Jeep Wrangler shaking over bumps, feels like front end is "loose"...?

Question

I know Jeeps are not known for a smoothe ride, but mine has gotten worse.

I had this problem before with the Goodyear tires it came with, and was told it was the tires.

I changed the tires and for the most part, the problem went away.

It's starting to come back.

This is a different kind of shake than just going over bumps and the whole Jeep bouncing around. This actually feels like, through the steering wheel, like the front end is shaking loose.

It can't be the tires, these have been rotated every 3000-5000 miles, and this problem started before the new tires.

The Jeep place changed out the stablizer the first time, but this did not help.

What causes this?!?!

Answer 1

it is not the tire and it isnt an idler arm(they have pitman arms but not idler) i have an 89 cherokee that had the same issue when i first got it. it was the stabilizer shock and the track bar that was bad. I also know it isnt the ball joints because mine are bad now and it dont do it.i live in new jersey so there are pleanty of bumpy pot hole filled roads.
i am so sure that those are the problem i would get "fixed" if it wasn't. it is a very common problem with jeeps. did you have the stabilizer bar replaced or the shock? if they replaced the shock it would have drowned out the track bar problem but the track bar would make it wear quicker ,hence the reason it is getting stronger again.

Answer 2

Sounds like the shock on the steering linkage is gone have it looked at!! And sometimes on Jeeps if the tires are not pumped up to a good psi it will shake!! Good luck!!!

Answer 3

i own a repair shop,and i have seen a few of them do that before,it was a bad idler arm on them that caused it to do that,,once you hit a bump it would shake like a wobble on it,,id take it somewhere else and have it checked,it sounds like they don't know how to fix it,,because the jeep is one of the easiest vehicles made to repair,and i don't see why they cant find the problem with it,,i bet any other mechanic could find it in less than 5 minutes,i know i could, good luck i hope this help,s

Answer 4

if its in your brake pettalvibrating or steering wheel vibrating at periodical speeds it's your rotors mabye even bearings
if its in bumps could be sway bar link or shocks
also 4wd remember your u joints and front axles
you need to be a tec lot of **** to think about

Answer 5

i would jack it up and move one of the wheels and see if you have any play in it if you do see what part has the play in it or sometimes a u joint in your driveshaft will cause it to shake bad and feel like the whole thing is shaking apart

Answer 6

you have what is known in the jeeping world as death wobble. or bump steer. sometimes difficult to pinpoint the problem. take it to the shop

Answer 7

Your track bar bushings are shot. Because of that it's killing your stabilizer. Fix both and check your tie-rods at the same time.

Answer 8

i say good year sucks but it aint a tire problem --steering stabilizer shock is junk around 25.00 for a cheap one -fix it right up

Answer 9

This topic is worth everyone's attention

Answer 10

I had same problem it was a loose wheel, and the stabilizer.