steering wheel and front end or wheels?

[Eddie25]

First I would like to ask...if a vehicle is at a slope on the street, let's say I'm turning the steering wheel in the direction of the of the slope going downwards and the wheels are rolling, is it normal for the steering wheel.to follow without me helping it move? Because when turning on a downward slope, after I turn it to a certain point it moves all the way to the end depending which direction I'm turning without much assistance from me. Practicaly I can take my hand of the steering wheel with tires rolling and the wheel will follow.

Now, I've noticed 2 times in the last month, when this happens the steering wheel vibrates and the front end it could even be the tires, because it feels like the front tires. I've gone outside the car to check the pavement because maybe it could have been unsmooth pavement but that wasn't the case. it won't do it any other time just the two times with the steering wheel to the far position of I believe is the right side, because today I was turning right. Could this be rack and pinion? Or what could it be?by the way I have a V8 4.7 2005 GC Cherokee.

 

[Kuato]

Many vehicles, if the steering wheel is turned nearly all the way to one side, will try to track further in that direction. Is your GC all wheel drive? That might contribute somewhat to the situation also, and might cause a vibration. But is the vibration from the tires going across the pavement, or internally?

 

[Eddie]

I believe it has to do with the caster angle. If the front wheels are pointed down the slope, then you have increased the apparent caster angle. This can cause the wheels to vibrate, much like the wheels on a grocery cart with excessive caster. Ed

 

[Kuato]

Keep in mind also that the wheel on the inside of the turn, turns further than the one on the outside.

 

[Eddie25]

Thanx for the input guys!! It's 4 wheel drive, I think I found the culprit, stabilizer and sway bar links are the culprit. I definitely feeling it on steering wheel and tires. Doing some research online these suspension components cause similar things as mention and my suspension is not that great I feel rough spots on the road and bumps, forget about it.lol...does this make sense?

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: Kuato
Keep in mind also that the wheel on the inside of the turn, turns further than the one on the outside.



Well now don't I sound like an idiot.....OUTside of the turn travels further.


In Jeeps, front end parts can cause a lot of issues. Be interested to see if this takes care of your issue.

 

[doitmyself]

Originally Posted By: Kuato
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Keep in mind also that the wheel on the inside of the turn, turns further than the one on the outside.


Well now don't I sound like an idiot.....OUTside of the turn travels further.


Us older guys have enough trouble keeping things straight without you throwing us a curve! I bet a bunch of us actually gave your original statement a bit of thought.

I was "looking" at Jeep Patriots, but am concerned about all the front end component problems talked about on the net.

Take care.

 

[mechanicx]

Originally Posted By: Kuato
Originally Posted By: Kuato
Keep in mind also that the wheel on the inside of the turn, turns further than the one on the outside.



Well now don't I sound like an idiot.....OUTside of the turn travels further.





I think you had it right the first time unless you were talking about distance the wheel has to rotate lol. The inside wheel has to turn at a higher angle because it is following a tighter radius than the outside wheel. That's part of the built in Ackerman effect on the steering linkage.

 

[Kuato]

Yup....INner wheel turns more sharply, OUTer wheel travels further.

I'm too far removed from my geometry classes to put in the formula.