Re: TJ: Front end bounce at certain speeds
 

What the others said but also check your U joints at the front steering
knuckles. Look for any play or a trail of rust around the rubber seal.

Justin M wrote:

> I've got a 2002 TJ Sahara that has had a lingering problem that I have
> yet to resolve. Whenever I'm on a highway, and reach speeds between 60
> and 69 mph, the front end will start to vibrate and bounce -- it almost
> feels like a wheel is leaving the ground. Once I hit 70+, it stops
> vibrating (of course, it's not terribly safe going that fast in a
> lifted Jeep). Under 60mph, no vibration. This started around 30,000
> miles, and I never got the chance to take it in - I travel a ton and
> rarely am home during the week to take it in.
>
> Now, some history...
>
> It started doing this about three months *before* I had a 4" Teraflex
> lift, with Rancho Steering stabilizer, new wheels, new tires, new
> shocks, and new springs installed. It still does it (at a different
> speed, of course, because of the change in tire size). This pretty
> much excludes a good part of the suspension from the list of suspects.
>
> Also, another thing I've noticed is a clicking/popping/knocking sound
> when I start moving or when I make a sharp (slow) turn.
>
> I thought it might be tie rods or bearings, so I jacked up the front
> axle and checked them out the best I could (the wheels are tight, and
> wouldn't shake top/bottom and left/right).
>
> I'm very out of warranty, and the dealer won't have anything to do with
> me after I put the lift on (they say the lift caused the problem,
> despite what I've told them).
>
> Any ideas?
>

Re: TJ: Front end bounce at certain speeds
 

What the others said but also check your U joints at the front steering
knuckles. Look for any play or a trail of rust around the rubber seal.

Justin M wrote:

> I've got a 2002 TJ Sahara that has had a lingering problem that I have
> yet to resolve. Whenever I'm on a highway, and reach speeds between 60
> and 69 mph, the front end will start to vibrate and bounce -- it almost
> feels like a wheel is leaving the ground. Once I hit 70+, it stops
> vibrating (of course, it's not terribly safe going that fast in a
> lifted Jeep). Under 60mph, no vibration. This started around 30,000
> miles, and I never got the chance to take it in - I travel a ton and
> rarely am home during the week to take it in.
>
> Now, some history...
>
> It started doing this about three months *before* I had a 4" Teraflex
> lift, with Rancho Steering stabilizer, new wheels, new tires, new
> shocks, and new springs installed. It still does it (at a different
> speed, of course, because of the change in tire size). This pretty
> much excludes a good part of the suspension from the list of suspects.
>
> Also, another thing I've noticed is a clicking/popping/knocking sound
> when I start moving or when I make a sharp (slow) turn.
>
> I thought it might be tie rods or bearings, so I jacked up the front
> axle and checked them out the best I could (the wheels are tight, and
> wouldn't shake top/bottom and left/right).
>
> I'm very out of warranty, and the dealer won't have anything to do with
> me after I put the lift on (they say the lift caused the problem,
> despite what I've told them).
>
> Any ideas?
>

Re: TJ: Front end bounce at certain speeds
 

What the others said but also check your U joints at the front steering
knuckles. Look for any play or a trail of rust around the rubber seal.

Justin M wrote:

> I've got a 2002 TJ Sahara that has had a lingering problem that I have
> yet to resolve. Whenever I'm on a highway, and reach speeds between 60
> and 69 mph, the front end will start to vibrate and bounce -- it almost
> feels like a wheel is leaving the ground. Once I hit 70+, it stops
> vibrating (of course, it's not terribly safe going that fast in a
> lifted Jeep). Under 60mph, no vibration. This started around 30,000
> miles, and I never got the chance to take it in - I travel a ton and
> rarely am home during the week to take it in.
>
> Now, some history...
>
> It started doing this about three months *before* I had a 4" Teraflex
> lift, with Rancho Steering stabilizer, new wheels, new tires, new
> shocks, and new springs installed. It still does it (at a different
> speed, of course, because of the change in tire size). This pretty
> much excludes a good part of the suspension from the list of suspects.
>
> Also, another thing I've noticed is a clicking/popping/knocking sound
> when I start moving or when I make a sharp (slow) turn.
>
> I thought it might be tie rods or bearings, so I jacked up the front
> axle and checked them out the best I could (the wheels are tight, and
> wouldn't shake top/bottom and left/right).
>
> I'm very out of warranty, and the dealer won't have anything to do with
> me after I put the lift on (they say the lift caused the problem,
> despite what I've told them).
>
> Any ideas?
>

Re: TJ: Front end bounce at certain speeds
 

Interesting you mentioned the sway bar. I was under there replacing my
brakes, and noticed -- uh.. wow.. this thing isn't connected to
anything. Apparently the vibration had caused the bolt that holds the
post for the passenger sway bar link to come loose, and I lost it
somewhere along the way. The sway bar link was swinging in the wind.

