1987 Jeep Cherokee Shudders

HUBBAZOOT

MEMBER
1987 JEEP CHEROKEE
6 CYL
4WD
MANUAL
235,045 MILES

Whenever I drive at about 51 mph, my steering wheel shudders rapidly. What is causing the problem?

Also, whenever I start in either first or reverse, the whole car shudders when I ease out the clutch.

Thursday, October 30th, 2008 AT 11:29 PM

3 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

The vibration at speed could be a problem with a tyre or a balance issue, check the steering and if it has a steering damper fitted, have that inspected, as for the clutch shudder, you have hot spots on the flywheel and or the pressure plate, this is causing the clutch plate to not not take up smoothly causing this shudder, it can be a sign of a worn clutch, or a fly wheel that was not machined after a clutch overhaul.

Mark (mhpautos)

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Friday, October 31st, 2008 AT 3:04 AM

HUBBAZOOT

MEMBER
7 POSTS

Yeah I have been pretty rough on my clutch (This is the car I learned to drive in, including learning to drive a stick. Sometimes I get a little carried away with it.) As for the balance issue, I took off one of the front hubs and found a spot where dirt was caked around an opening roughly the shape and size of a wheel balance weight.

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Friday, October 31st, 2008 AT 11:07 PM

HUBBAZOOT

MEMBER
7 POSTS

I got the wheels balanced, that was my problem.
As for the shuddering when I started it, it seems to have worked itself out after being gentler on it when I start off the line, It's still kind of there when I back up though.

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Sunday, November 9th, 2008 AT 11:29 PM