Help with steering wobble issue

[mattsvede]

I am hoping someone else has had this issue….
I recently bought a 2001 Jeep Wrangler. The person I got it from did not disclose all the issues so I’m doing the best I can to fix it. I was driving it everyday till today, it has a wobble and always had it. It started at 60 mph, then 55 mph, and today it dropped to 50 mph this happened over several days if not a couple of weeks. I’m thinking whatever the issue is, is getting worse. I have now parked it and it will sit till I figure out the issue and have the money to fix it. I am new to jeeps. Here is what I know so far:
-It does have wheel spacers on it.
- Rims are not factory and neither are the hubs.
- Tires are larger than stock but not aggressive.
-alignment has been done and is good.
-wheels have been balanced. Both of these were done recently

I have been told that it is the spacers that are causing the issue and I have been told to remove them and go back stock. I think that would mean I am looking at new hubs, new rims and new tires. I really don’t want to go that route if I don’t have to I like the look of the jeep and that seems like it would be an expensive fix.

Does anyone have any ideas? Or maybe has had the same issue?

I welcome any help possible I am at a loss.

 

[tr21triton]

if they're just spacers you should be able to just remove them, jack it up and remove one to be sure . what size tires do you have that would give us more info to be able to help you. if their adapters for a different lug pattern you will need new wheels.

 

[Danarch]

Agee ^^. if the tires aren’t too wide just remove the spacers and see what happens. Even though recently balanced you could move the front tires to the rear and of course rear to front and see if anything changes. Have you looked at your track bar oir control arms? Bushing could be bad or a loose bolt.

 

[LONGJP2]

Dry steering test.

 

[mattsvede]

if they're just spacers you should be able to just remove them, jack it up and remove one to be sure . what size tires do you have that would give us more info to be able to help you. if their adapters for a different lug pattern you will need new wheels.

 

[mattsvede]

They are a different lug pattern. Tires are not too wide they are just larger then stock tires.

 

[mattsvede]

Dry steering test.

What is a dry steering test? I’m new to jeeps.

 

[mattsvede]

if they're just spacers you should be able to just remove them, jack it up and remove one to be sure . what size tires do you have that would give us more info to be able to help you. if their adapters for a different lug pattern you will need new wheels.

When I get home I can post the tire size. I know the are larger then stock tires. But they are not wide.

 

[tr21triton]

They are a different lug pattern. Tires are not too wide they are just larger then stock tires.

well that makes removing them a bigger deal !

 

[LONGJP2]

What is a dry steering test? I’m new to jeeps.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/how-to-test-your-power-steering.65220/#post-1190121

OR
I'm sure if you Google it, you'll get some YT videos.

 

[LONGJP2]

They are a different lug pattern.

Do you know what pattern the wheels are?
Do you know what pattern the hubs are?

 

[Offline246]

Dry steering test.

this ^

 

[AndyG]

This is absolutely nothing uncommon- It really is not hard to get one of these to drive right- The problem is it’s just so easy to mess them up.

You have to have good tires that are perfectly balanced along with good connections and proper alignment and suspension geometry for these to drive like they should-

Of the half a dozen of these that I’ve had everyone of them has been a process of figuring out what they did and what they neglected to do to sort it out.

 

[macleanflood]

Let's see pictures of your tires and steering setup...just under the front bumper and a side shot of your tires.

Thanks!
Mac