"Jumpy" drive around 45mph+ after about 7,000 miles

[Awolnik]

Hey all,

8000 miles on my Jeep now (JT WILLYS), but the ride has suddenly become "jumpy" even on glass flat roads driving dead straight. Lift kit is in the garage, I'm still on stock suspension. I'll probably have to bring it in, but has anyone experienced something similar?

Sponsored

 

[j.o.y.ride]

tire pressure going up as the air has been warming?

 

[bakobobby]

Might wanna describe “jumpy” better you will get better feedback. That description makes me think of at least three different potential issues all different.

 

[chrismeece74]

Check to make sure tires are still balanced, you would be surprised how much it changes the ride when weights fall off.

 

[Awolnik]

Might wanna describe “jumpy” better you will get better feedback. That description makes me think of at least three different potential issues all different.

Got it. It's doesn't feel like it is swaying or pulling in one direction or the other, it's a kind of herky jerky feeling from the front axle. Almost as if I was hitting small and immediately alternating pot holes.

 

[Awolnik]

Check to make sure tires are still balanced, you would be surprised how much it changes the ride when weights fall off.

Thanks. Definitely worth a look.

 

[Awolnik]

tire pressure going up as the air has been warming?

My pressure is at about 40 on the stock 32 M/T on the Willy's. I've heard going down to 37ish may help ..

 

[j.o.y.ride]

My pressure is at about 40 on the stock 32 M/T on the Willy's. I've heard going down to 37ish may help ..

I run 28 on my 35s. In the cold mornings it may even say 25 but once moving it warms to 28-29.

 

[chrismeece74]

My pressure is at about 40 on the stock 32 M/T on the Willy's. I've heard going down to 37ish may help ..

Try going down to 36

 

[j.o.y.ride]

It may also be a tire out of balance. When one side gets wobbly, bc of the solid axle, you can feel it across them both.

 

[bakobobby]

Do a quick inspection of the front steering and axle components to see if anything is lose or out of line from normal. Tell me if I am wrong but tires don‘t just go instantly out of balance. I guess you could hit a curb really hard and bend a rim. I have had bolts come lose though and its immediately felt.

 

[Awolnik]

Do a quick inspection of the front steering and axle components to see if anything is lose or out of line from normal. Tell me if I am wrong but tires don‘t just go instantly out of balance. I guess you could hit a curb really hard and bend a rim. I have had bolts come lose though and its immediately felt.

Thanks for the reply. I'll get under the front end and take a peek and maybe torque up any bolts that may have loosened up. It's still driveable, but it's a noticable, and fairly sudden change over the past few days...

 

[Awolnik]

It may also be a tire out of balance. When one side gets wobbly, bc of the solid axle, you can feel it across them both.

Thanks for the reply. That certainly does make sense, just weird as those weights don't typically remove themselves, but it would be a fairly quick fix.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

My pressure is at about 40 on the stock 32 M/T on the Willy's. I've heard going down to 37ish may help ..

What does the tire inflation sticker on the door jamb say? It will tell you what you should normally be running and adjust from there. 40 seems high, IMO........

 

[ShadowsPapa]

First thing I thought of when you said "jerky" initially was a surge - like I've had when I was running a very very steady foot on the pedal at about 45 mph - like the engine was surging, as if it was an old truck with a carb running lean. It pulled, let up, pulled, let up, pulled, let up and did that for about half a mile and then settled down. It wasn't in the tires or the suspension or steering, it was a full-on surge. It's not done it since.

As far as weights - they can come off......... the inner weights are stick-on. I've seen weights that were too thick used when tire shops (even dealers) balance wheels - the thicker weights hit the caliper and eventually get pulled off.

As far as tire inflation, with the warmer weather, mine have hit 42 the last few days (I've not aired them back down after the dealership over-inflated last rotation) and it's a slightly rougher ride but certainly no vibration or wobble or anything noticeable, they just feel too firm. High pressure really shouldn't do anything other than ride harsh on a normal suspension with good steering. (oh, and it will wear tires and give you reduced traction, but it should still not ride weird)

Sponsored