Front end issues/Shock Failure?

[Jukelemon]

Hi all, I am having some odd issues with the 100. Prior to lift, I was pretty sure i had a worn out shock on the front DS due to the fact that I was getting a wheel shimmy when I would go over bumps and I could hear a significant clanging i.e. metal absorbing road energy and not having any dampening.

Well, the new shocks cured that-the DS OE shock was so shot that gravity would actually compress the shock i.e. there was 0 gas charge. Well, I am back to having the same issue except now it is worse. I have yet to take off the wheels, inspect etc.. but I was wondering if any of you have experienced this. I did do a visual check to see if maybe a shock mount bolt was lose or?? but nothing was identified. I will add this: last week I noticed the symptoms coming on. I went on a trip (150 miles) with rear packed and three other guys. When I unloaded/they left I was left with the front end issue. It is so bad that I am not even driving it-I am on my bike.

Have any of you experienced a shock failure with OME this soon i.e. under 15k miles?

 

[ff347]

I went on a trip (150 miles) with rear packed and three other guys

 

[ff347]

well i had a funny thought w/that but now the moment is lost! anyway, i had a front shock that was actually not the right shock but it was in the right box, packaging error! probably won't help but it does happen!

 

[LonghornCruiser]

Sounds like might be some worn out bushings. Check suspension components like control arms and sway bar for excessive play.

Also, I am assuming that you rebalanced the tires after the shock replacement.

 

[hkeller]

I had this exact same problem on my wife's Grand Cherokee. We replaced all shocks, many bushings, the steering damper and the problem would not go away. Finally, when we went to replace the tires, each one had about five cups of water in it. We dried out the tires, put them back on and the problem was solved. We don't know where the water came from. Maybe we put air in from a compressor tank that was full of water. Maybe a previous owner used fix-a-flat in each tire for some reason. However, the tire shop said it was not that rare of a problem. Might be worth a quick check.

 

[calamaridog]

Sounds like might be some worn out bushings. Check suspension components like control arms and sway bar for excessive play.

Also, I am assuming that you rebalanced the tires after the shock replacement.

I say this is a good start. Pull the wheel and check everything closely. Any excessive play, obviously worn components?

Did you say you were lifted with stock shocks? Have you been wheeling it that way?

 

[Jukelemon]

To all:

1- Not gay but that was funny
2- EVERYTHING was fine after the lift. My issue is not a tire issue i.e. I am getting a shimmy after suspension travel i.e. pointing toward a shock or bushing failure
3- I am lifted with OME everything all the way around. There were 0 issues after the lift and up until now i.e. 15k miles later.

 

[e9999]

DS, uh?
how much do you weigh?

 

[dclee]

Ball joint? Maybe the new shock temporarily masked it for a short time. I'd at least check it as a popped ball joint on the highway could be BAAADDD news...

 

[Jukelemon]

DS, uh?
how much do you weigh?

200lbs. fawker ( :

 

[Jukelemon]

Ball joint? Maybe the new shock temporarily masked it for a short time. I'd at least check it as a popped ball joint on the highway could be BAAADDD news...

Yeah, maybe. You guys recommend a rubber mallet technique for finding rattles/clanging? I can kick the DS tire and hear a rattle kind of like the brake caliper is resting on the rotor without any pads. It is very strange. Now I will say this and I mentioned this to Slee when I bought his lift, the front OME shocks that came to me were different in two respects: 1-different diameter upper mount studs and 2- different length upper mount studs. I thought it was bizarre but Slee said sometimes it happens. I going to to think less bizarre if I pull that odd shock and it is shot ( : Then the picture would come together quite well i.e. wrong shock in the right box.

Juke

 

[ff347]

in my situation it was on the rear (of my truck that is!) after a weekend of hauling fire wood the back end shook like it was going to fall off on the interstate. it also made all kinds of racket on speed bumps. pulled the shock and it was shot at 3,000 miles of course it was a shock for some other vehicle and i guess the weight and some trail riding had killed it.

 

[Jukelemon]

Issue solved and new one on me.

The PS, bottom shock mount had NO BOLT as in gone. Not sure when it happened but I do not think it snapped. Another reason for lock nuts!

 

[tabraha]

Well that would certainly be a valid cause!

 

[e9999]

hmmm... wonder why that nut fell off...
how much do you weigh again (tell the truth now...) ?

 

[Jukelemon]

You're too kind E ( :

I cannot believe I looked down and saw that there was no bolt!

 

[e9999]

You're too kind E ( :

I cannot believe I looked down and saw that there was no bolt!

glad you figured out the problem! Hope all is well now!