4 Wheel Drive/SUVs: frontend, worn shocks, steering stabilizer
QuestionI HAVE A 2002 TJ WRANGLER W/A 3.5'' LIFT & 33'' GOODYEAR A/T.RIMS ARE 8'' DEEP,JEEP RAN BEATIFUL FOR A YEAR ,ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED TO WOBBLE THE TWO TIRES AND STEERING WHEEL AT ABOUT 30-40 MPH TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THEY INSTALLED EVERYTHING THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM THEY TIGHTEN THE FRONTEND,WHEEL ALIGNMENT,CK. TIRES BALANCE EVEN INSTALLED A OFFSET PITMAN ARM WHEN I HIT A BUMPY ROAD THE STEERING WHL STARTS TO MOVE BACK/FORTH AND THE WOBBLE STARTS THEY'RE STARTING TO BLAME THE LIFT KIT AND THAT SOMETIMES IT'S PERM
AnswerJerry,
I've had the same problem, more than once. Go to a different shop, preferrably one that specializes in 4-wheel drives. Talk to some local 4x4 clubs, and ask them who they would suggest. The normal causes of this problem, is: 1) Out of round, or unbalanced tires; 2) Bad or worn shocks; 3) Bad or no steering stabilizer; and 4) Worn steering components - Sounds like this has been checked. Remember, when you run the larger tires, many shops have a very hard time getting a good balance on them. Also, due to the weight of the tires, even a slightly worn shock or steering stabilizer can cause this problem. If they blame the lift kit, they are, probably not familiar with extreme 4-wheeling.
Carl