Front end shakes violently when braking..

yj40swapped · 10-21-2007, 04:31 PM

I removed my sway bar and track bar about 2-3 months ago. Has been driving fine until the other day. The problem is intermittent but seems to happen when im coming to a stop at a light. The front end shakes violently.. by that I mean the steering wheel is shaking back and forth about 1/4 turn. Like I said its intermittent, and has only happened 4 times now.. It starts at about 20 mph and wont stop shaking until I get to a complete stop. After that, it drives fine... wondering if anyone has ran into this.. Im getting ready to go shake down the front end... i figured id check here and see if anyone has ran into this before.

**Tom95YJ** · 10-21-2007, 05:00 PM

Mine did the same thing for a few days. I had a bad balljoint so I replaced them and balanced the tires I have not had an issue since

ggjeep · 10-21-2007, 05:37 PM

How's your steering dampener (shock)? That could be bad or weak and is now showing up.

NJeepyj91 · 10-21-2007, 06:08 PM

This is just a funny story. Names have been changed to protect the stupid.

In 96 I needed new tires. Had the original stock wheels and tires. Took it to a tire shop and bought goodyear something or other. Guy asked me if I wanted a chrome lug nut package. I said sure, why not?

About four months later I was driving down 95 and hit the brakes for one reason or another and the thing did the worst death wobble. I really thought I was gone for. Later inspection found the lug nuts to be flat clamping type and not conical as required. Over a few months the wheels had eliptical lug nut holes.

You don't deal with anyone this stupid, do you?

FranknJeep · 10-21-2007, 08:26 PM

Check the rotors. I know its not a Jeep but my 04 dually started the same thing. Pulled the front brakes off plenty of pad left. But since i had everything exposed i took the rotors in to make sure they were not warped. And they were. Had them turned and the shaking went away.

yj40swapped · 10-21-2007, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ggjeep

How's your steering dampener (shock)? That could be bad or weak and is now showing up.

exactly what I was thinking... shook the front end down and all is tight... steering dampener is on order.

giggityjeeper · 10-22-2007, 09:25 AM

your rotors are warped a bit, take them of and have them turned or replace tehm

**zeus87gn** · 10-22-2007, 09:52 AM

If the problem is intermittent, I would recommend checking the tires for roundness. Probably have to put them on a machine to spin them unless you can lift your entire Jeep and engage 4WD.

A busted cord in the tread or sidewall will react like you have described. Environmental conditions will change the way it reacts as well.

Just another viewpoint...

**UltimatE** · 10-22-2007, 10:01 AM

If your front end is shacking so bad that your wheel moving as far as 1/4 turn, your steering damper isn't to blame.

giggityjeeper · 10-22-2007, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeus87gn

If the problem is intermittent, I would recommend checking the tires for roundness. Probably have to put them on a machine to spin them unless you can lift your entire Jeep and engage 4WD.

A busted cord in the tread or sidewall will react like you have described. Environmental conditions will change the way it reacts as well.

Just another viewpoint...

If it were this..... it would be ALL THE TIME. broken belts and things dont shake intermmittently, is constant and gets worse the faster you go....I betting 100 bucks its a warped rotor, only a few things will cause a shake when braking, steering dampeners will cause it to pull not shake usually unless it is really bad.....check you rotors....

flame0086 · 10-22-2007, 12:09 PM

Could be a warped rotor. Or maybe one of your calibors is going bad. I mean if one engages, then disengages, then engages again, while the other is holding steady, then that could cause you sterring to change.

I would also check your wheel berrings and steering components.

91yjwrangler6 · 10-22-2007, 12:10 PM

the steering stabilizer wouldn't cause this problem. There's a lot of people that dont even run them.

giggityjeeper · 10-22-2007, 12:28 PM

a stuck caliper will make it pull hard to one side when braking and if it is stuck it will be a constant pull as well.....

**zeus87gn** · 10-22-2007, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giggityjeeper

If it were this..... it would be ALL THE TIME. broken belts and things dont shake intermmittently, is constant and gets worse the faster you go....I betting 100 bucks its a warped rotor, only a few things will cause a shake when braking, steering dampeners will cause it to pull not shake usually unless it is really bad.....check you rotors....

I agree. There are only a few things that cause shakes when braking.
BUT, the OP stated that this is an intermittent problem that happened all at once.

A warped rotor will make a wobble every time the pedal is pushed, not intermittently. Once the rotor is warped, it's warped. It doesn't go back to what it was. Environmental condidtions don't come into play. And a rotor usually won't warp up all of a sudden.

And no, you don't always feel a loping tire. I have one on the back of my Jeep right now. I only feel it on warm days when I am accelerating nad only then up to a certain speed. Temperature plays a large part on how well a tire rides.

Regardless, the problem is in the front, on a rotating part.
Only a few things it could be.
Check the tires and the rotors and the bearings.

paintballkustom · 01-15-2008, 06:39 PM

bearings and or boot ok thats all it is most likly bearings boot should be fine