Steering Alignment Knocked off

[Chemy350]

I search ed and didn't really see this exact question. It's been almost 20 years since I've off-roaded a Jeep. I bought my new JLU Rubi a couple of months ago and have been exploring offroad some and getting more familiar with it. I did some moderate level stuff this Sunday, in terms of mud, up and down steep rutted hills and some forest service roads. After I was done for the day, we started to head home. Once I got on the pavement, I noticed my alignment was off quite a bit. I need to put the top of the steering wheel around the 9:30 mark to drive straight.

My question is, is it very common to knock alignment out when offroading?

Sponsored

 

[Bubba33]

Did you bend something.

 

[Torero]

I search ed and didn't really see this exact question. It's been almost 20 years since I've off-roaded a Jeep. I bought my new JLU Rubi a couple of months ago and have been exploring offroad some and getting more familiar with it. I did some moderate level stuff this Sunday, in terms of mud, up and down steep rutted hills and some forest service roads. After I was done for the day, we started to head home. Once I got on the pavement, I noticed my alignment was off quite a bit. I need to put the top of the steering wheel around the 9:30 mark to drive straight.

My question is, is it very common to knock alignment out when offroading?

No

 

[Chemy350]

Did you bend something.

Hmm.... didn’t really cross my mind as it was only moderate level stuff....

 

[BobK]

watch this.

 

[JIMBOX]

You may have driven on what you consider "MODERATE" trails, but

You've obviously bent your tie-rod/draglink and from what I've read, the tie-rod, or draglink are hollow tubing, so you're gonna have to checkitout--

If the draglink is bent, or the adj sleeve is loose, you can adjust that sleeve/retighten and drive away, but

It either the draglink/tie-rod are actually bent, they'll have to be replaced--

Those are the common YJ/TJ/JK damaged units that cause the steering wheel to "SHIFT", but

There may be pitman arm/steering box problems that you may have to have the 'ol girl checked--

Good luck

JIMBO

 

[Jeepsterfreak]

Maybe defective intermediate shaft? Recall U48.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...ermediate-shaft-on-certain-jl-wranglers.9783/

 

[Wolfslash16]

If it's not the intermediate shaft, you bent the track bar. It's common on lifted JKs, infact I did it to mine. Easy way to tell is see if the axle is off center, AKA if one tire is sticking farther outside the fender when compared to the other. If both are centered on the fenders, you have potentionaly a bigger issue at hand.

Sponsored