Return of Steering Challenges

[thadius65]

I have posted on here my journey from 2-3" of play in steering causing stressful driving. I had PSC SK500 installed, followed by a Teraflex Falcon 2.2 adjustable steering stabilizer. She stayed straight, no wheel play at all, very please and almost there. At light stabilzer setting I had things dialed in nearly perfect, with one exception. My steering wheels return to center was almost gone. Research with PSC and forums indicated that more positive caster was needed to take me from +4.x to somewhere in the +6.x to +7.x to address return to center. I proceeded to order Mopar 2" (longer) LCAs to obtain caster of around +6.1 and while I was at it I found a good deal on a Teraflex Apline IR track bar and figured that would add to the final touches.

Fast forward to post caster and track bar changes..... what did I do wrong? Driving is again a struggle with constant corrections left to right as driving in town or on highway. I am struggling with understanding what I did introducing problems as described. Looking for some experts that have experience to help shed some light on this issue. I have included before and after shots of alignment (before is +4.x caster).

Thanks!

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[RagTopDeluxe]

I have posted on here my journey from 2-3" of play in steering causing stressful driving. I had PSC SK500 installed, followed by a Teraflex Falcon 2.2 adjustable steering stabilizer. She stayed straight, no wheel play at all, very please and almost there. At light stabilzer setting I had things dialed in nearly perfect, with one exception. My steering wheels return to center was almost gone. Research with PSC and forums indicated that more positive caster was needed to take me from +4.x to somewhere in the +6.x to +7.x to address return to center. I proceeded to order Mopar 2" (longer) LCAs to obtain caster of around +6.1 and while I was at it I found a good deal on a Teraflex Apline IR track bar and figured that would add to the final touches.

Fast forward to post caster and track bar changes..... what did I do wrong? Driving is again a struggle with constant corrections left to right as driving in town or on highway. I am struggling with understanding what I did introducing problems as described. Looking for some experts that have experience to help shed some light on this issue. I have included before and after shots of alignment (before is +4.x caster).

Thanks!

I can only commiserate because mine is a wandering mess with the same kit and LCAs (caster at 6*), Falcon 2.2, SS trackbar, and having a Jeep specialist check all components for torque.

Everyone else has reported success with these changes, particularly with the kit, so I’m at a loss as to the problem.

 

[thadius65]

There has to be something missing, because it was so close prior to the track bar and LCA/caster change. I hate to go backwards and remove, but if I cannot find what it is I may have no choice.

 

[TravisRogers]

I’ve never really been on the steering box train with this issue. I honestly think there’s some flex and/or frame geometry stuff going on.

Only two things left to try now:

1) Go to a frame repair shop and have them measure your frame geometry.

2) Install the track bar/sector shaft brace: https://www.quadratec.com/p/synergy-manufacturing/track-bar-sector-shaft-brace-wrangler-jl-8869-01

 

[Dkretden]

There has to be something missing, because it was so close prior to the track bar and LCA/caster change. I hate to go backwards and remove, but if I cannot find what it is I may have no choice.

You had a Jeep that was almost to your liking ..... then, you added two new parts...... and now your Jeep’s steering is a mess.

My advice:

take one part off and then try it again. Still a mess?
Take the second part off? Fixed? (It should be..... if not, then that would be amazingly odd)
Put the first part back on? A mess or fixed?

by doing this and finding your issue, you might be able to help others on this board.

 

[quietpeen]

I don’t know how Important it is, but from the alignment sheets you posted on Facebook it looks like you went from .28 total toe in to .18 total toe and and seems on this site that you are better off in the upper range.

 

[thadius65]

You had a Jeep that was almost to your liking ..... then, you added two new parts...... and now your Jeep’s steering is a mess.

My advice:

take one part off and then try it again. Still a mess?
Take the second part off? Fixed? (It should be..... if not, then that would be amazingly odd)
Put the first part back on? A mess or fixed?

by doing this and finding your issue, you might be able to help others on this board.

