TJ front end shimmy
 

My 98 TJ has developed a bad shimmy in the front end. Usually starts
at about 45 and gos away at 50. I first rebalanced the front tires.
No change. Today I put the rears on the front. It got worse. Now it
starts at 45 and doesn't stop til I slow way down. I put the front
up on jacks and as far as i can tell everything is tight, but a
little play, (back and forth, about a half inch), in the steering
box arm. Is the arm suppose to have a little play in it. I haven't
checked the manual yet to see if there is an adjustment to tighten
up the box. Also, could the damper shock be the cause? I have not
changed that since I've owned it, it might be the original one.Any
thoughts?

Re: TJ front end shimmy
 

A new stabilizer shock absorber will stop the shimmy:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/...0101&langId=-1
When you take the old on off you will if you shake it hear the air that
has replaced the fluid that has leaked out. Of course you will still
have the problem that set off the shimmy, an out of round tire,
alignment: http://www.cowtownjeeps.com/index.as...tech/align.htm
worn out parts, like tie rod ends or ball joints, to that steering box
you said has too much play.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Spark wrote:
>
> My 98 TJ has developed a bad shimmy in the front end. Usually starts
> at about 45 and gos away at 50. I first rebalanced the front tires.
> No change. Today I put the rears on the front. It got worse. Now it
> starts at 45 and doesn't stop til I slow way down. I put the front
> up on jacks and as far as i can tell everything is tight, but a
> little play, (back and forth, about a half inch), in the steering
> box arm. Is the arm suppose to have a little play in it. I haven't
> checked the manual yet to see if there is an adjustment to tighten
> up the box. Also, could the damper shock be the cause? I have not
> changed that since I've owned it, it might be the original one.Any
> thoughts?

Re: TJ front end shimmy
 

A new stabilizer shock absorber will stop the shimmy:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/...0101&langId=-1
When you take the old on off you will if you shake it hear the air that
has replaced the fluid that has leaked out. Of course you will still
have the problem that set off the shimmy, an out of round tire,
alignment: http://www.cowtownjeeps.com/index.as...tech/align.htm
worn out parts, like tie rod ends or ball joints, to that steering box
you said has too much play.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Spark wrote:
>
> My 98 TJ has developed a bad shimmy in the front end. Usually starts
> at about 45 and gos away at 50. I first rebalanced the front tires.
> No change. Today I put the rears on the front. It got worse. Now it
> starts at 45 and doesn't stop til I slow way down. I put the front
> up on jacks and as far as i can tell everything is tight, but a
> little play, (back and forth, about a half inch), in the steering
> box arm. Is the arm suppose to have a little play in it. I haven't
> checked the manual yet to see if there is an adjustment to tighten
> up the box. Also, could the damper shock be the cause? I have not
> changed that since I've owned it, it might be the original one.Any
> thoughts?

Re: TJ front end shimmy
 

A new stabilizer shock absorber will stop the shimmy:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/...0101&langId=-1
When you take the old on off you will if you shake it hear the air that
has replaced the fluid that has leaked out. Of course you will still
have the problem that set off the shimmy, an out of round tire,
alignment: http://www.cowtownjeeps.com/index.as...tech/align.htm
worn out parts, like tie rod ends or ball joints, to that steering box
you said has too much play.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Spark wrote:
>
> My 98 TJ has developed a bad shimmy in the front end. Usually starts
> at about 45 and gos away at 50. I first rebalanced the front tires.
> No change. Today I put the rears on the front. It got worse. Now it
> starts at 45 and doesn't stop til I slow way down. I put the front
> up on jacks and as far as i can tell everything is tight, but a
> little play, (back and forth, about a half inch), in the steering
> box arm. Is the arm suppose to have a little play in it. I haven't
> checked the manual yet to see if there is an adjustment to tighten
> up the box. Also, could the damper shock be the cause? I have not
> changed that since I've owned it, it might be the original one.Any
> thoughts?

