Front End Shake on my 2004 TJ

[Skyhawk]

I have been driving my TJ for a while and the front tires have been coming down with wear. A few weeks ago I got the dreaded death wobble on my front left tire at 45 mph. (running 33 X 12.5" tires). I took the Jeep to my local 4 wheel drive shop and they said I needed 2 new tires. I went along with that since they were weather checked pretty good.

I have 2 new tires on the front and they don't feel any better than the ones I had on before. My left wheel feels out of balance. The jeep has 110,000 miles with no steering components replaced in the past.

I'm wondering if I have a bad hub or ball joints. The Jeep has a 3" lift kit installed so the camber is slightly out. I'm thinking if I keep driving it I will eventually get the death wobble back again with the new tires. The shop is telling me the front end is tight, truly that cannot be correct. Is there a special way I should be checking these components to find the play that they may not be doing correctly???

One other issue comes into play here. In the past the vehicle was hit on the left front area. Shortly after I bought the vehicle I found a leaking cracked brake caliper on the drivers side. (and noted body filler on windshield frame). I'm wondering if the impact could have damaged the hub bearings or the knuckle, or maybe both?

So, How to find the play?
Thinking of using Timken hubs. (if needed)
Think of using Spicer ball joints (if needed) Do they make offsets to correct the camber?
Possible damaged knuckle... Who's knuckle to use?
Recommendations???
Thank You, TJ in Virginia

 

[macleanflood]

I wouldn't dismiss the rear tires. I spent a month tearing into my front end trying to chase down a vibration and it turned out to be the centering ball on the rear driveshaft.

Give everything a healthy shake. If it moves it needs replaced. Or tightened...heck checking torque on all your suspension bolts might be a good second thing to check.

If you're primed to fire the parts cannon at it...Black Magic Brakes can set you up with knuckles. Might be a good time to consider a big brake kit (knuckles included) or a tie rod flip.

-Mac

 

[Intimnasc]

Your going to have to go down a long path of checks and replacements. What finally really smoothed mine out was new tie rods, new steering shock, new double adjustable control arms, and new adjustable track bars. Now I can run as fast as I want over whatever I want and no wobbles. Control arms and tie rods were probably 75 percent of my problem. A lot of cheaper lift kits reuse the old control arms or cheap control arms that don't allow you to properly align the front end. The track bars brought front and rear diff back to center. Control arms gave me full control of pinion angles and alignments. I love these forums the advice is pretty solid.

 

[Tronner]

I have been driving my TJ for a while and the front tires have been coming down with wear. A few weeks ago I got the dreaded death wobble on my front left tire at 45 mph. (running 33 X 12.5" tires). I took the Jeep to my local 4 wheel drive shop and they said I needed 2 new tires. I went along with that since they were weather checked pretty good.

I have 2 new tires on the front and they don't feel any better than the ones I had on before. My left wheel feels out of balance. The jeep has 110,000 miles with no steering components replaced in the past.

I'm wondering if I have a bad hub or ball joints. The Jeep has a 3" lift kit installed so the camber is slightly out. I'm thinking if I keep driving it I will eventually get the death wobble back again with the new tires. The shop is telling me the front end is tight, truly that cannot be correct. Is there a special way I should be checking these components to find the play that they may not be doing correctly???

One other issue comes into play here. In the past the vehicle was hit on the left front area. Shortly after I bought the vehicle I found a leaking cracked brake caliper on the drivers side. (and noted body filler on windshield frame). I'm wondering if the impact could have damaged the hub bearings or the knuckle, or maybe both?

So, How to find the play?
Thinking of using Timken hubs. (if needed)
Think of using Spicer ball joints (if needed) Do they make offsets to correct the camber?
Possible damaged knuckle... Who's knuckle to use?
Recommendations???
Thank You, TJ in Virginia

Unless the axle C is bent your camber should be fine. Lift's do not affect camber but do affect Caster. You're parts list at the bottom is accurate and what is recommended here. You can diagnose play in the Tie rods by doing what is called a dry steering test, turning the wheel in the vehicle with the vehicle on the ground and watching the joints. (you need two people and the jeep off) To diagnose ball joints, jack up one side and with a pry bar apply upward pressure to the one wheel off the ground. The wheel bearing test is to grab the 3 and 9 position or the 12 and 6 position on the tire and move back and forth.

What are your tire pressures? What kind of wheels? Alloy or steel wheels? Pictures of the front suspension may help us to identify damage from the incident you described prior to your ownership.

 

[Skyhawk]

I took it back to the shop and the shop owner got involved. They did the 2 person check with the vehicle on the ground and initially they saw nothing, but then the right tie rod end popped and started moving. They replaced the tie rod end and now it drives much much better. Thank you for all the advise! Theyt also found a rear track arm end that needs replacing, so hopefully that will tighten things up for me