I was going to do this, but I had been told that each one of those parts added would require alignment adjustment. If true, I assumed the opposite would be true.

 

[Deadserial]

I would increase your toe in to .5” and go from there. It may cause your tires to wear faster but it’s worth it if it helps the wandering. Also, how is your return to center with the new setup? Did you make sure your trackbar was the same length as the factory one?

 

[NPE102414]

I don’t know how Important it is, but from the alignment sheets you posted on Facebook it looks like you went from .28 total toe in to .18 total toe and and seems on this site that you are better off in the upper range.

That track bar is known to have excessive play, swap track bars and see how it is.

 

[NPE102414]

I was going to do this, but I had been told that each one of those parts added would require alignment adjustment. If true, I assumed the opposite would be true.

You need to immediately stop taking advice from the person/people who told you that!! Providing you don’t have adjustable control arms there is only one adjustable component to your Jeeps alignment and that’s Toe. And as long as you don’t mess with the the length of your tie rod you do not need to have the Jeep aligned. I am constantly changing out suspension/steering components and never put my Jeep on a rack unless I adjust my tie rod and or drag link and want to have a perfectly straight wheel or to check thrust angle. So, as long as you don’t change your toe setting by adjusting or changing out your tie rod you do not need an alignment if you install or remove UCA’s, LCA’s or a track bar, all things remaining equal of course.

 

[Sheepjeep]

best thing you can do is get under the front of the jeep while it is on its own weight and have someone turn the wheel and look for and signs of slop in all of the joints


the design of the steering used on the jl is tried and true but also known for being loose it is old style truck steering and is one of or the last remaining passenger with this steering set up and a solid front axle. fca has put a lot of lipstick on this pig, but throwing parts in hopes it will fix it will solve nothing but burn a hole in your wallet

 

[thadius65]

You need to immediately stop taking advice from the person/people who told you that!! Providing you don’t have adjustable control arms there is only one adjustable component to your Jeeps alignment and that’s Toe. And as long as you don’t mess with the the length of your tie rod you do not need to have the Jeep aligned. I am constantly changing out suspension/steering components and never put my Jeep on a rack unless I adjust my tie rod and or drag link and want to have a perfectly straight wheel or to check thrust angle. So, as long as you don’t change your toe setting by adjusting or changing out your tie rod you do not need an alignment if you install or remove UCA’s, LCA’s or a track bar, all things remaining equal of course.

So if i remove the longer LCAs and replace with stock, the caster will return to its previous (non-adjustable) levels in the +4.x range and all else will be untouched?

 

[quietpeen]

So if i remove the longer LCAs and replace with stock, the caster will return to its previous (non-adjustable) levels in the +4.x range and all else will be untouched?

Not anymore, you had an alignment done and they adjusted your overall toe-in to a lesser value.

 

[sourdough]

OP, did you install a track bar brace? With the (I assume) extra power of the PSC box, not having one might increase the likely hood of flex at factory frame mount. Having read Synergy's sales writeup, it makes sense to me. https://www.synergymfg.com/synergy-jeep-jl-jt-front-track-bar-and-sector-shaft-brace.html I installed their unit. Rusty's make a simpler brace without bracing the sector shaft.
FYI, for what it's worth, I have replaced all the steering linkage with H.D. units. Added H.D. adj. T.B. and LCA's. Caster is at 6*, toe at 1/8" and 37" tire PSI @ 30. Tire PSI makes a wandering difference with my big tires BTW. My JLR has a small amount of wander and the wheel a little play. It is the best driving solid axle 4x4 I've ever owned and I've had many. IMO, it's as good as this design will get. It's not and never will be as good as a Rack&Pinion system.

 

[word302]

I would increase your toe in to .5” and go from there. It may cause your tires to wear faster but it’s worth it if it helps the wandering. Also, how is your return to center with the new setup? Did you make sure your trackbar was the same length as the factory one?

1/2"? That's terrible advice.

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