[bgndobe]

When I put my 1.5" spacers (Rough Country) on my stock wheels, the steering wheel shakes back and forth (about 1") when I get to 55mph.
Wheels are Ravines with 30 x 9.5 stock tires.
I've since took them off and it's gone.
(I was just seeing how much the tire was pushed out with them, then liked how it looked, so was going to keep them on).

I've already talked to a couple members here about it, but thought I'd make a thread to see if anyone else has had this happen.

[Unlimited04]

the shakes happened to me a little bit more with wheel spacers (when I ran them). it then got much worse when I removed the spacers and went to steel wheels with less backspacing.

Things to check:
- tires properly balanced
- tire has been correctly installed accounting for wheel/tire runout
- track bar is properly tightened and the holes aren't wollowed out
- factory POS steering stabilizer has been replaced with a larger aftermarket unit (there is a TSB on this)
- bad wheel bearings
- bad steering bushings

I had 3 of the above problems causing my steering harmonics at 45-50mph. If its shaking so bad that you can't control the vehicle, then you've got death wobble.

[TheBoogieman]

Hey,I know you.

[bgndobe]

Yeah Brian......you need not reply on this one. lol

[TheBoogieman]

Originally Posted by bgndobe

Yeah Brian......you need not reply on this one. lol

[bgndobe]

Thanks Unlinited04.
Since it doesn't happen with the spacers off.........I don't know if I actually have a "problem" that needs fixing.
I've checked for loose/worn parts already....all was good.
The wheels have not been RE-balanced, but it doesn't do it now (spacers off), so I don't get it.
I spoke to the guy at Rough Country.....and he said make sure they're on tight. DUH !!
Any other thoughts anyone ?

[TheBoogieman]

Originally Posted by bgndobe

Any other thoughts anyone ?

Buy some cheap black steelies for the price of Spidertrax.Sell your spacers to me.

[klimb2xs]

Did you remove the rotor retainer clips from the lugs? If they are still on they won't allow the spacer to sit flat on the hub and will cause the wheel to wobble.

[Unlimited04]

Originally Posted by klimb2xs

Did you remove the rotor retainer clips from the lugs? If they are still on they won't allow the spacer to sit flat on the hub and will cause the wheel to wobble.

good point. make sure you've removed the factory installed rotor retainer clips.

if these have indeed been removed, then the only thing I can think of is the shakes somehow result from the drastic change in scrub radius.

[TheBoogieman]

Originally Posted by klimb2xs

Did you remove the rotor retainer clips from the lugs? If they are still on they won't allow the spacer to sit flat on the hub and will cause the wheel to wobble.

That tiny @$$ clip?

[fsSnowboard]

does that clip need to be removed when installing non factory wheels, or just hub spacers?

[Junky burp]

I think just the fact that the tires are further out from the balljoints is enough to cause the steering to act differently. At least that's what I interpret from that "end-all.....alignment thread" Have you read that?

[TheBoogieman]

Originally Posted by fsSnowboard

does that clip need to be removed when installing non factory wheels, or just hub spacers?

That clip is just for removing the rotors.It's a tiny clip on just one wheel stud.I thought they did away with those on newer Jeeps.

[BowtieNut]

I've had a similar situation too. Got my TJ a couple months ago, drove it for about a month, & wheeled it, never had any shakes. Put a 4" RC X-lift in it, put the same tires back on (32x11.5 BFG AT), drove it for a couple weeks, & wheeled it, never had any shakes. Got the new tires & wheels (in sig), drove it for a couple weeks, wheeled it, never had any shakes. Got the RC spacers, put those on, along with the original 32's which I saved for street use, and now it shakes at 45-50 mph. Mostly just does it if I'm going around a gradual curve. Last night I re-set the toe-in, and that seems to have helped, but I haven't driven it much yet. The toe-in was almost 1/2", now it's about 3/32". My rotor clips are gone, I've checked the spacer's tightness twice, and everything else in the suspension & steering seems good and tight. I'm hoping that toe-in issue fixed it, but if it does it again I'm gonna have the 32's re-balanced. They just came with the Jeep and I'm sure they haven't been balanced since they were new, even though some of the tread is missing chunks on the inside where it was rubbing the lower control arms (PO had 32x11.5's on stock wheels and stock suspension so it rubbed at full turn).

[TheBoogieman]

I think I steered you right in the PM's.Track bar/balance/alignment.