A bent rim would be more visable driving alongside the vehicle. The pothole
may have been the catalyst that caused the cord to separate, but the tire
would have been weak for that to happen. Keep us posted.
Steve G.
"Paul" <katarn444@rcn.com> wrote in message
news:319414c5.0408060551.427abf7e@posting.google.c om...
> Thanks Steve, I will take a look today and see if I can find
> something. I have never had a tire cord separate on me so I don't
> know what it feels like. Maybe I do now. I will take a look at both
> front tires and if I don't see anything I will move the front to the
> back one at a time so I can find the one that has gone bad.
>
> What would the symptoms of a bent rim be, I am just serious because I
> remember one night in the early spring I was driving at night and
> smashed a huge pothole at about 70mph. Could something like that bend
> the wheel or cause a cord to separate, or is a cord separating a
> manufacturer defect.
>
> I guess in the long run I would much rather it be a tire then the
> power steering pump. A much cleaner and less stressful job of fixing.
>
> Thanks again
> Paul
> "Steve G" <NospamforSteve@Steve-Garner.com> wrote in message
news:<YsCQc.19286$M95.5881@pd7tw1no>...
> > First off, on your steering issue, it's not a question of tire balance,
it's
> > an issue of cord seperation in the tire. That's exactly how they
behave,
> > can't feel it at higher speeds, but the wheel will rock in your hands as
you
> > idle along. I'd damn near guarantee that you've got a bad tire. No to
the
> > bushings and wheel bearings. Not the type of sympton they display at
all.
> > Loose wheel bearing would have to be damn near falling off before the
wheel
> > would wobble. Generally bearings get rough spots in them and you get a
> > droning noise and a fine vibration in the wheel, more like the tingling
> > you'd get if your hand fell asleep. Bushings all together diferent.
> > Erratic handling, tending to follow seams in the pavement and jump
around,
> > not a steady rythmic wobble. Think about it, if you focus on the
rotation
> > of your tire you can almost time the wobble in the steering wheel to
each
> > revolution of the tire. Do a good visual of the tire. Jack the vehicle
up
> > and have someone spin the tire by hand while you watch the tread. I'll
bet
> > you'll see a spot where the tread "wobbles" a bit.
> >
> > Shocks do have a shelf life, but I expect it's fairly long. Not all
shocks
> > are gas filled. If they are not a gas filled shock and they are not
leaking
> > oil they are probably fine. If they are a gas filled they will want to
> > extend themselve fully. If they do not they may have lost their gas
charge,
> > but may dampen spring ocilations anyways. albeit not as well.
> > Steve G.
> > "Paul" <katarn444@rcn.com> wrote in message
> > news:319414c5.0408051809.24113193@posting.google.c om...

 

Hi Paul,
A place to check if a tire is coming apart is usually at the side
of the tread, with a crack and steal threads poking out.
A quick test to see if the tire and rim run straight is to jack a
wheel and place a brick like object against the tire and spin.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Paul wrote:
>
> Thanks Steve, I will take a look today and see if I can find
> something. I have never had a tire cord separate on me so I don't
> know what it feels like. Maybe I do now. I will take a look at both
> front tires and if I don't see anything I will move the front to the
> back one at a time so I can find the one that has gone bad.
>
> What would the symptoms of a bent rim be, I am just serious because I
> remember one night in the early spring I was driving at night and
> smashed a huge pothole at about 70mph. Could something like that bend
> the wheel or cause a cord to separate, or is a cord separating a
> manufacturer defect.
>
> I guess in the long run I would much rather it be a tire then the
> power steering pump. A much cleaner and less stressful job of fixing.
>
> Thanks again
> Paul

 

