I recently read that a problem area in '97-'98 XJs is vehicle shaking at speeds greater than 60mph. This is due to either a "misaligned or defective driveshaft"(look at Consumer Guide, at the bottom of the page (trouble spots)). My cherokee vibrates between 60mph and roughly 67mph. Any slower or faster, it's a smooth as it's gonna get.

My question is, can I test for a misaligned or defective driveshaft? If so, any details surround what to look for would be greatly appreciated. If not, does anyone have ballpark price figures I can expect to have the problem analyzed? And lastly, what can I expect to pay to either realign the driveshaft or outright replace it?

Thanks in advance!
Dave

was your t-case or rear end removed for work recently? if not, your problem is not the driveshaft...they dont just go "out of align", the most commen reason for misalignment of the DS is someone put the slip yoke on one or two splines off in either direction...

i would actually bet it is a tire out of balance. maybe lost a weight?

I agree with Mattb, I tended towards looking at the expensive things when something didn't work right... ie starter instead of connections, etc. I've learnt to check the cheap stuff.

I'ev been through some of the cheaper stuff already (i.e. tires). I just had a new set put on that were fully balanced and am still experiencing the vibration. As far as I know, the driveshaft has not recently had maintenance...I've owned this Jeep for about a year now. The only component that's associated to the driveshaft that I know has been maintained recently is the differentials (which, by the way, are leaking oil from the seals).

Some information that might help is the fact that above 60mph I can hear (I feel silly doing this, but) wommm wommm wommm vibration that sounds like it's coming from beneath the center console towards the firewall. The harmonic noise stops when I take my foot off the gas pedal.

Any additional ideas?

i would remove the front drivshaft and try and find a bad u-joint.

Sunder,

You'll have to forgive me for my mechanical inexperience...The front driveshaft is engaged even when the transfer case isn't in 4WD?

it depends on what type of system it has. some cherokees have a non disconnect front end where the drivshaft is constantly tunring wether or not 4wd is engauged. does it do it under power or just 60-67 no matter what?


on a non disconnect front end when it is in 2wd it is still turning, but no power is going to it. on a disconnect system it will not turn when it is in 2wd.

The noise only happens under power. The vibration is less accentuated when not under power at speed, but not entirely gone.

Is there something I can do to identify what system I have?

an axle disconnect system will have the axle tubes straight into the knuckles. a disconnect system will have a housings on the passengers side before the tube gets into the nuckle.

if you have never checked your u-joints, you really should. front and rear

Sunder,

Thanks for the education! What should I check for when inspecting my U-joints?