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driver side front spring rubbing frame at full compression

SlickRickMotoADV

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I installed an OME 2" lift on my JLU recently. Hadn't really had a chance to fully stuff each side until recently and noticed that the driver side spring was rubbing the frame a bit when that wheel was fully stuffed. I added some painters tape there to confirm and just looked again to see it's rubbed away a bit. I did not install an adjustable front track bar with the lift.

I was under the impression that when lifting the vehicle that the front axle will shift to the driver's side as a result of the front track bar "being too short". Is there a reason that my axle would have shifted towards the passenger side?

I ordered a JKS adjustable front track bar this morning, since that specific one goes both shorter and longer than OEM.

Jeep Wrangler JL driver side front spring rubbing frame at full compression PXL_20221011_173810151
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Roky

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I installed an OME 2" lift on my JLU recently. Hadn't really had a chance to fully stuff each side until recently and noticed that the driver side spring was rubbing the frame a bit when that wheel was fully stuffed. I added some painters tape there to confirm and just looked again to see it's rubbed away a bit. I did not install an adjustable front track bar with the lift.

I was under the impression that when lifting the vehicle that the front axle will shift to the driver's side as a result of the front track bar "being too short". Is there a reason that my axle would have shifted towards the passenger side?

I ordered a JKS adjustable front track bar this morning, since that specific one goes both shorter and longer than OEM.

PXL_20221011_173810151.jpg
The spring will bow inward when compressed and the other side drooped. If you were able to stuff both wheels equally then the spring would compress straighter…… Hitting the frame is just a way of life for me……? …..

Jeep Wrangler JL driver side front spring rubbing frame at full compression EEC88CC6-BA54-438D-BCDB-F978938EF8E3
 
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SlickRickMotoADV

SlickRickMotoADV

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The spring will bow inward when compressed and the other side drooped. If you were able to stuff both wheels equally then the spring would compress straighter…… Hitting the frame is just a way of life for me……? …..

EEC88CC6-BA54-438D-BCDB-F978938EF8E3.jpeg
so an adjustable front track bar won't help with this? If so, I feel real dumb for having spent $210 on that.
 

Roky

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so an adjustable front track bar won't help with this? If so, I feel real dumb for having spent $210 on that.
With a 2” lift your axle only shifted about 3/8” to the driver side….. track bar is always good investment on these JLs even the stockers …..
 
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With a 2” lift your axle only shifted about 3/8” to the driver side….. track bar is always good investment on these JLs even the stockers …..
Yeah it's just so weird that if it shifted to the driver's side that I only have this issue on the driver side. Never on the passenger side. Oh well, $210 down the drain lol.
 

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Roky

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Yeah it's just so weird that if it shifted to the driver's side that I only have this issue on the driver side. Never on the passenger side. Oh well, $210 down the drain lol.
If you’re stuffing the passenger side as much as the driver’s side it should be hitting as well…….. you can prevent it with added bump stop, but that’s really defeating the purpose of max articulation…..
 
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If you’re stuffing the passenger side as much as the driver’s side it should be hitting as well…….. you can prevent it with added bump stop, but that’s really defeating the purpose of max articulation…..
I am stuffing them equally but the painters tape on my passenger side looks completely intact and not rubbed at all. Yeah I certainly am not adding bump.
 

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I am stuffing them equally but the painters tape on my passenger side looks completely intact and not rubbed at all. Yeah I certainly am not adding bump.
I think you should go ahead and install the track bar, and center your axle…..since the axle is shifted to driver that pushes the bottom of the spring over enough that the bow is increased when stuffed. On the passenger side since the spring is more towards the frame then that may create less bow…..probably only gonna move the axle 3/16” but on the suspension, a little bit is a lot…….. it’s a good reason to have bought the track bar…..:)
 
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I have the OME 2" as well. Adjustable track bar is your answer. Center your axle and reduce the bow of the driver side spring. When you stuff the passenger side the arc of the track bar will push the axle to the passenger side. So your symptoms do make sense.
 
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I have the OME 2" as well. Adjustable track bar is your answer. Center your axle and reduce the bow of the driver side spring. When you stuff the passenger side the arc of the track bar will push the axle to the passenger side. So your symptoms do make sense.
Thanks that does help. How in the world am I supposed to get 180-300 (called around various places today) fltbs on that damn jamb nut?!
 

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The spring will bow inward when compressed and the other side drooped. If you were able to stuff both wheels equally then the spring would compress straighter…… Hitting the frame is just a way of life for me……? …..

EEC88CC6-BA54-438D-BCDB-F978938EF8E3.jpeg
But that's what the soft side of velcro is for, right? :rock:
 

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I have the OME 2" as well. Adjustable track bar is your answer. Center your axle and reduce the bow of the driver side spring. When you stuff the passenger side the arc of the track bar will push the axle to the passenger side. So your symptoms do make sense.
This
 

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Thanks that does help. How in the world am I supposed to get 180-300 (called around various places today) fltbs on that damn jamb nut?!
You can get a good 1/2 inch drive 25-250ft/lb torque wrench for under $100 at harbor freight, tractor supply, etc. Add the appropriate size crows foot for 1/2 inch drive, and you should be set.
 
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SlickRickMotoADV

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You can get a good 1/2 inch drive 25-250ft/lb torque wrench for under $100 at harbor freight, tractor supply, etc. Add the appropriate size crows foot for 1/2 inch drive, and you should be set.
Yeah I have a fancy torque wrench. Saw another thread on here that talked about this specifically: https://metalcloak.com/crow-s-foot-1-1-2-duroflex-jam-nut-wrench.html so I made an order for pickup since I'm going by there on Friday anyways. That should allow me much easier tightening than the open ended one I was about to order.
 
 







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