Hi Paul,
A place to check if a tire is coming apart is usually at the side
of the tread, with a crack and steal threads poking out.
A quick test to see if the tire and rim run straight is to jack a
wheel and place a brick like object against the tire and spin.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Paul wrote:
>
> Thanks Steve, I will take a look today and see if I can find
> something. I have never had a tire cord separate on me so I don't
> know what it feels like. Maybe I do now. I will take a look at both
> front tires and if I don't see anything I will move the front to the
> back one at a time so I can find the one that has gone bad.
>
> What would the symptoms of a bent rim be, I am just serious because I
> remember one night in the early spring I was driving at night and
> smashed a huge pothole at about 70mph. Could something like that bend
> the wheel or cause a cord to separate, or is a cord separating a
> manufacturer defect.
>
> I guess in the long run I would much rather it be a tire then the
> power steering pump. A much cleaner and less stressful job of fixing.
>
> Thanks again
> Paul

 

Hi Paul,
A place to check if a tire is coming apart is usually at the side
of the tread, with a crack and steal threads poking out.
A quick test to see if the tire and rim run straight is to jack a
wheel and place a brick like object against the tire and spin.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Paul wrote:
>
> Thanks Steve, I will take a look today and see if I can find
> something. I have never had a tire cord separate on me so I don't
> know what it feels like. Maybe I do now. I will take a look at both
> front tires and if I don't see anything I will move the front to the
> back one at a time so I can find the one that has gone bad.
>
> What would the symptoms of a bent rim be, I am just serious because I
> remember one night in the early spring I was driving at night and
> smashed a huge pothole at about 70mph. Could something like that bend
> the wheel or cause a cord to separate, or is a cord separating a
> manufacturer defect.
>
> I guess in the long run I would much rather it be a tire then the
> power steering pump. A much cleaner and less stressful job of fixing.
>
> Thanks again
> Paul

 

Hi Paul,
A place to check if a tire is coming apart is usually at the side
of the tread, with a crack and steal threads poking out.
A quick test to see if the tire and rim run straight is to jack a
wheel and place a brick like object against the tire and spin.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Paul wrote:
>
> Thanks Steve, I will take a look today and see if I can find
> something. I have never had a tire cord separate on me so I don't
> know what it feels like. Maybe I do now. I will take a look at both
> front tires and if I don't see anything I will move the front to the
> back one at a time so I can find the one that has gone bad.
>
> What would the symptoms of a bent rim be, I am just serious because I
> remember one night in the early spring I was driving at night and
> smashed a huge pothole at about 70mph. Could something like that bend
> the wheel or cause a cord to separate, or is a cord separating a
> manufacturer defect.
>
> I guess in the long run I would much rather it be a tire then the
> power steering pump. A much cleaner and less stressful job of fixing.
>
> Thanks again
> Paul

 

Paul,

Paul <katarn444@rcn.com> wrote:
> I have already done your first suggestion and the tire/wheels do not
> wobble at all, so thats why I think it is in the power steering
> system. I have not looked at the service manual in a while but I am
> ALMOST sure it is the pump.

Just another wild a$$ed guess:

Have you checked your front wheel universal joints? When my 1998 Cherokee's
joints seized, I could "feel" it in the steering wheel, too.

Here's what I did to check them, since I couldn't see the tell-tale "rust
stains" coming from the bearing caps:

Jack both front tires off the ground at the same time. Steer to "full-lock",
either fully left or right. Attempt to spin either front tire. If spinning
either front tire is extremely difficult, or causes the front tires to attempt
to straighten out, then you may have found a frozen universal joint.

Usually, you'll "feel" a frozen joint at all speeds when turning, but you never
know...

-John

 

Paul,

Paul <katarn444@rcn.com> wrote:
> I have already done your first suggestion and the tire/wheels do not
> wobble at all, so thats why I think it is in the power steering
> system. I have not looked at the service manual in a while but I am
> ALMOST sure it is the pump.

Just another wild a$$ed guess:

Have you checked your front wheel universal joints? When my 1998 Cherokee's
joints seized, I could "feel" it in the steering wheel, too.

Here's what I did to check them, since I couldn't see the tell-tale "rust
stains" coming from the bearing caps:

Jack both front tires off the ground at the same time. Steer to "full-lock",
either fully left or right. Attempt to spin either front tire. If spinning
either front tire is extremely difficult, or causes the front tires to attempt
to straighten out, then you may have found a frozen universal joint.

Usually, you'll "feel" a frozen joint at all speeds when turning, but you never
know...

