1990 Jeep Cherokee Death wobble

250,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
CLIMBER
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I have a 1990 Jeep Cherokee. When I go over a rough surface like a railroad track or bump in the road at 45mph or more, the front end shakes violently. It feels as if I have square tires. When I slow down it goes away, I have checked the front end components and can't find anything that appears to be loose or worn. Any Ideas? Thanks Climber
Mar 10, 2010 at 1:39 AM
Avatar
BOBKLUK
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Your wobble is caused by worn u-joints just inside the front wheels. You'll have to remove the entire from wheel from the hub nut in and I believe the axles to get at them. My sister-in-law's jeep had the same problem and it also was the worst when she went over a railroad tracks. It would start vibrating uncontrollably. Her u-joints were about ready to fall apart. Some of the needle bearings were almost dry. I changed hers in my garage and it took me about 6 hours to do both front wheels. If you want to check them before repairing put the front end on jacks and grab both sides and top and bottoms of each wheel and check for play. Most likely you will find a lot of play in both wheels (they should be tight) and most likely coming from the worn u-joints. Good luck!
Mar 12, 2010 at 7:35 AM
Add a reply
Join 2CarPros for free, one of the most advanced car repair communities on the internet. From first-time drivers to seasoned mechanics, everyone is welcome to reply, share details, and get better answers. You can add a temporary image or video first; uploads are limited to 20 MB.

Frequently Asked Problems for This Vehicle