why is my jeep "wandering" all over the place?

[brimy311]

i just finished SOA with full width axles...i have cross over steering and 36x12.5 super swampers. when i am drive on the road, at like speeds in between 35-up the jeep wanders all over the place...what causes this? <IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0">

[Monkeyboy]

Check alignment first.

[Steve N]

What did you set caster at? what is your toe set at?

[SwampTJ]

Originally posted by brimy311:
<STRONG>when i am drive on the road, at like speeds in between 35-up the jeep wanders all over the place...what causes this? <IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

You just answered your question, your jeep wants to go offroad. <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">

[The Rockslut]

Caster


You probably cranked the pinion up for a sweet angle and actually you sent the caster down the toilet. With out cutting and turning the knuckles you walk a fine line between pinion angle and caster.

[ 10-20-2001: Message edited by: The Rockslut ]

[brimy311]

well i had to change my shackles to longer ones to prevent my shakle from kicky back. about this same time i got my new swampers and i bent my tie rod a bit...so i have to check everything <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0"> hahaha caster sounds about right...

thanks <IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0">

[Rokmycj]

Maybe it's lost and it is looking for home. well it was a thought.

[ManglerYJ]

Originally posted by brimy311:
<STRONG>i just finished SOA with full width axles...i have cross over steering and 36x12.5 super swampers. when i am drive on the road, at like speeds in between 35-up the jeep wanders all over the place...what causes this? <IMG SRC="smilies/usa.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

How did you set up your front track bar? Do you have your sway bar connected? Is everything TIGHT? I ran into a bit of this with mine, and found that the tie rod end that went from the pitman arm to the knuckle was loose. I also found that my track bar (adjustable) was not tight enough. It was fine for the Pro Comp kit because it was so stiff it was it's OWN track bar!

Anyway, those are what I'd check first. Also, check your lug nuts - I just had some loose ones cause the tire to almost come loose from the Jeep - VERY scary. Check your wheel bearings for play and your tie rod ends for play as well.

Hope that helps.

[hottrod]

First: Track bars are not needed on a leaf sprung vehicle.

Second: Is it just wandering, or is it death wobble.

If it's just wandering, maybe when you hit a small bump, then check alignment. If it's hard to keep straight down the road then check caster.

If it's death wobble then put a good steering stabilizer on it(not stock).

[Keith]

Welcome to the jeep club....

[SCRAPER]

maybe a dumb quetion but why is the track bar not needed? do you just use a stabilizer instead? jeep is almost done and i want to make sure it isnt too shitty on the road. what is best to use?

[Jakesteramalamajama]

Originally posted by GATO:
<STRONG>maybe a dumb quetion but why is the track bar not needed? do you just use a stabilizer instead? jeep is almost done and i want to make sure it isnt too shitty on the road. what is best to use?</STRONG>

A trackbar locates the axle laterally. When you hit a bump, the distance spanned by your draglink (or short tie rod as some people call it) wants to change. Each bump you hit, the trackbar causes your entire axle assembly to move in an arc with the point where the frame-end of the trackbar pivots as it's center. Since this pivot location is fairly close to the point where the draglink pivots on the pitman arm, this tends to keep the axle from pushing the pitman arm over every time your suspension compresses, resulting in annoying bump steer.

That said, the more level you keep the draglink, the less problem you will have with bumpsteer. Most people (on this board certainly) remove their trackbars because they inhibit the motion of the suspension and don't allow as much flex as a suspension without track bars. However, in a lifted Jeep, you need something like a high-steer conversion and/or a dropped pitman arm to keep the draglink as level as possible or else bumpsteer rears its ugly head.

In summary, you don't NEED trackbars on a leaf-sprung vehicle. After all, CJs didn't have them. Track bars just help eliminate bump steer and make a Jeep handle better on the road. I removed both of mine when I went to 44s and the combination of a dropped pitman arm and "knuckle-over" steering that came on the Waggy front end, I have no bump steer whatsoever.

HTH,
Jake Harsha

[SCRAPER]

thanks that explains a lot! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Bgcj5]

It's a jeep thats what it does, welcome to the club.

[Shaggygto]

I realize this is not an answer to your question, but I am curious about putting full-size axles on a YJ. Do you have to out board the the spring mounts and shackle mounts when swapping in full size axles in a YJ like you do on a CJ?

<IMG SRC="smilies/blender.gif" border="0">

[rustycj]

Originally posted by Shaggygto:
<STRONG>I realize this is not an answer to your question, but I am curious about putting full-size axles on a YJ. Do you have to out board the the spring mounts and shackle mounts when swapping in full size axles in a YJ like you do on a CJ?

<IMG SRC="smilies/blender.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

Fawkin newbie do a search first post and a dumb ass question

<IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">

[SCRAPER]

my front 44 bolted right in to my YJ. i had to move the rear perches in a bit though. not a big deal if you can weld. do a searh on this and you will finds tons of info. <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">