Our '08 Rubicon (D44 front) started to have a bit of a growl or rumble coming from the front end a couple weeks back which gradually got louder. My wife and I both agreed it sounded like it was coming from the driver's side. I figured it was a hub assembly, a very common issue on Jeeps, just like it had been on several other XJ/ZJ/TJ's we've owned in the past. I went ahead and ordered up a new hub assembly and waited for a free evening to swap it out.
So today, my wife gets on I-15 and hits a small pothole, which suddenly sends the Jeep into an unrecoverable death wobble. She hits the brakes, pulls over and calls me. I have her take slower side streets to her destination. She calls back in a bit and says the steering is starting to feel a bit vague, with more play than she's used to. I figure the hub assembly is nearing catastrophic failure and getting a lot of play in the bearings. So, I have her ditch the Jeep and we tow it home on a dolly. I pull the front end apart, and much to my surprise, the bearings feel smooth as butter. Now, I'm thinking it must have just been the passenger side, so I pull it all apart and find the exact same thing. Both bearings feel great.
Now on every other Mopar hub assembly I've ever replaced due to wear, the bearings have just felt a little rough when you roll the hub in your hand. I hate to throw in a new $130 part that I don't need.
Any other items to look at? The U-joints all seem ok (both axles, front driveshaft joint, rear driveshaft joint is CV). Brakes and rotors look perfect and near new. Ball joints are brand new MOOG, tie rod ends are all great.
I know a lot of stuff can contribute to death wobble, so that's more of a side question. My real question here is what else could have caused the rumble/grinding/growling noise from the front end while driving?
Thanks in advance - Jared
So today, my wife gets on I-15 and hits a small pothole, which suddenly sends the Jeep into an unrecoverable death wobble. She hits the brakes, pulls over and calls me. I have her take slower side streets to her destination. She calls back in a bit and says the steering is starting to feel a bit vague, with more play than she's used to. I figure the hub assembly is nearing catastrophic failure and getting a lot of play in the bearings. So, I have her ditch the Jeep and we tow it home on a dolly. I pull the front end apart, and much to my surprise, the bearings feel smooth as butter. Now, I'm thinking it must have just been the passenger side, so I pull it all apart and find the exact same thing. Both bearings feel great.
Now on every other Mopar hub assembly I've ever replaced due to wear, the bearings have just felt a little rough when you roll the hub in your hand. I hate to throw in a new $130 part that I don't need.
Any other items to look at? The U-joints all seem ok (both axles, front driveshaft joint, rear driveshaft joint is CV). Brakes and rotors look perfect and near new. Ball joints are brand new MOOG, tie rod ends are all great.
I know a lot of stuff can contribute to death wobble, so that's more of a side question. My real question here is what else could have caused the rumble/grinding/growling noise from the front end while driving?
Thanks in advance - Jared
