a
> low frequency, rumble type rattle underneath my car. It sounds like it
> comes from the center of the car, toward the back 1/2 of the car. Of
> course, I can't be sure. It sounded so much to me like part of the exhaust
> system, I had my mechanic put in on the rack and check all of that very
> carefully. He could find nothing loose. I only hear this when I am going
> over rough roads, with many bumps etc. It is not a high pitch rattle... it
> is more like a rumble.
>
> What other parts could I suspect, and inspect to locate this noise. Could a
> defective wheel bearing exhibit this noise? How does one check the status
> of a wheel bearing ?
>
> Thank you all very much !!!!
>
> --James--
>
>

swbell

I had a noise similar to the bonus question. It turned out to be shock
absorbers. When did you last change them? My 2000 has about the same
number of miles on it.

Reach under the front tire and grab the shock tube and give it a yank. You
might hear the rattle sound.

In any case, I doubt that the factory shocks last 130K.

Paul Nelson


in article 15GdnYE0L_BTd9rYnZ2dnUVZ_sydnZ2d@comcast.com, James at
jnipperxxx@nospamfdn.com wrote on 10/31/06 6:31 PM:

> BONUS QUESTION-- not related to above primary question..... I have a
> low frequency, rumble type rattle underneath my car. It sounds like it
> comes from the center of the car, toward the back 1/2 of the car. Of
> course, I can't be sure. It sounded so much to me like part of the exhaust
> system, I had my mechanic put in on the rack and check all of that very
> carefully. He could find nothing loose. I only hear this when I am going
> over rough roads, with many bumps etc. It is not a high pitch rattle... it
> is more like a rumble.
>
> What other parts could I suspect, and inspect to locate this noise. Could a
> defective wheel bearing exhibit this noise? How does one check the status
> of a wheel bearing ?
>
> Thank you all very much !!!!
>
> --James--
>
>

swbell

I had a noise similar to the bonus question. It turned out to be shock
absorbers. When did you last change them? My 2000 has about the same
number of miles on it.

Reach under the front tire and grab the shock tube and give it a yank. You
might hear the rattle sound.

In any case, I doubt that the factory shocks last 130K.

Paul Nelson


in article 15GdnYE0L_BTd9rYnZ2dnUVZ_sydnZ2d@comcast.com, James at
jnipperxxx@nospamfdn.com wrote on 10/31/06 6:31 PM:

> BONUS QUESTION-- not related to above primary question..... I have a
> low frequency, rumble type rattle underneath my car. It sounds like it
> comes from the center of the car, toward the back 1/2 of the car. Of
> course, I can't be sure. It sounded so much to me like part of the exhaust
> system, I had my mechanic put in on the rack and check all of that very
> carefully. He could find nothing loose. I only hear this when I am going
> over rough roads, with many bumps etc. It is not a high pitch rattle... it
> is more like a rumble.
>
> What other parts could I suspect, and inspect to locate this noise. Could a
> defective wheel bearing exhibit this noise? How does one check the status
> of a wheel bearing ?
>
> Thank you all very much !!!!
>
> --James--
>
>

Matt Macchiarolo

Bad steering dampers don't cause shimmy. Good ones just mask the real cause.

I'm guessing he's got a worn or loose track bar. 2000 GC has the solid axle
up front, right?

The rear rumble could be just road noise, does it change in pitch with
vehicle speed, or does it stay on a constant pitch? center rear of the car
could be rear diff. Check your driveshaft U joints for wear, have your diff
inspected.

"L.W.(Bill) ------ III" <----------@***.net> wrote in message
news:4547F22C.E589C393@***.net...
> Hi James,
> It may be any of the parts you mentioned, but it can't shimmy
> without a bad steering dampener.
> God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> James wrote:
>>
>> This is a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 130,000 miles.
>>
>> The sympton is just a bit hard to describe. When I am driving on a
>> rocky,
>> gravel road, I feel a shaking in my steering column. It is very
>> weird....... if the road is very rutty, I can only assume that
>> something
>> in the front end is worn and loose, and this sets up a shimmy that I
>> actually feel quite strongly in my steering column and steering wheel.
>> It
>> seems that I can actually "hear" rattling in my steering column.
>>
>> This is NOT death wobble. I have no such symptons at any speed, on a
>> smooth or even semi smooth road. It is only there when I travel up and
>> down
>> our very rutty gravel mountain road, and I feel it even at very slow
>> speeds.
>>
>> The "jerking" steering column is quite pronounced.
>>
>> I am thinking of tie rod ends............ or steering stabilizer , or
>> ball
>> joints ??
>>
>> What is the most likely culprit?
>>
>> BONUS QUESTION-- not related to above primary question..... I have a
>> low frequency, rumble type rattle underneath my car. It sounds like it
>> comes from the center of the car, toward the back 1/2 of the car. Of
>> course, I can't be sure. It sounded so much to me like part of the
>> exhaust
>> system, I had my mechanic put in on the rack and check all of that very
>> carefully. He could find nothing loose. I only hear this when I am
>> going
>> over rough roads, with many bumps etc. It is not a high pitch rattle...
>> it
>> is more like a rumble.
>>
>> What other parts could I suspect, and inspect to locate this noise.
>> Could a
>> defective wheel bearing exhibit this noise? How does one check the
>> status
>> of a wheel bearing ?
>>
>> Thank you all very much !!!!
>>
>> --James--

Matt Macchiarolo

Bad steering dampers don't cause shimmy. Good ones just mask the real cause.

