Axles swap - torque steer during accel/deceleration

[Surfwagon]

So, as title says. Just did a Rubicon axle swap and rig is still in shop. Techs are saying they test drove and there is a noticeable torque steer during acceleration and deceleration.

Initially they’re thinking track bars and I think they’re down the right path.

I happened to take a picture a few days ago and noticed the “new” axles have a track bar relocation bracket, where the track bar is raised 3”. It also has a stabilizer relocation bracket as well. I have a 2” lift that was kept during the install. The drag link is mounted in stock, under knuckle location currently…which is causing a “non-parallel” situation.

I also noticed on the ad for the axles I bought, that the previous owner had the drag link flipped…I.e. drag link mounted on top of the knuckle.

So my question is, is there anyway to move the track bar down to the stock location OR do I just flip the drag link and call it good?

Lastly, is this what is causing my “torque steer”, as they put it?

current setup causing problems

previous owner set up:

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[Roky]

So, as title says. Just did a Rubicon axle swap and rig is still in shop. Techs are saying they test drove and there is a noticeable torque steer during acceleration and deceleration.

Initially they’re thinking track bars and I think they’re down the right path.

I happened to take a picture a few days ago and noticed the “new” axles have a track bar relocation bracket, where the track bar is raised 3”. It also has a stabilizer relocation bracket as well. I have a 2” lift that was kept during the install. The drag link is mounted in stock, under knuckle location currently…which is causing a “non-parallel” situation.

I also noticed on the ad for the axles I bought, that the previous owner had the drag link flipped…I.e. drag link mounted on top of the knuckle.

So my question is, is there anyway to move the track bar down to the stock location OR do I just flip the drag link and call it good?

Lastly, is this what is causing my “torque steer”, as they put it?

current setup causing problems

previous owner set up:

I would put the track bar back in factory position, then drive it to see if it helped.. what they’re calling torque steer might be bump steer, if that’s the case then it should take care of it….

 

[Aonarch]

I would put the track bar back in factory position, then drive it to see if it helped.. what they’re calling torque steer might be bump steer, if that’s the case then it should take care of it….

+1

I bet that is causing bump steer.

 

[Surfwagon]

I would put the track bar back in factory position, then drive it to see if it helped.. what they’re calling torque steer might be bump steer, if that’s the case then it should take care of it….

I should be able to have them move it down and still keep the bracket there for the stabilizer correct? The only thing in the bottom should be a spacer where the track bar was?

 

[Roky]

I should be able to have them move it down and still keep the bracket there for the stabilizer correct? The only thing in the bottom should be a spacer where the track bar was?

No you can just get a stabilizer track bar bolt and ditch the bracket

 

[Surfwagon]

No you can just get a stabilizer track bar bolt and ditch the bracket

Cool. Do you think it’s possible in the meantime to just move the track bar down to the stock location and remove the spacer from the bracket? That is until I get the stabilizer bar bolt?

 

[Roky]

Cool. Do you think it’s possible in the meantime to just move the track bar down to the stock location and remove the spacer from the bracket? That is until I get the stabilizer bar bolt?

Yeah, the bushing is there because the track bar isn’t, to keep the bracket from squeezing together when tightening the bolt….

 

[Surfwagon]

Yeah, the bushing is there because the track bar isn’t, to keep the bracket from squeezing together when tightening the bolt….

I suppose I should probably remove the rear track bar relocation bracket as well while I’m at it?

The guy I bought the axles from had a far more significant lift than I do….so the axles were equipped for that.

 

[Roky]

I suppose I should probably remove the rear track bar relocation bracket as well while I’m at it?

The guy I bought the axles from had a far more significant lift than I do….so the axles were equipped for that.

The rear bracket will be ok especially if you have the factory rear track bar..

 

[jadmt]

put it on an alignment rack and make sure the axles are square to each other...can not do a high steer with only 2" of lift..also hard to believe a shop would not know the difference between bumpsteer and torque steer. torque steer happens during acceleration and bump steer when going over bumps...heck could be the steering stabilizer. but again if new axles I would check to see they are square and thrust angle is in spec

 

[Surfwagon]

No you can just get a stabilizer track bar bolt and ditch the bracket

Thanks for your input.

I actually went to the shop and test drove it. Definitely has bump steer and is requiring constant input on the steering wheel while driving. Wheel turns to right, and stays to the right under acceleration/normal driving and left under braking/deceleration…but not overly pronounced. Hit a couple bumps and that’s when it was really noticeable…quite a bit of play in the steering wheel.

They’re going to remove the bracket completely, put track bar back to stock position and remount the stabilizer. Caster is set at 6 degrees right now, might have them push to 7.

 

[Roky]

Thanks for your input.

I actually went to the shop and test drove it. Definitely has bump steer and is requiring constant input on the steering wheel while driving. Wheel turns to right, and stays to the right under acceleration/normal driving and left under braking/deceleration…but not overly pronounced. Hit a couple bumps and that’s when it was really noticeable…quite a bit of play in the steering wheel.

They’re going to remove the bracket completely, put track bar back to stock position and remount the stabilizer. Caster is set at 6 degrees right now, might have them push to 7.

Sure man, no worries….. the bracket is probably the culprit for the torque steer as well…..the track bar is high enough that it’s probably pushing the axle off center to passenger side….. I’d leave caster where it is, that’s plenty for a 2” lift, IMO…..

 

[Surfwagon]

Just an update: track bar was relocated to stock position and and everything is solid now. No bump steer whatsoever. Track bar and drag link are parallel.

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