jeepwm69 2,646 Posted December 21, 2020 Haven't ridden much lately, but had the in-laws in last weekend and we ran out on the farm to shoot a bit. Put my brother in law (city boy) on the Rubicon since it's an automatic. On the way back he said it was jerking to the side pretty badly. My kid complained of the same problem a while back, so I replaced the right CV axle and thought that had fixed it. Been on one ride with it back in early October and no problems that day. Didn't give any problems on the way out, and most of the way back to the house, but when he crossed a muddy water filled ditch back close to home it started jerking. I got on it thinking he was just being a sissy and found it was jerking BAD. Tended more towards the right but almost had a back and forth feel to it. When I put it in 4wd it wasn't as bad, and it would clear up for a few feet then start back again. When I got on it yesterday to pull it under the shed, smooth as silk. Maybe a bad bearing that is catching, or do yall think it could be something in the diff? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_Wilson_™ 2,744 Posted December 21, 2020 I'd go with a bearing catching, with it being not as bad in 4wd mode, the drive line pressure maybe making the bearing catch not as noticeable ?till the driveline pressure slacks up, plus being it does this in 2wd, and 4wd, would also make me think it's a wheel bearing catching. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeepwm69 2,646 Posted December 21, 2020 I have extra knuckles ready to bolt in (new ball joints and bearings) so guess it's time to try them out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_Wilson_™ 2,744 Posted December 21, 2020 before you go that route, how does the diff oil look ? and I'm not saying something you don't know, lol but raise the front end, and check a few things out ... or i gather your thinking wheel bearing also ? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeepwm69 2,646 Posted December 21, 2020 6 minutes ago, _Wilson_™ said: before you go that route, how does the diff oil look ? and I'm not saying something you don't know, lol but raise the front end, and check a few things out ... or i gather your thinking wheel bearing also ? Yeah, bearing seems to be the most logical thing to check next. Fluid was changed not too long ago, but I'll check it again. That something that's cheap and easy to do. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_Wilson_™ 2,744 Posted December 21, 2020 the thing that gets me is it happen when he crossed the creek, so just thinking muck getting in where it shouldn't may have aggravated that bearing. i take the creek was deep enough, to let the crud in ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fishfiles 6,228 Posted December 21, 2020 Going simple : Did you check the air in the tires and lug nuts being tight ---- also seen sometimes if you let them sit for a long time , the tire can get out of round , especially if the air was low --- usually after a couple rides they round out again 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fishfiles 6,228 Posted December 21, 2020 Another thing I have seen is water getting into tires and making them ride funny , would bet if that happened up there where it gets cold and freezes , that would be wild 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goober 718 Posted December 21, 2020 Brake pad with debris in it? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PROV 552 Posted December 23, 2020 When I saw this happen on my buddy's machine it was a cracked boot. As soon as he went through muddy water it did the same thing. Dirt got in the u-joint. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeepwm69 2,646 Posted December 28, 2020 Haven't look at it yet. It was a pretty deep, mucky ditch. Don't think it's tires because it does it for a bit, then smooths out. With the spare parts I have around I'll probably just swap a new knuckle on and see if that fixes it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PROV 552 Posted January 6 On 12/28/2020 at 11:55 AM, jeepwm69 said: Haven't look at it yet. It was a pretty deep, mucky ditch. Don't think it's tires because it does it for a bit, then smooths out. With the spare parts I have around I'll probably just swap a new knuckle on and see if that fixes it. Jeep, did you figure it out yet? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LedFTed 347 Posted January 7 (edited) brake's perhaps,?, seems more like a bearing, though. water is a corrosive, but can be a lubricant, an can be used to pressure/flush debree that might be in a wheel bearing. old seals an such. Edited January 7 by LedFTed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeepwm69 2,646 Posted January 7 16 hours ago, PROV said: Jeep, did you figure it out yet? Not yet. Haven't had any wrench time in the last week or so. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites