Front Hub. Help

[TJ54]

97 TJ
Since wheeling on sunday I have been noticing a vibration. Not a huge major vibration but a very definate one.
I have checked all the driveshaft U-joints, they seem ok. The vibration is there with the clutch in and clutch out. reving the engine in neutral makes no change. If I jack up and check the drivers side front and grab the wheel by the top and bottom, then from the front and back I feel no movement, it is solid. However if I jack up the passenger front wheel It seems like there is a little movement both ways front to back and top to bottom. Not much 1/8'' maybe.
When I'm driving the vibration seems a liitle worse as I slow down.

As I write this I am becoming more sure it is a hub/bearing assembly.

Can some one confirm my thoughts before I spend $300 on a hub.

Or maybe I missing something.
Thanks in advance

Ian

[gsxtacy]

ball joints?

[Milan]

97 TJ
Since wheeling on sunday I have been noticing a vibration. Not a huge major vibration but a very definate one.
I have checked all the driveshaft U-joints, they seem ok. The vibration is there with the clutch in and clutch out. reving the engine in neutral makes no change. If I jack up and check the drivers side front and grab the wheel by the top and bottom, then from the front and back I feel no movement, it is solid. However if I jack up the passenger front wheel It seems like there is a little movement both ways front to back and top to bottom. Not much 1/8'' maybe.
When I'm driving the vibration seems a liitle worse as I slow down.

As I write this I am becoming more sure it is a hub/bearing assembly.

Can some one confirm my thoughts before I spend $300 on a hub.

Or maybe I missing something.
Thanks in advance

Ian

Sounds like the unit bearing. If there's play, you should replace it anyway, even if it may not be the source of your vibes. I'd get 2 and keep the one good one as a spare.

[Spinalguy]

$300? Who do you buy them from :shock:
Make sure you have no FROZEN mud on your rim which would unbalance your rim creating the same symptoms. In winter, the frozen stuff can be very common.
Tom

[TJ54]

$300 was just a number that came off the top of my head, I believe last time it was less than that. $230?. Last time was shortly after I purchased the TJ, there was now doubt at that time, I'm lucky the wheels didn't fall off.
I have left the jeep in a heated shop for several hours to melt everything off.
Milan, you're right, I should change it, if there is play, it's only going to get worse. Or maybe it's time for manual hubs. It's only money. right?

gsxtacy, thanks for your input. I believe there are ball joints in the front end of a TJ, but they are different than they would be in a two wheel drive unit. according to my haynes manual there are "Lower-yoke to steering knuckle ball joints" that is something I will look at though, The symtoms of those being worn would be different.  I think.....I'll have to think about that for a while.

Ian

[ramtuff]

new hub bearings for TJ's $140.00 plus shipping.

but I would check for dirt packed in the wheels first.

[TJ54]

Changed the hub. It wasn't the problem. But it was starting to wear so it needed doing any way.
Checked all four wheels for ice and mud.

I'll keep investigating tomorrow evening.

[HIWYH8R]

Does it vibrate at all speeds or come an go at different speeds? I would really look at your tires for maybe a separation or the tire spinning on the rim but not breaking the bead. Have your tires rebalanced.

Kel

[gsxtacy]

wait...
if you are revving it in neutral...and it gets worse as you slow down...how about in reverse?

this happened on my truck once...maybe imbalanced outputs on the flywheel, clutch or any other output shafts on the tranny/xcase...

did any propeller shafts take a hit? maybe one of those is knocked off balance.

ball joints wouldn't do that for sure.

but when you notice the passenger side wheel movement, that says to me a stearing knuckle, or the pit it sets in is buggered.  maybe tear those apart?

input...

[Fly Guy]

maybe pull the front driveshaft off and go for a spin, see if it still vibrates... it might be out of balance or the slip yoke might be worn, or it could be something else

[TJ54]

I too am beginning to wonder about the driveshaft, I just had it rebuilt, less than a month ago, but that could be the problem and it is an easy one to check. That will be the first thing I check tonight.
Went through the front end pretty good last night, I don't think the problems there.
The vibration seems to be easier to notice at low speeds, under 70. On the highway I don't seem to notice it so much.

Thanks everyone for your help

Ian

[Bnine]

97 TJ
I have checked all the driveshaft U-joints, they seem ok. The vibration is there with the clutch in and clutch out. reving the engine in neutral makes no change.

Ian

This tells you its most likely wheel area related. If a ujoint still shuddered under no load, then you would feel how bad it was just turning it by hand, 9 times out of ten.

Check tie rods and steering for play or bends. Tires for busted belts, lost weights, bent rim lip and crud in them like others said.

I agree, as long as you didnt hit anything hard, its probably just ice and crud in a wheel.

If the ujoints are tight by hand, I'd look elsewhere first.

HTH

[FeatherFoot]

I think the police forgot to take that big yellow thingy off when you reclaimed your Jeep on Sun afternoon.

Those things are hell on handling and a bugger to balance if you've just got one!

[BlackYJ]

Also check ball joints, if you haven't already