Stronger steering stabilizer

[KeithB]

Just had my '20 JLU lifted 2 1/2 inches and 35s installed. It doesn't seem the original steering stabilizer works very well with the new set-up. Yes, it wobbles and steering input is slow. Thoughts on replacing it with a stronger steering stabilizer? TIA

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[kah.mun.rah]

Did your lift kit come with new front lower control arms? What you are experiencing might be more related to axle caster angle than steering stabilizer quality.

 

[KeithB]

I don't believe my kit came with new lower control arms.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

I don't believe my kit came with new lower control arms.

There are a lot of threads here and YouTube videos on caster angle that can help you measure yours and see if you are outside of limits. If so, the cheapest way to improve it is probably installing a set of the longer ones that come with the Mopar 2" lift: https://www.quadratec.com/p/mopar/front-lower-control-arm-wrangler-jl-68322798AA
If you are able to spend more money, instead of the longer Mopar ones, there are a lot of options out there with adjustable ones to give you more options while dialing in the length of the arms and the angle of the caster.

 

[Riotfunk]

The longer mopar ones can be had for cheap. I grabbed a pair for 67$ shipped from Amazon

 

[KeithB]

Just talked to my installer and he suggested 4 adjustable lower control arms. Do I really need them on the rear for a steering issue. Thanks for your time and information.

 

[kah.mun.rah]

Just talked to my installer and he suggested 4 adjustable lower control arms. Do I really need them on the rear for a steering issue. Thanks for your time and information.

The ones on the back will help to center the axle in the wheel wheel but will not help with steering and IMO for 2 1/2" of lift aren't completely necessary. The front lowers will help though. There are 4 in the front (2 upper and 2 lower). When they said "4" I wonder if they were referring to replacing all 4 in the front? The lowers in the front will rotate your axle and help with caster and the uppers in the front will help recenter the front axle in the wheel well. Like the rear, IMO for only 2 1/2" of lift the front uppers aren't as important to replace.

 

[GATORB8]

Did they give you the alignment printout?

 

[kah.mun.rah]

All of this said, the fact that your Jeep sits higher and is now on larger tires will change your ride experience. Better caster in the front will help to restore the geometry back to closer to stock but the ride will still be "different" than stock so sometimes the best thing is just to give yourself time to adjust to the new feel of driving a lifted Jeep with bigger tires.

If you insist on a better ride quality and have money to throw at it, this is probably the sequence of upgrades I would try:
- longer/adjustable front lower control arms (for better caster angle)
- adjustable and stronger front track bar (to re-center the axle right to left and stiffen the connection between the frame and the axle.
- better shocks (to reduce body roll with the now higher center of gravity)
- adjustable steering stabilizer (lets you loosen or stiffen the stabilizer response)
- all 8 adjustable control arms (using the the other 6 to center the axles in the wheel wells)
*keep in mind that most of this list is probably overkill for 2 1/2" of lift and 35" tires

 

[FireAnt21]

I run 35/12.50r20. I needed a adjustable track bar after my “2” in mopar lift after seeing my front diff was offset. It included control arms. I wound up replacing the single factory stabilizer with a fox one. Steering was ok but then I decided to go to dual steering stabilizers and wound up with the rough country brackets and a second fox stabilizer steering feels tighter I will also install heavier duty ball joints at some point

 

[KeithB]

Did they give you the alignment printout?

Yes, and everything aligned to spec.

 

[KeithB]

All of this said, the fact that your Jeep sits higher and is now on larger tires will change your ride experience. Better caster in the front will help to restore the geometry back to closer to stock but the ride will still be "different" than stock so sometimes the best thing is just to give yourself time to adjust to the new feel of driving a lifted Jeep with bigger tires.

If you insist on a better ride quality and have money to throw at it, this is probably the sequence of upgrades I would try:
- longer/adjustable front lower control arms (for better caster angle)
- adjustable and stronger front track bar (to re-center the axle right to left and stiffen the connection between the frame and the axle.
- better shocks (to reduce body roll with the now higher center of gravity)
- adjustable steering stabilizer (lets you loosen or stiffen the stabilizer response)
- all 8 adjustable control arms (using the the other 6 to center the axles in the wheel wells)
*keep in mind that most of this list is probably overkill for 2 1/2" of lift and 35" tires

It's been a month or more since I lifted. Did put on new shocks at time of lift. I'll start out with adjustable control arms on the front. Thanks again.

 

[mwilk012]

What do you mean by wobbles?

 

[Membrain]

Just talked to my installer and he suggested 4 adjustable lower control arms. Do I really need them on the rear for a steering issue. Thanks for your time and information.

Any potential adjustment required on the rear would be to adjust for any pinon angles needed to reduce driveline vibrations. The rear pinon and driveshaft linkage should point straight at the transfercase output yoke. Since the OEM driveshafts have rezeppa joints (a.k.a. "constant velocity" or "C.V.") the rear pinon and driveshaft should be in a straight line to the transfer c ase yoke. If you had true u-joints on each end (pinon & yoke) instead of the rezeppa, then the pinon angle and the transfercase should be at parallel angles, nothing more than 10 degrees delta.

As others have said, a 2.5 inch lift will not usually put these driveline angles out of tolerance... some cases are unique.

 

[At Risk Ute]

Check the torque on your track bar bolts. Concur on just adding the longer MOPAR front LCAs for better caster. Stronger steering stab will help mask DW.

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