Drag in Driveline after Steering and Control-Arm Upgrades?

[nickjaynes]

I recently had a bunch of things upgraded on my 2020 Gladiator Rubicon the other week (I'll list below). As soon as I got in it, pulled it down into Drive and hit the throttle, it felt like there was a drag in the driveline (at least that's how I perceive it) akin to the e-brake being on slightly (I checked, it's not). The drag I perceive continues on the highway; it takes more throttle to keep it up to freeway speed than it did before.

Existing parts:

• 2.5-inch Clayton Off-road lift springs
• Teraflex Falcon 3.3 shocks
• MOPAR 2-inch lift components (previous lift kit): lower control arms and anti-sway bar links

Parts added when the change in the driveline happened:

• Yeti tie rod
• Yeti XD drag link
• Yeti XD track bar
• Clayton Off-Road control arms (8 control arms)

I returned to the shop the next day and had them drive it and throw it on the rack again. I looked under it with them, too. No brakes dragging. E-brake cable was free and not bound up. I've been testing it myself, and I believe the "drag," as I call it, disappears if I pop the transmission into Neutral.

Of course, it's so slight, it's hard to say for sure. But I think so.

Anyone have any idea what could be going on? I can't think of what would have changed to cause this drag. They aligned it first with a measuring tape before driving it over to a shop for a laser alignment. The front and rear axles are within one degree of each other, side to side. There is plenty of camber, so I don't believe the front wheels are fighting themselves.

Doesn't seem feasible that the drive shaft could be stretched too far with only 2.5 inches of lift, especially given the fact these new components should have given it better geometry. I can't imagine a carrier bearing being suddenly bad at 17,000 miles on the vehicle. I am at a loss.

Ideas?

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[exfil offroad]

I recently had a bunch of things upgraded on my 2020 Gladiator Rubicon the other week (I'll list below). As soon as I got in it, pulled it down into Drive and hit the throttle, it felt like there was a drag in the driveline (at least that's how I perceive it) akin to the e-brake being on slightly (I checked, it's not). The drag I perceive continues on the highway; it takes more throttle to keep it up to freeway speed than it did before.

Existing parts:

• 2.5-inch Clayton Off-road lift springs
• Teraflex Falcon 3.3 shocks
• MOPAR 2-inch lift components (previous lift kit): lower control arms and anti-sway bar links

Parts added when the change in the driveline happened:

• Yeti tie rod
• Yeti XD drag link
• Yeti XD track bar
• Clayton Off-Road control arms (8 control arms)

I returned to the shop the next day and had them drive it and throw it on the rack again. I looked under it with them, too. No brakes dragging. E-brake cable was free and not bound up. I've been testing it myself, and I believe the "drag," as I call it, disappears if I pop the transmission into Neutral.

Of course, it's so slight, it's hard to say for sure. But I think so.

Anyone have any idea what could be going on? I can't think of what would have changed to cause this drag. They aligned it first with a measuring tape before driving it over to a shop for a laser alignment. The front and rear axles are within one degree of each other, side to side. There is plenty of camber, so I don't believe the front wheels are fighting themselves.

Doesn't seem feasible that the drive shaft could be stretched too far with only 2.5 inches of lift, especially given the fact these new components should have given it better geometry. I can't imagine a carrier bearing being suddenly bad at 17,000 miles on the vehicle. I am at a loss.

Ideas?

you put a lot of weight into that vehicle that was not previously there. I would suspect that drag is from that. did you upgrade the tires as well?

 

[nickjaynes]

you put a lot of weight into that vehicle that was not previously there. I would suspect that drag is from that. did you upgrade the tires as well?

Haha it wasn't that much weight compared to what I have added already. Before these upgrades, my truck is running around 7,000 pounds and on 37s. I doubt very much the heavy control arms, etc. would slow the vehicle noticeably.

 

[exfil offroad]

Haha it wasn't that much weight compared to what I have added already. Before these upgrades, my truck is running around 7,000 pounds and on 37s. I doubt very much the heavy control arms, etc. would slow the vehicle noticeably.

yea, nobody knows what kinda "slow" your talking about, but your running 37's on 4.10 gears, with how much extra weight? There could be validity in needing to re gear depending on what kinda lag your talking. Especially with tire weight, this might just have been the tipping point, but again I dont really know what kinda lag your talking. You should be at least at 4.88 with those 37's and upgrades, even if were just talking to make it easier on your engine. But hey throw all that out if you disagree. I went to 5.13 from 3.73 and love it. My truck feels weightless.

 

[exfil offroad]

Haha it wasn't that much weight compared to what I have added already. Before these upgrades, my truck is running around 7,000 pounds and on 37s. I doubt very much the heavy control arms, etc. would slow the vehicle noticeably.

just looked at the photo of your truck, I have to reiterate the weight aspect even if thats not the root of this issue. You have dropped a ton of stuff onto that truck and those 4.10s are really taxed. IMO. Let me know though, I'm intrigued.

 

[nickjaynes]

yea, nobody knows what kinda "slow" your talking about, but your running 37's on 4.10 gears, with how much extra weight? There could be validity in needing to re gear depending on what kinda lag your talking. Especially with tire weight, this might just have been the tipping point, but again I dont really know what kinda lag your talking. You should be at least at 4.88 with those 37's and upgrades, even if were just talking to make it easier on your engine. But hey throw all that out if you disagree. I went to 5.13 from 3.73 and love it. My truck feels weightless.

It feels like the e-bike is on slightly. That's what it feels like.

 

[CerOf]

How are the drive shaft cv boots? They still intact and clean/grease free?
When run at steeper angles, they will eventually fail and sling grease. They could then have extra drag.

These are from my JK. The joint wasnt at too much of an angle but failed all the same.

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