Camber kit required with new knuckle?

[Engine Guy]

Hi!

I had a accident with my 2019 JLUR and the RF knuckle had to be replaced. The collision shop is telling me that after replacing the knuckle they need a camber kit to dial in the alignment. I'm a little suspect of what I am hearing, for two reasons:

1. After the accident the RH side of the front axle was sitting back about 0.5" to 1.0". A knuckle should not have corrected this issue.
2. How much adjustment is required with a new knuckle?

My concern is that the axle tube is bent and they are working around the problem.

Any help or guidance from those that may have been through this before is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Sponsored

 

[mgroeger]

Hi!

I had a accident with my 2019 JLUR and the RF knuckle had to be replaced. The collision shop is telling me that after replacing the knuckle they need a camber kit to dial in the alignment. I'm a little suspect of what I am hearing, for two reasons:

1. After the accident the RH side of the front axle was sitting back about 0.5" to 1.0". A knuckle should not have corrected this issue.
2. How much adjustment is required with a new knuckle?

My concern is that the axle tube is bent and they are working around the problem.

Any help or guidance from those that may have been through this before is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

@chevymitchell is very familiar with the knuckles.
My understanding is a knuckle is a straight bolt on non-adjustable part. As in it is what it is, so it would not have anything to do what so ever with your alignment. The knuckle would have a play in the camber setting in that the camber is essentially built into the knuckle by design. If they can't get that camber set right with a stock knuckle then something else is putting it out of whack. I think you are right and that your axle or another suspension component is out of whack or bent.

 

[chevymitchell]

Hi!

I had a accident with my 2019 JLUR and the RF knuckle had to be replaced. The collision shop is telling me that after replacing the knuckle they need a camber kit to dial in the alignment. I'm a little suspect of what I am hearing, for two reasons:

1. After the accident the RH side of the front axle was sitting back about 0.5" to 1.0". A knuckle should not have corrected this issue.
2. How much adjustment is required with a new knuckle?

My concern is that the axle tube is bent and they are working around the problem.

Any help or guidance from those that may have been through this before is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

The tube is very likely bent.

Seeing how bent it is, is very straight forward once the axle is emptied of its components.

There are no adjustments required for a new factory knuckle. Any aftermarket knuckle may need the steering stops cut down, but your issue is highly likely in the tube itself. The issue with the FAD axle tubes is that no shop will bend it back since the the FAD portion of the axle is cast like the housing is. If it's remotely bent, you will need a new axle. No question.

 

[Engine Guy]

Thanks for the quick responses! I’m trying to go see the Jeep today to confirm the tube is bent.

More to come as it happens.

Thanks again!

Sponsored