Re: TJ front end shimmy
 

A new stabilizer shock absorber will stop the shimmy:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/...0101&langId=-1
When you take the old on off you will if you shake it hear the air that
has replaced the fluid that has leaked out. Of course you will still
have the problem that set off the shimmy, an out of round tire,
alignment: http://www.cowtownjeeps.com/index.as...tech/align.htm
worn out parts, like tie rod ends or ball joints, to that steering box
you said has too much play.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Spark wrote:
>
> My 98 TJ has developed a bad shimmy in the front end. Usually starts
> at about 45 and gos away at 50. I first rebalanced the front tires.
> No change. Today I put the rears on the front. It got worse. Now it
> starts at 45 and doesn't stop til I slow way down. I put the front
> up on jacks and as far as i can tell everything is tight, but a
> little play, (back and forth, about a half inch), in the steering
> box arm. Is the arm suppose to have a little play in it. I haven't
> checked the manual yet to see if there is an adjustment to tighten
> up the box. Also, could the damper shock be the cause? I have not
> changed that since I've owned it, it might be the original one.Any
> thoughts?

Re: TJ front end shimmy
 

Is there a way to tighten up the steering box? I had an adjuster on some of
my other vehicles.
"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:410EA99E.92BC50B4@cox.net...
> A new stabilizer shock absorber will stop the shimmy:
>
http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/...0101&langId=-1
> When you take the old on off you will if you shake it hear the air that
> has replaced the fluid that has leaked out. Of course you will still
> have the problem that set off the shimmy, an out of round tire,
> alignment: http://www.cowtownjeeps.com/index.as...tech/align.htm
> worn out parts, like tie rod ends or ball joints, to that steering box
> you said has too much play.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> Spark wrote:
> >
> > My 98 TJ has developed a bad shimmy in the front end. Usually starts
> > at about 45 and gos away at 50. I first rebalanced the front tires.
> > No change. Today I put the rears on the front. It got worse. Now it
> > starts at 45 and doesn't stop til I slow way down. I put the front
> > up on jacks and as far as i can tell everything is tight, but a
> > little play, (back and forth, about a half inch), in the steering
> > box arm. Is the arm suppose to have a little play in it. I haven't
> > checked the manual yet to see if there is an adjustment to tighten
> > up the box. Also, could the damper shock be the cause? I have not
> > changed that since I've owned it, it might be the original one.Any
> > thoughts?

Re: TJ front end shimmy
 

Is there a way to tighten up the steering box? I had an adjuster on some of
my other vehicles.
"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:410EA99E.92BC50B4@cox.net...
> A new stabilizer shock absorber will stop the shimmy:
>
http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/...0101&langId=-1
> When you take the old on off you will if you shake it hear the air that
> has replaced the fluid that has leaked out. Of course you will still
> have the problem that set off the shimmy, an out of round tire,
> alignment: http://www.cowtownjeeps.com/index.as...tech/align.htm
> worn out parts, like tie rod ends or ball joints, to that steering box
> you said has too much play.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> Spark wrote:
> >
> > My 98 TJ has developed a bad shimmy in the front end. Usually starts
> > at about 45 and gos away at 50. I first rebalanced the front tires.
> > No change. Today I put the rears on the front. It got worse. Now it
> > starts at 45 and doesn't stop til I slow way down. I put the front
> > up on jacks and as far as i can tell everything is tight, but a
> > little play, (back and forth, about a half inch), in the steering
> > box arm. Is the arm suppose to have a little play in it. I haven't
> > checked the manual yet to see if there is an adjustment to tighten
> > up the box. Also, could the damper shock be the cause? I have not
> > changed that since I've owned it, it might be the original one.Any
> > thoughts?

