Hi All - looking for a place to start as I diagnose a new vibration ('04 Rubicon TJ; 4.0 manual) - thanks ahead of time for taking the time to read through this.
I've owned her about a year and in that time I've replaced the rotors, pads, calipers; shocks; flushed the transmission fluid; cleaned the throttle body; and I have 4 new NGK O2 sensors coming this week (CEL been on for a minute throwing P0161 & P0158, both related to B2S2 sensor, but may as well get 'em all).
She's my daily, but I don't commute b/c of COVID, so usually don't go over 40. Took a highway drive this weekend (approx. 100 miles/2 hrs.) and now, from 45-50 mph, the Jeep starts to vibrate consistently until I drop below 40 again - regardless of gear, acceleration or deceleration, incline or decline, driving straight or on a curve, cold or hot engine. I can feel it in the steering wheel, but this doesn't feel like an alignment issue or death wobble...more like the whole rig is resonating with whatever's causing the problem. I can feel it really strong in the gear shift.
No new noises, no smells, and apart from this new vibration, she's driving like normal and doesn't pull under hard braking. I've done a bit of work over the past 3 weeks, and maybe that's caused the problem: replaced back passenger bar pin eliminator (driver side fine, no work); tightened the hand brake (at the wheels and under the car); bought and installed a hardtop (I thought maybe the new weight or aerodynamics might be a thing?). Took off the back tires to do the shock and brake work and tightened the lugs on the spacers and the wheels to 100 ft/lbs (both came with the jeep when I purchased) - I did struggle with the lugs on the wheels, seems like there may be some cross threading, so maybe my rear wheels are wonky?
Based on my searches, I'm going to check the following, though not sure how to prioritize, so open to any guidance all you wonderful people can offer:
I've owned her about a year and in that time I've replaced the rotors, pads, calipers; shocks; flushed the transmission fluid; cleaned the throttle body; and I have 4 new NGK O2 sensors coming this week (CEL been on for a minute throwing P0161 & P0158, both related to B2S2 sensor, but may as well get 'em all).
She's my daily, but I don't commute b/c of COVID, so usually don't go over 40. Took a highway drive this weekend (approx. 100 miles/2 hrs.) and now, from 45-50 mph, the Jeep starts to vibrate consistently until I drop below 40 again - regardless of gear, acceleration or deceleration, incline or decline, driving straight or on a curve, cold or hot engine. I can feel it in the steering wheel, but this doesn't feel like an alignment issue or death wobble...more like the whole rig is resonating with whatever's causing the problem. I can feel it really strong in the gear shift.
No new noises, no smells, and apart from this new vibration, she's driving like normal and doesn't pull under hard braking. I've done a bit of work over the past 3 weeks, and maybe that's caused the problem: replaced back passenger bar pin eliminator (driver side fine, no work); tightened the hand brake (at the wheels and under the car); bought and installed a hardtop (I thought maybe the new weight or aerodynamics might be a thing?). Took off the back tires to do the shock and brake work and tightened the lugs on the spacers and the wheels to 100 ft/lbs (both came with the jeep when I purchased) - I did struggle with the lugs on the wheels, seems like there may be some cross threading, so maybe my rear wheels are wonky?
Based on my searches, I'm going to check the following, though not sure how to prioritize, so open to any guidance all you wonderful people can offer:
- U joints
- Play in the drive shaft
- Wheels/tires out of round
- Could it be a transmission mount? I could replace that while getting at the sensors - or another trans issue? pretty sure my synchros are on their way out, and the clutch makes noise when not engaged, but that's old news
