Vibration After New Bumper?

[Waffen6]

I feel like this is a dumb question and I should know the answer but I installed the Arcus bumper and 9500lb synthetic winch to my rubicon over the weekend. Went to drive it the first tine today and there is a slight vibration above 45 mph. If I hadnt changed anything in my experience it feels like an out of balance tire. Only has 2500 miles on it with the factory tires but the vibration was definitely not there before. Could the little bit of added weight thrown off the alignment enough to cause a problem? Pretty sure nothing with an alignment would cause a vibration. Thanks

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[ShadowsPapa]

I feel like this is a dumb question and I should know the answer but I installed the Arcus bumper and 9500lb synthetic winch to my rubicon over the weekend. Went to drive it the first tine today and there is a slight vibration above 45 mph. If I hadnt changed anything in my experience it feels like an out of balance tire. Only has 2500 miles on it with the factory tires but the vibration was definitely not there before. Could the little bit of added weight thrown off the alignment enough to cause a problem? Pretty sure nothing with an alignment would cause a vibration. Thanks

No.
Especially not on a solid axle suspension, but not even on a car.
And even if it could, that won't cause a vibration like that.
Nothing to adjust but toe-in and steering wheel alignment.
I bet that the weight of that stuff didn't drop the front over 0.5" - and that won't change anything at all. It's not any worse than a 250 pound driver getting in it.

 

[Lunentucker]

Stock height? Stock suspension? Stock steering?

The added weight could have simply pushed something that was on one side of the fine line to the other side.

I'd check all torques on suspension and steering components. If you've lifted then you may need to see if the caster is still in spec.
It could be drive line or it could be geometry or alignment.

The weight may have been the catalyst but it's not the reason.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Stock height? Stock suspension? Stock steering?

The added weight could have simply pushed something that was on one side of the fine line to the other side.

I'd check all torques on suspension and steering components. If you've lifted then you may need to see if the caster is still in spec.
It could be drive line or it could be geometry or alignment.

The weight may have been the catalyst but it's not the reason.

Unless he lifted it - sounds like not, though - stock tires.
Even then, a vibration isn't caused by alignment. Camber, caster, etc. won't vibrate.
He suggested it felt like an out of balance tire - so not a wobble.
There is no alignment bit that causes vibration. On a Rubicon I bet he didn't drop that thing even 1/2", likely less. That's not a heavy winch.
Heck, when I put the steel bumper and massive 12000 Apex winch on my Overland with Rubicon springs it only dropped 1/2".
He's talking so little weight........... I bet I have added double what he has, then add the snow plow to mine dropping it another 1.5", zero vibration.

In any case, there's no alignment setting that can cause a vibration that feels like an out of balance tire.
Likely it was there, but with the added weight, now the springs are compressed a touch more, transmitting the vibration to his butt in the seat. I bet he had a tire out of balance, the springs were absorbing it, now there's more weight on the springs........

There's a video out there showing how it works.

 

[Bobchadwickga]

Could there be a wind catch created by the new configuration?

 

[Waffen6]

It is completely stock minus the bumper and winch so far. The vibration is mostly felt in the steering wheel. It is slight but it is there, it is not like the death wobble. Guess Ill check the tread for rocks or something then might have to check the balance

 

[Hootbro]

I would not say it put anything out of alignment, but it may have put the front suspension control arm bushings under a tighter preload. They are suppose to be torqued when a vehicle is under it's expected ride height load. Putting a heavier bumper and winch may have disturbed that. Easily fixed by loosening and re-tightening the control arm attach bolts while it is on the ground in the current configuration.

Edit: I would do the front track bar also for the same reasons.

 

[darkhorse13]

Could there be a wind catch created by the new configuration?

I was thinking that or even something is "rubbing" together on the install... winch to bumper or bumper to frame? winch hook to fairlead? Maybe there's slight contact somewhere now that's coming off as a vibration? I know when I did the front bumper on my FJ that the AC line slightly kissed the bumper bracket and made a terrible metallic squeaking sound. Thought a uniball / heim joint was failing on the front UCA's... nope just an ever so slight touch of metals. That's all it took.

 

[Rockabillyroy]

you could try to take off the winch and drive it around. The bumper probably doesn't weight that much more than the stock.

if the vibration is still there, then it was just coincidental. If it disappears, then at least you have a starting point.

 

[Waffen6]

Sorry to keep updating, Im at work so cant do much. I did take it to lunch and it is all felt in the steering wheel, cant feel anything on the dash/shifter/door or anything. Do feel a litttle bit in the brake pedal. I can try taking the D ringa off tonight to make sure its not them but I had them tight with the rubber bushings on them.

 

[toddarama]

you might be best off putting the bumper and winch out of mind and just troubleshooting this as one would approach any other mysteriously arising front end vibration. I am guessing you might have had some other problem brewing and this is all a bad coincidence - exacerbated by some hyper awareness since you added the bumper and winch.

 

[Waffen6]

you might be best off putting the bumper and winch out of mind and just troubleshooting this as one would approach any other mysteriously arising front end vibration. I am guessing you might have had some other problem brewing and this is all a bad coincidence - exacerbated by some hyper awareness since you added the bumper and winch.

Probably start with checking the tire balance?

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