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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/front end shimmy during breaking

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Expert: - 5/15/2004


Question
1999 Jeep Cherokee V6; Front end shimmees during breaking. All other steering and front end alignment appear to be "true." Everything is working except when braking at a high speed and the front end shimmees so bad that it feels like the wheel and the steering column are going to fall off. We have owned the car for a year and only after taking it to the dealer after the car bumped a curve in the snow did the problem occur. However, we spent $300. and they redid the alignment and then this problem appeared within a few weeks. Thanks  

Answer
Rex,

It sounds like something in the alignment came loose.  I would contact the shop that did the alignment, as they should guarantee their work.  Other items that can cause this problem, are: Bad, or warped brake rotors, bad brake pads, steering stabilizer, loose steering components, and bad shock absorbers, to name a few.  Check your wheels, and lug nuts to make sure they are tight, and there is no wobble when you try to move the tire from side to side.

  Carl  

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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