-John

 

Paul,

Paul <katarn444@rcn.com> wrote:
> I have already done your first suggestion and the tire/wheels do not
> wobble at all, so thats why I think it is in the power steering
> system. I have not looked at the service manual in a while but I am
> ALMOST sure it is the pump.

Just another wild a$$ed guess:

Have you checked your front wheel universal joints? When my 1998 Cherokee's
joints seized, I could "feel" it in the steering wheel, too.

Here's what I did to check them, since I couldn't see the tell-tale "rust
stains" coming from the bearing caps:

Jack both front tires off the ground at the same time. Steer to "full-lock",
either fully left or right. Attempt to spin either front tire. If spinning
either front tire is extremely difficult, or causes the front tires to attempt
to straighten out, then you may have found a frozen universal joint.

Usually, you'll "feel" a frozen joint at all speeds when turning, but you never
know...

-John

 

Paul,

Paul <katarn444@rcn.com> wrote:
> I have already done your first suggestion and the tire/wheels do not
> wobble at all, so thats why I think it is in the power steering
> system. I have not looked at the service manual in a while but I am
> ALMOST sure it is the pump.

Just another wild a$$ed guess:

Have you checked your front wheel universal joints? When my 1998 Cherokee's
joints seized, I could "feel" it in the steering wheel, too.

Here's what I did to check them, since I couldn't see the tell-tale "rust
stains" coming from the bearing caps:

Jack both front tires off the ground at the same time. Steer to "full-lock",
either fully left or right. Attempt to spin either front tire. If spinning
either front tire is extremely difficult, or causes the front tires to attempt
to straighten out, then you may have found a frozen universal joint.

Usually, you'll "feel" a frozen joint at all speeds when turning, but you never
know...

-John

 

First off I rotated the front tires to the back one at a time to see
which one had gone bad. Nothing changed in the steering as the fronts
went to the back. I inspected all of the tires and they all looked
good. No cracking or metal protrusion. I also tested the tires with
a straight edge and they all looked good. No wobble.

I then tried John's "wild a$$ed guess". I steered the wheels all the
way to the left and tried to spin the left tire. It was very
difficult but went I finally got it rotating it started to steer
itself back(to the right) in about a half of a turn it started to
steer itself to the left again. At about a full rotation it would
stop and I could not turn it in that direction. If I wanted it to
rotate I would have to go in the opposite direction to the way I was
originally turning. Then the whole process would start over until it
stopped in that direction. This would continue for a while until the
wheels finally straightened themselves out so they were faced dead
straight. I get no wobble when the wheels are facing straight and I
spin them. By the way this was all with the engine turned off, so I
no longer think it is the power steering.

I know that sounds really confusing so if you do not understand what I
trying to say, tell me and I will try again.

So is John right? Is it a universal joint?
As I was looking under the truck I do not even know if I would be able
to save any of the front suspension. All of the bolts are rusted to
hell. Can I clean these parts up or do they need to be replaced. For
example the sway bar, can I just clean all of the rust off and then
shoot it with a rust inhibiting paint? Everything is of coarse
covered in surface rust but the castle nuts and pins that go through
them are almost unrecognizable. Where to you guys get your suspension
parts from?

Thanks
Paul

> Paul,
>
> Paul <katarn444@rcn.com> wrote:
> > I have already done your first suggestion and the tire/wheels do not
> > wobble at all, so thats why I think it is in the power steering
> > system. I have not looked at the service manual in a while but I am
> > ALMOST sure it is the pump.
>
> Just another wild a$$ed guess:
>
> Have you checked your front wheel universal joints? When my 1998 Cherokee's
> joints seized, I could "feel" it in the steering wheel, too.
>
> Here's what I did to check them, since I couldn't see the tell-tale "rust
> stains" coming from the bearing caps:
>
> Jack both front tires off the ground at the same time. Steer to "full-lock",
> either fully left or right. Attempt to spin either front tire. If spinning
> either front tire is extremely difficult, or causes the front tires to attempt
> to straighten out, then you may have found a frozen universal joint.
>
> Usually, you'll "feel" a frozen joint at all speeds when turning, but you never
> know...
>
> -John