Brand New Vibration 2015 JKU Altitude

C

crazy4trains

New Member
Joined
Mar 31, 2022
Messages
4
Location
Milton, WV
New forum member.

2015 Wrangler Unlimited, Altitude Edition with 64,000 miles
Second owner
I purchased in November of 2021 with 60,000 miles

Hopped in the Jeep yesterday to run a short errand. Once I hit about 40 mph started getting a vibration on smooth road. Wouldn't call it violent but it was significant. Vehicle was shaking all over, not just the steering wheel. Drove it the day before without any issues. First time I've noticed this.

I checked the transmission fluid. Fill level was on the low end at the bottom dot of the cold range. I decided to put in a pint of ATF+4. Drove it after that and the vibration is now gone. Could this have possible been transmission related or is this just coincidence.

With my leaking oil filter housing, leaking doors and now this I'm not currently a happy Jeep owner.

Any other thoughts on what this could be?

Thanks!!!
 
crazy4trains said:
New forum member.

2015 Wrangler Unlimited, Altitude Edition with 64,000 miles
Second owner
I purchased in November of 2021 with 60,000 miles

Hopped in the Jeep yesterday to run a short errand. Once I hit about 40 mph started getting a vibration on smooth road. Wouldn't call it violent but it was significant. Vehicle was shaking all over, not just the steering wheel. Drove it the day before without any issues. First time I've noticed this.

I checked the transmission fluid. Fill level was on the low end at the bottom dot of the cold range. I decided to put in a pint of ATF+4. Drove it after that and the vibration is now gone. Could this have possible been transmission related or is this just coincidence.

With my leaking oil filter housing, leaking doors and now this I'm not currently a happy Jeep owner.

Any other thoughts on what this could be?

Thanks!!!
Click to expand...

Have you checked your tire pressures and inspected the tires for a bad tire?

Maybe even swap the front and rear tires around and see if you still have the problem.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigAL07 and Anybodyhome
Rotate the tires and check your suspension points, look for bad bushings, worn joints, etc. Might want to check you motor mounts and transmission mount/cross member.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mrjp
When I initially saw a few drips of oil on the transmission I thought I had a transmission fluid leak. That's how I found out that my oil filter housing was leaking and not the transmission. That made me look at the ATF fluid level though and I noted that although it wasn't "low", it was at the lower end of the recommended level.

Interesting that this Jeep has been very smooth in my approximately 4+ months of ownership, had some fairly bad vibrations for one day for a very short drive, and the next day (today) they were gone. The only real change was the addition of the pint of ATF. Not sure this was the cause but i just don't know.

I don't see this being a tire problem or a suspension component. It was too sudden and too severe and the vehicle has been surprising smooth until this happened. Tire pressures are all good. Engine mounts and/or the transmission mount/crossmember are possible culprits. Will check my next opportunity.

Appreciate the thoughts. Keep them coming.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BLACKJKU
I don't see how the engine or trans could make it shake all over at a certain speed. It would more then likely have to be something in the front suspension.

A tire out of balance will sometimes be more of a speed related issue, maybe you lost a wheel weight.

A tie rod or balljoint wouldn't have been a all of a sudden thing like that either.

Did you drive down a road that you haven't driven on before or lately?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Danarch
Funny enough, about three weeks ago, I ran my JK till it was nice and hot then checked my trans fluid level and it was a bit low. But not below the recommended levels. So I added a quarter of a quart.

Above stated, is it normal for the fluid to be a little low @64k, 2013?

BTW, @crazy4trains Im not trying to highjack your thread. Sorry about injecting my inquiry. I was just curious about my fluid levels since both you and I have the same mileage. Though, I have not had any shifting issues.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: mrjp
crazy4trains said:
I'm fairly confident it's not tires. I've driven it since on the same route with no issues.

Possibility of a bad u-joint or suspension component makes more sense.

I'll follow up if it shows again or if I resolve.
Click to expand...

Best thing to do is check the fluid after it's warmed up, and check it with it in drive (with someone who trusts you lol). Pump isn't engaged unless it's in gear.

Another possibility to check into is the transmission mount. Just like a motor mount, they can go bad.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigAL07 and mrjp
Well, it appears that I have solved the problem. The final indicator that led me to the solution was the Jeep started pulling hard to the right and would not coast in situations where it would coast previously. A quick check of the right front wheel indicated it was excessively hot. I initially replaced the caliper and that worked for a few minutes but it started to misbehave again. I also replaced the flex hose and that appears to have solved my problem.

Thanks to all for the suggestions.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mrjp, Lxxtsy, BigAL07 and 1 other person
Top Bottom