Unresolved Star Case, Now What?

[flyer92]

3mm is only, roughly, a tenth of an inch. A 3mm height increase should not force the passenger side down half an inch (12mm). If anything, I'd suspect the opposite - the passenger suspension being loaded more heavily has unloaded weight from the driver's side suspension and has resulted in the 3mm increased height as the spring is dealing with less weight. It's a common thing that happens with off road vehicles as folks armor them up.

As an example, if you stick a heavy object such as a winch and steel bumper in front of the front axle, it compresses the front suspension slightly, but the front coil buckets also act as a "squishy" fulcrum and the winch/bumper act as the force applied to end of the frame, which acts as a lever, and it actually unloads the rear suspension just a bit. Also basically the same thing as tongue weight from a trailer causing the front end to unload and go light. Way more plausible, IMO, than a 3mm higher driver's side causing a 12mm dip on the passenger side.

Anyway, that would serve to plausibly explain the 3mm higher driver's side, but the question of why the passenger side is about half an inch low would still remain. IMO, it's likely a spring rate thing that Jeep just doesn't care about. I know you said the dealership swapped springs out - did they swap out just like for like (your old Sport springs for new Sport springs) or did they ever do a swap to Rubi springs? Rubi springs have a different (higher) spring rate and, if the dealership's willing, may be a good test while you wait on Stellantis. If there's a difference in the amount of sag with takeoff Rubi springs, then it would be tied to spring rate and not something like a bent or out-of-spec coil bucket. If the Rubi springs, with their higher spring rate, demonstrate the exact same amount of sag on the passenger side, then it's likely that you've got something out of spec between the axle and frame side coil perches.

Thanks for that explanation and I agree 100%. Only thing, is that the passenger side isn't loaded with any additional weight because the Jeep is bone stock and I haven't added a winch, heavier front bumper, etc. I had also thought about trying Rubi springs, but as we well know, the dealership can't/won't install anything other than parts that were originally designed for a specific trim level, especially when it's for the purposes of "exploratory surgery."

In any case, I do think it's interesting that Stellantis is still calling this a "cosmetic issue," even though it is a structural or component deficiency, whether it be from the body, frame, or suspension. I plan on challenging them on this point, although I realize it's probably a lost cause. We'll see....

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[Remorseless]

Thanks for that explanation and I agree 100%. Only thing, is that the passenger side isn't loaded with any additional weight because the Jeep is bone stock and I haven't added a winch, heavier front bumper, etc. I had also thought about trying Rubi springs, but as we well know, the dealership can't/won't install anything other than parts that were originally designed for a specific trim level, especially when it's for the purposes of "exploratory surgery."

In any case, I do think it's interesting that Stellantis is still calling this a "cosmetic issue," even though it is a structural or component deficiency, whether it be from the body, frame, or suspension. I plan on challenging them on this point, although I realize it's probably a lost cause. We'll see....

I wasn't saying that you'd added additional weight, but rather that the passenger side suspension is carrying more of the Jeep's weight than the driver's side, given the lean, for whatever reason. The weight distribution of your stock Jeep is imbalanced, with more of it on the passenger side than the driver's side.

 

[2mnycars]

Thanks for that explanation and I agree 100%. Only thing, is that the passenger side isn't loaded with any additional weight because the Jeep is bone stock and I haven't added a winch, heavier front bumper, etc. I had also thought about trying Rubi springs, but as we well know, the dealership can't/won't install anything other than parts that were originally designed for a specific trim level, especially when it's for the purposes of "exploratory surgery."

In any case, I do think it's interesting that Stellantis is still calling this a "cosmetic issue," even though it is a structural or component deficiency, whether it be from the body, frame, or suspension. I plan on challenging them on this point, although I realize it's probably a lost cause. We'll see....

Friend and I were looking at the original Jimmy/Blazer. He bought.

He put a tape on measuring each side....axle to axle. The passenger side was 1-1/4 inch shorter than the driver side. GM said it was within spec.

He later put a plow on and drove it until it was dust and rust.

I didn't buy the Jimmy or Blazer. I never plowed. Bought an S15 Jimmy later. I did regret not buying the big Jimmy.

 

[flyer92]

I wasn't saying that you'd added additional weight, but rather that the passenger side suspension is carrying more of the Jeep's weight than the driver's side, given the lean, for whatever reason. The weight distribution of your stock Jeep is imbalanced, with more of it on the passenger side than the driver's side.

OK, sorry for the misunderstanding. Certainly, the passenger side is heavier and the suspension on that side is in fact carrying more weight (e.g., gas tank), which is why many JL owners apparently experience the lean. That said, a modern vehicle should not roll off the assembly line imbalanced and out of level. I know many owners chalk it up to yet another "Jeep thing," but if this issue is so common, it's clearly a design flaw that needs to be corrected.

If this same issue existed with the Tacoma, 4Runner, G-Wagon, F-150, or pretty much anything brand new, I seriously doubt those owners would just call it a "Toyota/Mercedes/Ford thing" and just let it go. Our community has been chanting the mantra for so long, it has nicely served the manufacturer, allowing them to continue producing vehicles with subpar workmanship and QA. We deserve better.

 

[Remorseless]

OK, sorry for the misunderstanding. Certainly, the passenger side is heavier and the suspension on that side is in fact carrying more weight (e.g., gas tank), which is why many JL owners apparently experience the lean. That said, a modern vehicle should not roll off the assembly line imbalanced and out of level. I know many owners chalk it up to yet another "Jeep thing," but if this issue is so common, it's clearly a design flaw that needs to be corrected.

If this same issue existed with the Tacoma, 4Runner, G-Wagon, F-150, or pretty much anything brand new, I seriously doubt those owners would just call it a "Toyota/Mercedes/Ford thing" and just let it go. Our community has been chanting the mantra for so long, it has nicely served the manufacturer, allowing them to continue producing vehicles with subpar workmanship and QA. We deserve better.

Funny enough, if you google "Tacoma lean" or "4Runner lean" you'll find tons of threads about it on the Toyota forums due to, you guessed it, the gas tank placement (and battery placement). Less common with the F-150 though, but I did find a couple where folks with the upsized fuel tank had a good lean.

Example: Driver side Tacoma lean | Tacoma World

That thread did remind me, however, that the battery is also on the passenger side in the JL.

 

[jadmt]

my Ram power wagon and F150's
always had leans......when my wife gets home from work I will measure the mazda.......

 

[jadmt]

gas don't weigh that much.....I mean a full tank in a jeep is like 160lbs or so....I remember reading one time it was intentional for the crown of the road......if you think about it a 4000-5000lb vehicle is with all different kinds of options etc seems like there can be 1/2" differences between corners.....

 

[2mnycars]

Had a bunch of Miatas over the years. Good alignments they would have the driver sit in the car. Sometimes they would measure weight at each wheel.

Then there was the other extreme. My favourite was a used Miata that coil-overs and lots more. It looked like a Baby Viper. Someone had put a wide white stripe on it. Colour of the car was Viper Blue. I wonder who adjusted the coil overs. It was an older car Fun! Point is I never had any idea how well it was set up.

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