Did the previous owner install the wrong lift on my 2022 Willys?

[Gerk]

Hi all.
I've been a member for a bit and have yet to post.
Trying to do as much searching and researching.
So heres the deal.

2022 Willys with less than 8000 miles and I have put less than 1000 in a year. Every component in the suspension looks new and is tight and torqued.

The ride on my Gladiator seems real stiff, so I have been trying to figure out what is under there.
The ride always seemed a little off. A couple months ago I swapped in an aftermarket bumper from the plastic bumper and all of a sudden started getting steering wheel shimmy. Thought that was super weird. Last week a installed a 10000lb winch and now steering wheel shimmy almost every bump. It is pretty uncomfortable to drive.
So here is what I have found so far. It looks like the previous owner put in the 4" Readylift, although I cannot match up the part numbers. The front spring numbers only come up with springs that fit a JK. I can hardly find any info on them. Part # is 68-6401-k. The full gladiator kit says 69-6401. It has the Falcon 2.1s it seems. Non adjustable monotube.
My rear springs are stock mopar 6117aa and 6118aa, but the rights are on the left and the rights are on the left.
Am I just missing something. I am new to the newer Jeeps. Have had CJ's, Yjs, Commando's, and Cherokee's.
Not too keen on lifts, but I really want to learn more.
Thank you for any and all help. Happy to post pics of needed

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[Gerk]

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

That sounds like a soup sandwich smashed with a football bat just from what you said and my limited knowledge.

In answer to your question: If you didn’t pick the components for the lift and you don’t like how it rides, then yes. The previous owner installed the wrong lift. Keep researching. Figure out what you want to do with the Jeep and put something together that will work for you. You’ve had jeeps and know what they’re about so you’re ahead of the curve. I hope you still have the Commando.

 

[Gerk]

Thank you very much for the reply. I will keep working on it to try to figure out how to fix the issue. Just very frustrating. I love the stance. and how it generally looks. I'd prefer to not spend thousands to fix it.

To answer your question, yes, I have the Commando. Used to recently own the very first Hurst Jeepster made. Sold it and regretted it. A buddy of mine was storing one in a barn space for many many years and he finally sold it to me this year after asking him for 10+ years. Will be starting that build pretty soon.

 

[JTGuy]

With a 4 inch lift you probably have way too little caster. Get some adjustable lower front control arms and some JKS geo correction brackets for the front. You want 5-7 deg caster.Those Falcon shocks are stiff, I had some and sold them. What you have is a "Frankinlift" . If you can, just have a MC 2.5 lift installed with the red rock shocks .

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

I’m a huge fan of “Frankenlifts” when quality components are used. Just takes a butt ton of research to get exactly what you want for what you do. It’s a pain but I think it’s better than an off the shelf option that’s ok at a lot of things but not great at everything.

 

[Gerk]

Caster was my next thought. I have read a bit about that. Would love to figure out how to measure caster at home. Not many alignment shops around me.
Other notes to add.
I have the stock Drag link and I have no idea if the track bar has been upgraded. I know the stock one blows. It seems pretty solid tho

 

[Gerk]

Current track bar. Can't find any part numbers on it. And I do not have adjustable lower control arms.

 

[MPMB]

You can measure the lower control arms to check and see if they are the stock ones or not. Center to center of the eyes is around 24" for a stock LCA.

Mopar 2" LCAs are about 1/4" longer, so a 4" lift should have 3/8"-1/2" longer LCAs.

If your LCAs aren't longer than 24", you're under the required caster. Some people run relocation brackets with stock LCAs with lifts, or you get longer/adjustable LCAs.

Also double check where the steering box bolts to the frame.

 

[Main Line Willys]

If you look at Clayton spring numbers, you will see the same part numbers used on Gladiators and JKs. The same spring will lift a JK more. My guess is the PO installed a leveling spring that shares a part number with a JK.

 

[Badunit]

I cannot see your lower control arms in your photo, but if they are round tubular then they are not stock and are probably part of a kit.

What I'm thinking is you have the ReadLift 69-6041 kit. That kit comes with spacers for the rear, which would explain the OEM rear coils. Not paying attention during assembly would explain the coils being installed on the wrong sides. You didn't say which was on which side but the ones I've looked at (which is only two, not a large sample) have had the lower number on the driver's side. The front coils for the kit might be the same as for the JL kit. ReadyLIFT should be able to tell you. The shocks might be all that is causing the stiff ride, though spacer lifts are known for that, too. I cannot explain your shimmy unless something is loose/worn or the lower control arms aren't long enough to give sufficient caster with the newly added weight on the front.

 

[Jteakus]

Caster at home

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/lng-78272

 

[mtudb24]

A 4" lift kit will make the axle slide to the drivers side without an adjustable track bar. Take a2x4 or straight edge from the outside of your tire up the bottom of your fender flare and then measure the horizontal distance from the edge of the flare to the 2x4 or straight edge. They should be equal on both sides. If its a stock track bar, then those numbers won't be even, it will be pushed farther to the drivers side.

Conversely, adding weight to the front end (steel bumper / winch) which will drop the suspension, will move that axle back to the passenger side.

My lift kit pushed my front axle about 3/4" to the drivers side which I corrected by using an adjustable track bar.

 

[Hootbro]

This is why you do not assign and pay a premium for other people's mods.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Your front track bar is adjustable on the axle end. If the axle isn’t already centered, this adjustment will do it. If it’s loose, it could be causing your steering shimmy.

You said you don’t have adjustable arms, so if you don’t have drop brackets, you do need to get one or the other or both to adjust caster.

Your too firm ride can be changed with different shocks.

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