Our GX has had a pretty bad shake that usually happens from 35-45 mph. It's been like that for more than the past 100,000 miles (at 251,000 now) . It goes away on its own above 45 mph and doesn't always happen. We are thinking about selling the vehicle and although I'm not really concerned, I think any potential buyer would be. Any ideas what could be causing it?

Could be wheel bearing or tie rod end. Jack front tires off ground and try to shake tires with your hands at 3:00 and 9:00, if tire moves it’s bad tie rod end. Then try with hand at 12:00 and 6:00, that would be wheel bearing.

Ok thanks! I'll try that.

Oh and I should've added that it's a pretty violent shake accompanied by a rumble too loud to talk over.

That sounds like what the Jeep community is calling "Death Wobble". Get your vehicle to a qualified mechanic ASAP.

Chip H.

Yeah but it's been the same for the past 100,000-150,000 miles. It hasn't changed and sometimes doesn't happen at all...

I just watch a video on the Jeeps and it's nothing like that. The wheels don't move back and fourth.

Well, that's good.

Have you had the tires road-force balanced? Look for a shop with a Hunter GSP or Elite balancer.

Chip H.

We've been through a few sets of tires of different brands and from different installers. I really feel like this is something in the drivetrain. It's just weird because it doesn't happen all of the time.

Could be the drive shaft or u joints or spider joints. Weird that it doesn’t do it all the time though.

I had a vibration at higher speeds and it went away after replacing the CV axle. Although your issue could be one of the other areas mentioned.

I meant to say “shaking” not “vibration”- and it was intermittent as well.

Most likely it's a bad/getting bad torque converter.
If you accelerate fast does it happen or only if you do it slowly?
Does it stop when you let off the gas pedal?
I have the same thing and in my case it is a torque converter acting...

Solution:
1) Transmission flush. Did not help me ( a lot of people fixed it by doing a flush).
2) Transmission drain and fill at least 4 times with 2 weeks intervals in between.
3) Some people fixed it by adding a shudder fix, but I currently hesitate adding anything to my transmission. Might do it later though, if I find out that the shudder fix fluid will not harm my transmission any further.

Did any of these solve your shudder?

It's been 4 years, unlikely you'll hear back.

If you're experiencing the "rumble strip" symptoms under acceleration it's likely the torque convertor. I experienced it a few times, swapped the trans fluid and it went away, I'd nearly forgotten about it honestly.