Off alignment/ stability control

[JLife]

New to forum, I have read some posts regarding the service stability control light and info on fuse issues as well as vacuum pump... My JLU sport is on a 2” dynatrac lift with rubicon express track bars and 35” tires. My front tire slid into a concrete irrigation ditch and slashed the sidewall, I immediately backed out before tire went completely flat. When I swapped to my spare, same 35” tire and rim as others, my steering wheel is now about a 1/4 turn to left when vehicle is traveling straight. I have lost alot of turning radius when fully cranked and the service stability control light is on. On visual inspection nothing looks bent or damaged but it acts as if pitman arm, tie rod or drag link... wondering if anyone has had this happen or can advise where to start. Any tricks to verify parts are ok or bent that visually look ok? Any help greatly appreciated

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[roaniecowpony]

Check the steering components: Draglink, tierod, steering knuckles, etc for damage. If you don't feel qualified, have a trusted frontend shop or a dealer look at it, then align it if not damaged.

Look at the trackbar for impact damage as well. If it gets bent, it will shift the whole axle and change the steering wheel centering, among other things.

 

[limeade]

New to forum, I have read some posts regarding the service stability control light and info on fuse issues as well as vacuum pump... My JLU sport is on a 2” dynatrac lift with rubicon express track bars and 35” tires. My front tire slid into a concrete irrigation ditch and slashed the sidewall, I immediately backed out before tire went completely flat. When I swapped to my spare, same 35” tire and rim as others, my steering wheel is now about a 1/4 turn to left when vehicle is traveling straight. I have lost alot of turning radius when fully cranked and the service stability control light is on. On visual inspection nothing looks bent or damaged but it acts as if pitman arm, tie rod or drag link... wondering if anyone has had this happen or can advise where to start. Any tricks to verify parts are ok or bent that visually look ok? Any help greatly appreciated

You've probably bent either the tie rod and/or drag link. The stability control warning light is on due to your steering wheel not being centered.

To re-center your steering wheel, you'll need to turn the adjuster on the drag link. Once your steering wheel is straight, drive it some and the light should go off once the computer sees everything is good.

I'd take a straight edge and lay it on the tie rod to see if that is bent. It doesn't really take much of a bend to throw the steering off. My guess is you total toe setting is off too.

Cheapest fix is to adjust the tie rod back to it's original length. However, once that stock tube has been compromised, it will definitely do it again. The next cheapest fix is to find someone who has removed their stock tie rod and drag link for stronger parts and bolt those in. Re-check your alignment and re-center your steering wheel.

Or buy stronger aftermarket drag link and tie rod (Synergy, Steer Smart, RPM, etc) for when those irrigation ditches jump out in front of you....

You'll want to get an alignment afterwards regardless of your fix.

 

[Headbarcode]

It wouldn't take a very noticeable tweak to a front end linkage, for the steering wheel to be a 1/4 turn off center. As soon as the steering wheel is centered, the warning lights will shut off.

 

[JLife]

Thanks for advice I will definitely upgrade if anything bent.... still in the process of many upgrades but on a budget and doing all work myself so it’s taking some time I have a sport and just picked up a rubicon rear axle on the hunt for a front axle now but seems like factory is on backorder past june and used are hard to come by or overpriced due to demand I’m assuming... most of those steering components I planned to upgrade when needed... guess its needed?

 

[JimLee]

Thanks for advice I will definitely upgrade if anything bent.... still in the process of many upgrades but on a budget and doing all work myself so it’s taking some time I have a sport and just picked up a rubicon rear axle on the hunt for a front axle now but seems like factory is on backorder past june and used are hard to come by or overpriced due to demand I’m assuming... most of those steering components I planned to upgrade when needed... guess its needed?

I've got a stock tie rod and drag link (sport) you can have if you just need something to get you by, the hitch is that I live in the middle of nowhere and you'd have to come get them. I could probably figure out a way to ship them to you but you'd have to pay for packaging and shipping.

 

[RFR JLR 2.0]

I had a similar issue a few months ago. Hit a rock hard on front left wheel. Got out to check for damage but didn’t see anything. When I got back on the highway I noticed that the steering wheel was off center and the stability control warning light was on. Brought it back to the shop that did the lift and they re-centered the steering wheel and warning light went off. Believe it was an adjustment to the track bar but would have to get under it and look, but nothing major.

 

[JLife]

I've got a stock tie rod and drag link (sport) you can have if you just need something to get you by, the hitch is that I live in the middle of nowhere and you'd have to come get them. I could probably figure out a way to ship them to you but you'd have to pay for packaging and shipping.

Appriciate the offer, I got home from work yesterday and looked closer at everything and determined it was the track bar. having it replaced and alignment done today.

 

[JLife]

thanks for all the feedback. I am new to using forums in general and can see I will be turning to all you members with more questions, and answers when I can help... So when I got back to my jeep last night I first set my tires as straight as I could just by eye and stood directly behind each corner of the jeep and was able to tell the front axle was off center to the left just a bit... Got under it and really inspected everything thoroughly. I couldn't see anything that looked bent but the Chassis end of the track bar was sitting crooked in the mounting point and this Rubicon express adjustable Track bar has a curved flattened section and is difficult to determine if that's where it bent but that's my assumption. With how I slid sideways into ditch with tires in straight position and sliding to the right with right tire stopping the slide and axle now sitting over to left it all adds up. I called the shop where I originally bought the Track bar, they had one in stock and availability to do alignment by tomorrow. Does not look like anything else was damaged at this point, will find out when they install track bar and align. ?

Also for anyone who has or is thinking about Rubicon express parts their " Lifetime warranty" is for defects only... I'm not saying its a good or bad part and have heard mostly good about these track bars but wondering now if anyone has experienced these bending. I usually install everything myself and typically I don't buy the extra warranty and did not on this first track bar but because I had the shop doing the install this time along with the alignment I opted for the extended warranty that will cover parts and labor if it is damaged again for any reason. $60/3year or $90 5/year. I cant say I recommend it or not at this point but I could easily see bending one again and the convenience of having the shop replace it parts and labor if it happens again seemed worth it to me. They did make sure to let me know I would have to pay for an alignment If it was replaced under warranty.

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