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TJ: Front end bounce at certain speeds

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?

Reply to
Justin M
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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

Reply to
jbjeep

My bet is the front trackbar... either its' lower mounting bolt is loose (tighten to 45 ft-lbs on newer TJs, 55 ft-lbs on older TJs) or the bushings in the lower trackbar mounting hole are worn/loose/bad. Or the lower trackbar mounting bolt's hole in the bracket is wallowed out and is giving the bolt a lot of slop preventing the trackbar from being held rigidly as is required.

Jerry

Just> I've got a 2002 TJ Sahara that has had a lingering problem that I have

Reply to
Jerry Bransford

P.S.

Reply to
Jerry Bransford

Reply to
RoyJ

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 th> Of course they wont, dealers are primarily idiots IMO.

Reply to
Justin M

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