I'm guessing he's got a worn or loose track bar. 2000 GC has the solid axle
up front, right?

The rear rumble could be just road noise, does it change in pitch with
vehicle speed, or does it stay on a constant pitch? center rear of the car
could be rear diff. Check your driveshaft U joints for wear, have your diff
inspected.

"L.W.(Bill) ------ III" <----------@***.net> wrote in message
news:4547F22C.E589C393@***.net...
> Hi James,
> It may be any of the parts you mentioned, but it can't shimmy
> without a bad steering dampener.
> God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> James wrote:
>>
>> This is a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 130,000 miles.
>>
>> The sympton is just a bit hard to describe. When I am driving on a
>> rocky,
>> gravel road, I feel a shaking in my steering column. It is very
>> weird....... if the road is very rutty, I can only assume that
>> something
>> in the front end is worn and loose, and this sets up a shimmy that I
>> actually feel quite strongly in my steering column and steering wheel.
>> It
>> seems that I can actually "hear" rattling in my steering column.
>>
>> This is NOT death wobble. I have no such symptons at any speed, on a
>> smooth or even semi smooth road. It is only there when I travel up and
>> down
>> our very rutty gravel mountain road, and I feel it even at very slow
>> speeds.
>>
>> The "jerking" steering column is quite pronounced.
>>
>> I am thinking of tie rod ends............ or steering stabilizer , or
>> ball
>> joints ??
>>
>> What is the most likely culprit?
>>
>> BONUS QUESTION-- not related to above primary question..... I have a
>> low frequency, rumble type rattle underneath my car. It sounds like it
>> comes from the center of the car, toward the back 1/2 of the car. Of
>> course, I can't be sure. It sounded so much to me like part of the
>> exhaust
>> system, I had my mechanic put in on the rack and check all of that very
>> carefully. He could find nothing loose. I only hear this when I am
>> going
>> over rough roads, with many bumps etc. It is not a high pitch rattle...
>> it
>> is more like a rumble.
>>
>> What other parts could I suspect, and inspect to locate this noise.
>> Could a
>> defective wheel bearing exhibit this noise? How does one check the
>> status
>> of a wheel bearing ?
>>
>> Thank you all very much !!!!
>>
>> --James--

Matt Macchiarolo

Bad steering dampers don't cause shimmy. Good ones just mask the real cause.

I'm guessing he's got a worn or loose track bar. 2000 GC has the solid axle
up front, right?

The rear rumble could be just road noise, does it change in pitch with
vehicle speed, or does it stay on a constant pitch? center rear of the car
could be rear diff. Check your driveshaft U joints for wear, have your diff
inspected.

"L.W.(Bill) ------ III" <----------@***.net> wrote in message
news:4547F22C.E589C393@***.net...
> Hi James,
> It may be any of the parts you mentioned, but it can't shimmy
> without a bad steering dampener.
> God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> James wrote:
>>
>> This is a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 130,000 miles.
>>
>> The sympton is just a bit hard to describe. When I am driving on a
>> rocky,
>> gravel road, I feel a shaking in my steering column. It is very
>> weird....... if the road is very rutty, I can only assume that
>> something
>> in the front end is worn and loose, and this sets up a shimmy that I
>> actually feel quite strongly in my steering column and steering wheel.
>> It
>> seems that I can actually "hear" rattling in my steering column.
>>
>> This is NOT death wobble. I have no such symptons at any speed, on a
>> smooth or even semi smooth road. It is only there when I travel up and
>> down
>> our very rutty gravel mountain road, and I feel it even at very slow
>> speeds.
>>
>> The "jerking" steering column is quite pronounced.
>>
>> I am thinking of tie rod ends............ or steering stabilizer , or
>> ball
>> joints ??
>>
>> What is the most likely culprit?
>>
>> BONUS QUESTION-- not related to above primary question..... I have a
>> low frequency, rumble type rattle underneath my car. It sounds like it
>> comes from the center of the car, toward the back 1/2 of the car. Of
>> course, I can't be sure. It sounded so much to me like part of the
>> exhaust
>> system, I had my mechanic put in on the rack and check all of that very
>> carefully. He could find nothing loose. I only hear this when I am
>> going
>> over rough roads, with many bumps etc. It is not a high pitch rattle...
>> it
>> is more like a rumble.
>>
>> What other parts could I suspect, and inspect to locate this noise.
>> Could a
>> defective wheel bearing exhibit this noise? How does one check the
>> status
>> of a wheel bearing ?
>>
>> Thank you all very much !!!!
>>
>> --James--

L.W.(Bill) Hughes III

Actually a bad dampener with air in place of the fluid that has
leaked out will bounce like a rubber ball.
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Matt Macchiarolo wrote:
>
> Bad steering dampers don't cause shimmy. Good ones just mask the real cause.