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We have a 97 with over 230 thousand miles on it. It was shaking violently once you passed 40mp I am a mechanic I replaced the Sway arm link kits haven't had the problem since.  

mendez.2:
We have a 97 with over 230 thousand miles on it. It was shaking violently once you passed 40mp I am a mechanic I replaced the Sway arm link kits haven't had the problem since.

does anybody read prior posts????

adjust steering box....  

change track bar

change steering damper...




the tires are shaking left and right...

the sway bar end links only effect up and down...  and they don't have anything to do with it...

the shocks might help... but usually not...

roll down the window....

start the engine.... step out and close the door...

reach through the window while you stand next to the jeep.... wiggle the steering wheel back and forth...    look forward while doing this...      is the body moving left and right over the tires.  IT should NOT BE.....    is the steering wheel moving more than half an inch at the top without turning the tires... it should not be..

i just fixed an earlier model....  the steering damper was decent.. not what i might call bad...    but i changed it anyway..

changed the track bar...    the track bar had a 3/16 of an inch on the drivers end..  side to side...

the bushing had about an 1/8 of an inch..    not worn out.. just slightly deformed..

fixed it.. along with tightening the steering box..

the owner was really impressed... ...

and yes.. it could still be mud inside the rims..   tires out of balance...  tires improperly balanced.. tires coming apart...

open the window.. reach through.. wiggle the steering wheel...    do you see the body moving left and right over the front wheels.. if so.. thats where you have to start...

you can have somebody wiggle the steering wheel for you ... while you lay under the front and examine the linkages...  see what's moving...  

hELLO TO ALL YOU jEEP OWNERS;
IM a certified gold technician for Daimler Chrysler iv work for them since 1985 when the K car was introduced,and stopped working for them in 2004 ,now im a shop owner operator,. Iv seen this problem many times on 4x4,s period from american and foreign. Now this is going to really get you stumped. its caused by two things , (1) the front ball joints are more then likely worne but not noticeable when being checked by a technician while its jacked up on a jack.Cause when the Vehicle is driving it moves to just the rite spot of the piviot ball pocket built in the joint and actually has play at just that spot, Which is  not noticeable while being checked.And Trust me i falt the problem to.So furhter more it starts to shake so siverly (BAD) that you hit the brakes and it still does not stop till you get down to 5 mile per hour some times. SO IT FILLS LIKE YOUR DRIBBLING A BASKET BALL,and it continues cause the shock absorber is weak on one of its travel directions either up or down movement so try this first and if it does not stop then proceed to the next part. (1) cheapest place to start, Get New Shocks then Road test to Verifie,if Proceeds replace Ball Joints and by this time it should be fixed. I Do Want To Point Out One Thing, On one vehicle i actually replaced the gear box (Stearing Gear Box ) and it fixed it only cause the worm gear was bad internally and it was a !979 Ford F150 4x4 not a Jeep, But i to had the problem on my 94 yj wrangler and the shocks alone fixed mine.
Rob
Good Luck on your repairs
Keep me informed i will help all i can.  

To All Persons with vilant shaking in stearing wheel and front tire bounce  

Here's what I got. I was having the same trouble every time i hit a sudden rough bump it would shake to the point where my tires would squeel they turned so much. I understand you posted this a long time ago, but as I was reading through this I saw a lot about the track bar and so I investigated, it turns out the mount on the axle was torn apart. I had to weld it and everything. I literaly got done with it about 5 mintues ago. If you get the death wobble side to side check the mount, it might be cracked. A steering stabalizer would just mask it, not fix and bring it to the point where i was, only turns away from breaking the mount off completely. the factory welds are a joke. So if you are a wheeler, be sure to check that and throw a decent weld and even some angle iron as a sopprt on there.  

this is exactly what is happening to my 88 cherokee especially in the 45-55 mph range!  I just purchased it and when I looked at the tires I noticed that they are all different brands (no two tires are the same).  So I will try that.  It's really scarey especially when you're on the highway!  

I'm very surprised to see the year of the vehicles mentioned.  I have a 2007 Jeep Wrangler and experience the same violent shake.
I have been complaining the the Jeep dealer since August of 2009.  Still no fix and it is getting worse!  I've had multiple quick fixes, shimmy shock, ujoint, alignment, wheel balanced.  Nothing works and no dealer has no clue.  Today I experience the worst yet, I thought my front end would fly off my car.
Same issues, 50-55 MPH and as soon as I hit a slight bump in the road it will set it off.
Anyone who can shed some light will be my savior!!

Thank you!  

easy...   start engine... set parking brake...  roll down drivers window....  get out...  stand beside jeep...

reach through window..

rock steering wheel back and forth... about a quarter turn...

does the body move left and right over the wheels...

if so.. you have a bad TRACK bar.

the shops are fixing everything but the problem...  this makes them a LOT of money...

track bars are about 90 bucks....

keep the front axle centered under the jeep... counteract the steering input...  this is what is making the wheels vibrate back and forth...

you can have somebody lay down under the car and examine the track bar ENDS for free play/movement when the steering wheel is rocked..  

Take the drive shaft out and drive the jeep.  If the truck wobbles then it is the front end suspension.  If the truck doesn't wobble when the drive shaft is out, then the drive shaft may need replacing.  If this fail check the stabilizer bar or bushings could be worn out.  

Take the drive shaft out and drive the jeep.  If the truck wobbles then it is the front end suspension.  If the truck doesn't wobble when the drive shaft is out, then the drive shaft may need replacing.  If this fail check the stabilizer bar or bushings could be worn out.  

Take the drive shaft out and drive the jeep.  If the truck wobbles then it is the front end suspension.  If the truck doesn't wobble when the drive shaft is out, then the drive shaft may need replacing.  If this fail check the stabilizer bar or bushings could be worn out.  

Read more: http://forums.automotive.com/70/12310/jeep/helpmy-jeeps-started-shaking-violently/page3.html#ixzz1dJoUcxli