Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: dubbleJs on March 22, 2007, 11:20:27 PM

Title: bad wobble in front end while turning
Post by: dubbleJs on March 22, 2007, 11:20:27 PM

Hey guys, '91 XJ 3" lift, just put in a procomp trackbar drop bracket and got an alignment.
The problem didnt seem to really be there right after the alignment but now a couple week after its really bad. Turning left or right feels like the is alot of play in the wheels and you can see the steering wheel jolting/wobbling back and forth. Its getting very noticable and annoying...

Now I know I have a bad/loose pass side wheel bearing, could this be causing this while turning both ways? I was thinking it might be the drop bracket or something involving the tie rod or track bar...
Also a tech told me I can supposedly tighten the 32mm(?) nut on the hub and that my wheel bearing has just loosened...this true?

thanks.

Title: bad wobble in front end while turning
Post by: GiS on March 23, 2007, 09:53:36 AM

You can try and tighten the axle nut, but not past torq spec...I would suspect a lose front trackbar.

Title: bad wobble in front end while turning
Post by: cotaman on March 23, 2007, 10:45:17 AM

jack up the front end and grab each tire on the top and bottom and try to move the tire up and down..... if it moves, the bearing are done.. time to replace... get the ones from autovalue... lifetime warranty

Title: bad wobble in front end while turning
Post by: dubbleJs on March 23, 2007, 12:25:32 PM

Yea i did the 6&12 test on the wheel and like I said the pass side one is loose and the drivers has a tiny bit of movement...probably my problem..

Loose front trackbar? How can I fix that?

Title: bad wobble in front end while turning
Post by: BlackYJ on March 23, 2007, 01:00:54 PM

Quote from: "dubbleJ's"

Loose front trackbar? How can I fix that?

By tightening the bolts  :D  :D

Also check your ball joints.  Does the jeep want to straighten out by itself after the corner?  I am thinking the caster might be off.

And the axle hub nut is 36 mm and can't really loosen because there is a cotter pin holding it or at least there should be

Title: bad wobble in front end while turning
Post by: cotaman on March 23, 2007, 01:05:16 PM

you can check for a loose trackbar setup by having a buddy turn the steering wheel back and forth while underneath watching / feeeling the trackbar / brackets for movement.

did you install a drop bracket on the front axle for the trackbar?
those bolts are prone to loosing without being locktighted, some people even weld that bracket to the axle to prevent it from moving.

just some more things for you to ponder 8)

Title: bad wobble in front end while turning
Post by: dubbleJs on March 23, 2007, 04:32:54 PM

lol ya ill make sure those bolts havent loosened off. Doesnt reeeally seem to want to straighten out, just jolts like crazy while turning. and yea the pin is in the axle nut.

Yea I did the bracket on the front axle, Ill try watchin it while moving this weekend see if I notice anythin out of the ordinary.

Title: bad wobble in front end while turning
Post by: dubbleJs on March 25, 2007, 02:52:02 PM

Well the trackbar didnt seem to move at all while movin the steering back and forth. My tie rods seem to have a fair bit of movement in them though, how much should they have?

Title: bad wobble in front end while turning
Post by: wrenchead99 on March 25, 2007, 06:50:15 PM

check for a possible axle u-joint starting to seize up.  crank the wheels all the way to one side, jack up the front end with the t-case in 2wd, and try to rotate the wheels by hand.  the side with the seized joint will actually try to straighten itself as the tire rotates.