I temporarily rigged something together from some Grade 8 bolts, nylon
washers, and lock-tite. Didn't help the vibration, though.. The links
were replaced when the Jeep was lifted (I didn't do the lift myself, so
I'm not completely certain as to what was changed out). I ordered
some new links and put those in a few weeks ago, without any effects.

I guess the 'good' thing about this is the problem was there *before*
the lift, so I know that nothing new or related to the lift would be
causing this.

Thanks for the ideas; at least I have more things to look at now.

jbjeep wrote:
> Of course they wont, dealers are primarily idiots IMO.
>
> I would say that you have something starting to go bad in your front end. Could be a
> simple as a u-joint going bad, or a bushing or whatever. I am sure the guys can help
> you out more than I can.
>
> Some thoughts:
>
> Did you put in the drop pitman arm when you did the lift?
>
> Have you checked all the bushings and ends on the track bar and drag link?
>
> Did you check your ends on your sway bar, especially if the links were not changed
> with the lift.
>
> Does it always do it at that speed, no matter what road you are on? Or does it
> change with a different road surface?
>
> -jenn
>
>
> On 10 Jul 2006 16:49:42 -0700, "Justin M" <xtexatl@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>I've got a 2002 TJ Sahara that has had a lingering problem that I have
> >>yet to resolve. Whenever I'm on a highway, and reach speeds between 60
> >>and 69 mph, the front end will start to vibrate and bounce -- it almost
> >>feels like a wheel is leaving the ground. Once I hit 70+, it stops
> >>vibrating (of course, it's not terribly safe going that fast in a
> >>lifted Jeep). Under 60mph, no vibration. This started around 30,000
> >>miles, and I never got the chance to take it in - I travel a ton and
> >>rarely am home during the week to take it in.
> >>
> >>Now, some history...
> >>
> >>It started doing this about three months *before* I had a 4" Teraflex
> >>lift, with Rancho Steering stabilizer, new wheels, new tires, new
> >>shocks, and new springs installed. It still does it (at a different
> >>speed, of course, because of the change in tire size). This pretty
> >>much excludes a good part of the suspension from the list of suspects.
> >>
> >>Also, another thing I've noticed is a clicking/popping/knocking sound
> >>when I start moving or when I make a sharp (slow) turn.
> >>
> >>I thought it might be tie rods or bearings, so I jacked up the front
> >>axle and checked them out the best I could (the wheels are tight, and
> >>wouldn't shake top/bottom and left/right).
> >>
> >>I'm very out of warranty, and the dealer won't have anything to do with
> >>me after I put the lift on (they say the lift caused the problem,
> >>despite what I've told them).
> >>
> >>Any ideas?

Re: TJ: Front end bounce at certain speeds
 

Interesting you mentioned the sway bar. I was under there replacing my
brakes, and noticed -- uh.. wow.. this thing isn't connected to
anything. Apparently the vibration had caused the bolt that holds the
post for the passenger sway bar link to come loose, and I lost it
somewhere along the way. The sway bar link was swinging in the wind.

I temporarily rigged something together from some Grade 8 bolts, nylon
washers, and lock-tite. Didn't help the vibration, though.. The links
were replaced when the Jeep was lifted (I didn't do the lift myself, so
I'm not completely certain as to what was changed out). I ordered
some new links and put those in a few weeks ago, without any effects.

I guess the 'good' thing about this is the problem was there *before*
the lift, so I know that nothing new or related to the lift would be
causing this.

Thanks for the ideas; at least I have more things to look at now.

