at05gt Introduction

[at05gt]

Welp I've run into the first issue... I've got insane bump steer and the vehicle does not self center anymore. The smallest road abberation or steering wheel movement sends the Jeep in that direction violently. It's completely unstable. I know I need a drop pitman and that will fix the bump steer, but I've got no idea how to fix the Jeep not centering itself. Do I need adjustable arms to correct the caster?

 

[XJensen]

They just sit in there and the pressure of the rim against the rotor holds them snug.

Jon's just jealous. Looks like I need to pick up some chrome spray paint and door piping to give the little lady some class

 

[XJensen]

Welp I've run into the first issue... I've got insane bump steer and the vehicle does not self center anymore. The smallest road abberation or steering wheel movement sends the Jeep in that direction violently. It's completely unstable. I know I need a drop pitman and that will fix the bump steer, but I've got no idea how to fix the Jeep not centering itself. Do I need adjustable arms to correct the caster?

Sounds like it's caster related for sure. Should be around 5-7°

 

[at05gt]

Upper ball joint should be forward of lower yes?

 

[XJensen]

You need more positive caster

 

[at05gt]

So I need to put the shims back in the lowers to push the bottom of the axle forward.

Shims helped the centering issue, I still think I need a drop pitman.

Just Empty Every Pocket

 

[XJensen]

Look at the angles of the drag link and track bar. Are they parallel? They don't need to be exactly even but should be parallel. Take a pic if you want more input

 

[at05gt]

The trackbar I bought says you need a drop pitman arm anyways, so I might as well just grab a ZJ one, it's the same as a dropped XJ arm and you can find them for dirt cheap.

 

[XJensen]

Don't just go by what a company says you need or may need. Look at the angles.

What track bar set up is it?

 

[at05gt]

Rough country forged double sheer. http://www.roughcountry.com/forged-adjustable-track-bar-1042.html

 

[clydefrog]

Upper ball joint should be forward of lower yes?

No, other way around. Upper balljoint should be behind the lower (positive caster). If it is in front (ei axle twisted forward) you will have stability issues and your Jeep will feel 'squirrely' which sounds like your problem. Have you had it on an alignment rack?

 

[at05gt]

Not yet, don't know any shops.

 

[XJensen]

Post up a pic. I bet the caster will solve most of your issue

 

[clydefrog]

The trackbar I bought says you need a drop pitman arm anyways, so I might as well just grab a ZJ one, it's the same as a dropped XJ arm and you can find them for dirt cheap.

I would say try to match the heights of both the pitman arm and the track bar drop bracket (if you lower one by an inch then the other should be lowered by an inch)any deviation will cause bump steer.

Mine are off by less than an inch and I get 'slight' bump steer. When it was more than an inch then the bump steer was really annoying.

So I need to put the shims back in the lowers to push the bottom of the axle forward.

Shims helped the centering issue, I still think I need a drop pitman.

Just Empty Every Pocket

Yes

Yes

And...yes

 

[at05gt]

So if it is a caster issue, do I need adjustable uppers or lowers? Push the bottom out, or pull the top in?

 

[XJensen]

Not yet, don't know any shops.

Just go to Les Schwab or wherever. If they look at you funny just tell them you don't expect perfect results. Really all you need is the print out and you can go from there on your own.

If you have someone helping or even on your own a tape measure and angle finder will do just fine. The all a 4x4 shop will do for you and they will charge a lot to do it too

 

[clydefrog]

Post up a pic. I bet the caster will solve most of your issue

Agreed.

See if you can get a pic of the u-joint in relation to the ground, that will give us a good idea of the caster (if its way off).

 

[clydefrog]

So if it is a caster issue, do I need adjustable uppers or lowers? Push the bottom out, or pull the top in?

Since its lifted, push the bottoms out, leave the stock uppers alone.

 

[XJensen]

So if it is a caster issue, do I need adjustable uppers or lowers? Push the bottom out, or pull the top in?

A lot of people go with adj uppers to make it easy. If you have slotted mounts on the lowers that may be enough.

That bracket did look like it dropped the track bar down a lot. Maybe the drop pitman is needed. Shoot a pick or wait until the meet and greet in a week or two. I'll actually drive my Jeep to this one and you can see some different setups

 

[at05gt]

The brackets are slotted I wonder if I got some more shims if I could push it to the edge of the slot, if that would be enough. It's about in the middle of the slot right now.