[robdog]

I started getting a vibration and hum between 45 and 55 mph in the front somewhere I raised it and tried to move wheels but everything is tight. any idea what this might be? its a 1996 cherokee 6 cyl manual trans 4x4 with 139k on it.
Thanks,
Rob

[tjwalker]

Rob, the first quick and dirty thing would be to try swapping the front wheels and tires to the REAR. This is always a smart thing to try with symptoms such as yours.

If the swap results in eliminating (or changing the signature) of the vibration, then the problem is in one of the tires/wheels that you swapped to the back. The front end is touchier for tire/wheel vibrations, that's why the swap is a valuable thing to try. A computer balancing is never a bad idea either but I'd try a tire/wheel swap first; that is something you can do in your driveway.

If after swapping and balancing, you still have the vibration, the best strategy is to get your XJ on a hoist and have a very comprehensive inspection of all front end and steering components, looking for parts that are worn out or have some play. The list of suspects gets pretty long at this point but try the wheel swap first and post back what you find. Good Luck!