jbjeep wrote:
> Of course they wont, dealers are primarily idiots IMO.
>
> I would say that you have something starting to go bad in your front end. Could be a
> simple as a u-joint going bad, or a bushing or whatever. I am sure the guys can help
> you out more than I can.
>
> Some thoughts:
>
> Did you put in the drop pitman arm when you did the lift?
>
> Have you checked all the bushings and ends on the track bar and drag link?
>
> Did you check your ends on your sway bar, especially if the links were not changed
> with the lift.
>
> Does it always do it at that speed, no matter what road you are on? Or does it
> change with a different road surface?
>
> -jenn
>
>
> On 10 Jul 2006 16:49:42 -0700, "Justin M" <xtexatl@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>I've got a 2002 TJ Sahara that has had a lingering problem that I have
> >>yet to resolve. Whenever I'm on a highway, and reach speeds between 60
> >>and 69 mph, the front end will start to vibrate and bounce -- it almost
> >>feels like a wheel is leaving the ground. Once I hit 70+, it stops
> >>vibrating (of course, it's not terribly safe going that fast in a
> >>lifted Jeep). Under 60mph, no vibration. This started around 30,000
> >>miles, and I never got the chance to take it in - I travel a ton and
> >>rarely am home during the week to take it in.
> >>
> >>Now, some history...
> >>
> >>It started doing this about three months *before* I had a 4" Teraflex
> >>lift, with Rancho Steering stabilizer, new wheels, new tires, new
> >>shocks, and new springs installed. It still does it (at a different
> >>speed, of course, because of the change in tire size). This pretty
> >>much excludes a good part of the suspension from the list of suspects.
> >>
> >>Also, another thing I've noticed is a clicking/popping/knocking sound
> >>when I start moving or when I make a sharp (slow) turn.
> >>
> >>I thought it might be tie rods or bearings, so I jacked up the front
> >>axle and checked them out the best I could (the wheels are tight, and
> >>wouldn't shake top/bottom and left/right).
> >>
> >>I'm very out of warranty, and the dealer won't have anything to do with
> >>me after I put the lift on (they say the lift caused the problem,
> >>despite what I've told them).
> >>
> >>Any ideas?

Re: TJ: Front end bounce at certain speeds
 

Interesting you mentioned the sway bar. I was under there replacing my
brakes, and noticed -- uh.. wow.. this thing isn't connected to
anything. Apparently the vibration had caused the bolt that holds the
post for the passenger sway bar link to come loose, and I lost it
somewhere along the way. The sway bar link was swinging in the wind.

I temporarily rigged something together from some Grade 8 bolts, nylon
washers, and lock-tite. Didn't help the vibration, though.. The links
were replaced when the Jeep was lifted (I didn't do the lift myself, so
I'm not completely certain as to what was changed out). I ordered
some new links and put those in a few weeks ago, without any effects.

I guess the 'good' thing about this is the problem was there *before*
the lift, so I know that nothing new or related to the lift would be
causing this.

Thanks for the ideas; at least I have more things to look at now.

jbjeep wrote:
> Of course they wont, dealers are primarily idiots IMO.
>
> I would say that you have something starting to go bad in your front end. Could be a
> simple as a u-joint going bad, or a bushing or whatever. I am sure the guys can help
> you out more than I can.
>
> Some thoughts:
>
> Did you put in the drop pitman arm when you did the lift?
>
> Have you checked all the bushings and ends on the track bar and drag link?
>
> Did you check your ends on your sway bar, especially if the links were not changed
> with the lift.
>
> Does it always do it at that speed, no matter what road you are on? Or does it
> change with a different road surface?
>
> -jenn
>
>
> On 10 Jul 2006 16:49:42 -0700, "Justin M" <xtexatl@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >>I've got a 2002 TJ Sahara that has had a lingering problem that I have
> >>yet to resolve. Whenever I'm on a highway, and reach speeds between 60
> >>and 69 mph, the front end will start to vibrate and bounce -- it almost
> >>feels like a wheel is leaving the ground. Once I hit 70+, it stops
> >>vibrating (of course, it's not terribly safe going that fast in a
> >>lifted Jeep). Under 60mph, no vibration. This started around 30,000
> >>miles, and I never got the chance to take it in - I travel a ton and
> >>rarely am home during the week to take it in.
> >>
> >>Now, some history...
> >>
> >>It started doing this about three months *before* I had a 4" Teraflex
> >>lift, with Rancho Steering stabilizer, new wheels, new tires, new
> >>shocks, and new springs installed. It still does it (at a different
> >>speed, of course, because of the change in tire size). This pretty
> >>much excludes a good part of the suspension from the list of suspects.
> >>
> >>Also, another thing I've noticed is a clicking/popping/knocking sound
> >>when I start moving or when I make a sharp (slow) turn.
> >>
> >>I thought it might be tie rods or bearings, so I jacked up the front
> >>axle and checked them out the best I could (the wheels are tight, and
> >>wouldn't shake top/bottom and left/right).
> >>
> >>I'm very out of warranty, and the dealer won't have anything to do with
> >>me after I put the lift on (they say the lift caused the problem,
> >>despite what I've told them).
> >>
> >>Any ideas?