Re: TJ front end shimmy
 

Is there a way to tighten up the steering box? I had an adjuster on some of
my other vehicles.
"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:410EA99E.92BC50B4@cox.net...
> A new stabilizer shock absorber will stop the shimmy:
>
http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/...0101&langId=-1
> When you take the old on off you will if you shake it hear the air that
> has replaced the fluid that has leaked out. Of course you will still
> have the problem that set off the shimmy, an out of round tire,
> alignment: http://www.cowtownjeeps.com/index.as...tech/align.htm
> worn out parts, like tie rod ends or ball joints, to that steering box
> you said has too much play.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> Spark wrote:
> >
> > My 98 TJ has developed a bad shimmy in the front end. Usually starts
> > at about 45 and gos away at 50. I first rebalanced the front tires.
> > No change. Today I put the rears on the front. It got worse. Now it
> > starts at 45 and doesn't stop til I slow way down. I put the front
> > up on jacks and as far as i can tell everything is tight, but a
> > little play, (back and forth, about a half inch), in the steering
> > box arm. Is the arm suppose to have a little play in it. I haven't
> > checked the manual yet to see if there is an adjustment to tighten
> > up the box. Also, could the damper shock be the cause? I have not
> > changed that since I've owned it, it might be the original one.Any
> > thoughts?

Re: TJ front end shimmy
 

Is there a way to tighten up the steering box? I had an adjuster on some of
my other vehicles.
"L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
news:410EA99E.92BC50B4@cox.net...
> A new stabilizer shock absorber will stop the shimmy:
>
http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/...0101&langId=-1
> When you take the old on off you will if you shake it hear the air that
> has replaced the fluid that has leaked out. Of course you will still
> have the problem that set off the shimmy, an out of round tire,
> alignment: http://www.cowtownjeeps.com/index.as...tech/align.htm
> worn out parts, like tie rod ends or ball joints, to that steering box
> you said has too much play.
> God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
>
> Spark wrote:
> >
> > My 98 TJ has developed a bad shimmy in the front end. Usually starts
> > at about 45 and gos away at 50. I first rebalanced the front tires.
> > No change. Today I put the rears on the front. It got worse. Now it
> > starts at 45 and doesn't stop til I slow way down. I put the front
> > up on jacks and as far as i can tell everything is tight, but a
> > little play, (back and forth, about a half inch), in the steering
> > box arm. Is the arm suppose to have a little play in it. I haven't
> > checked the manual yet to see if there is an adjustment to tighten
> > up the box. Also, could the damper shock be the cause? I have not
> > changed that since I've owned it, it might be the original one.Any
> > thoughts?

Re: TJ front end shimmy
 

I just helped a gent do his with new seals last week and if the end play
on the column stub isn't set, the steering wheel will be loose. This
makes the pitman and/or steering shaft stub sloppy.

Those boxes have to be off the vehicle to adjust them. The top preload
adjuster is too touchy to be done with a pitman arm on it. If you do,
it will burn out the box.

It shouldn't have any play.

I would also suspect the steering stabilizer shock as being bad.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Spark wrote:
>
> Is there a way to tighten up the steering box? I had an adjuster on some of
> my other vehicles.
> "L.W. (ßill) ------ III" <----------@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:410EA99E.92BC50B4@cox.net...
> > A new stabilizer shock absorber will stop the shimmy:
> >
> http://www.jcwhitney.com/webapp/wcs/...0101&langId=-1
> > When you take the old on off you will if you shake it hear the air that
> > has replaced the fluid that has leaked out. Of course you will still
> > have the problem that set off the shimmy, an out of round tire,
> > alignment: http://www.cowtownjeeps.com/index.as...tech/align.htm
> > worn out parts, like tie rod ends or ball joints, to that steering box
> > you said has too much play.
> > God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
> > mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/
> >
> > Spark wrote:
> > >
> > > My 98 TJ has developed a bad shimmy in the front end. Usually starts
> > > at about 45 and gos away at 50. I first rebalanced the front tires.
> > > No change. Today I put the rears on the front. It got worse. Now it
> > > starts at 45 and doesn't stop til I slow way down. I put the front
> > > up on jacks and as far as i can tell everything is tight, but a
> > > little play, (back and forth, about a half inch), in the steering
> > > box arm. Is the arm suppose to have a little play in it. I haven't
> > > checked the manual yet to see if there is an adjustment to tighten
> > > up the box. Also, could the damper shock be the cause? I have not
> > > changed that since I've owned it, it might be the original one.Any
> > > thoughts?