HELP! JL steering getting progressively worse?

[Yondu_JLU]

In addition to what others have suggested (getting the TSB done and front LCA's), I'd inspect the ball joints very closely. The description you gave for the driver side sounds like bad ball joints to me.

Even though this is mostly a DD, those Trail Graps are very heavy. It wouldn't surprise me if your ball joints and most, if not all of your tie rod ends are bad. The stock ball joints and tie rod ends aren't very stout, especially when using heavy 35" tires.

So after a brief inspection that consisted of wiggling components and doing a visual inspection, I’ve noticed a few things.....drag link has quite a bit of side to side or rocking motion, joint to the pitman arm has some rust build up (which is odd.....seeing how I live in GA), steering box, like others, has a bit of play in it....which I believe could attribute to some of the Jeep’s bump steer. Upon going back to my previous alignment sheet, I found that my caster is VERY low and out of spec (3.9 degrees). Tie rod wasn’t wobbly and didn’t show any immediate red flags....track bar is still nice and firm, jam nut is tight. Not sure of the best way to test the ball joints...still working that one out.

LCAs are on order. Also opted to get a sector shaft brace from synergy. Also looking into a synergy HD tie rod and drag link. Better safe than sorry? ?

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[hoag4147]

So after a brief inspection that consisted of wiggling components and doing a visual inspection, I’ve noticed a few things.....drag link has quite a bit of side to side or rocking motion, joint to the pitman arm has some rust build up (which is odd.....seeing how I live in GA), steering box, like others, has a bit of play in it....which I believe could attribute to some of the Jeep’s bump steer. Upon going back to my previous alignment sheet, I found that my caster is VERY low and out of spec (3.9 degrees). Tie rod wasn’t wobbly and didn’t show any immediate red flags....track bar is still nice and firm, jam nut is tight. Not sure of the best way to test the ball joints...still working that one out.

LCAs are on order. Also opted to get a sector shaft brace from synergy. Also looking into a synergy HD tie rod and drag link. Better safe than sorry? ?

Are you sure they installed the LCAs that come with the Mopar lift? 3.9 seems low with the Mopar LCAs, should be around 5-5.3 IMO.

 

[Yondu_JLU]

Are you sure they installed the LCAs that come with the Mopar lift? 3.9 seems low with the Mopar LCAs, should be around 5-5.3 IMO.

Yep. They’re barely any longer than stock. 3.9 on one side and 4 on the other.

 

[hoag4147]

Yep. They’re barely any longer than stock. 3.9 on one side and 4 on the other.

Strange. I thought folks were getting more with that lift. Still not enough either way.

 

[word302]

So after a brief inspection that consisted of wiggling components and doing a visual inspection, I’ve noticed a few things.....drag link has quite a bit of side to side or rocking motion, joint to the pitman arm has some rust build up (which is odd.....seeing how I live in GA), steering box, like others, has a bit of play in it....which I believe could attribute to some of the Jeep’s bump steer. Upon going back to my previous alignment sheet, I found that my caster is VERY low and out of spec (3.9 degrees). Tie rod wasn’t wobbly and didn’t show any immediate red flags....track bar is still nice and firm, jam nut is tight. Not sure of the best way to test the ball joints...still working that one out.

LCAs are on order. Also opted to get a sector shaft brace from synergy. Also looking into a synergy HD tie rod and drag link. Better safe than sorry? ?

skip the sector shaft brace, it doesn't do much.

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