Sponsored

Fixed my wandering and pulling to the right issues!!

Pescado

Well-Known Member
First Name
Matt
Joined
Aug 22, 2020
Threads
6
Messages
163
Reaction score
249
Location
San Diego
Vehicle(s)
Gladiator Overland
After my 2.5" lift and 35's went on my JT's wandering was much worse and had a pull to the right. It was really bad to the point it made driving it not as fun as it should be. This is my first Jeep and first truck with a SFA so I thought it was a Jeep thing but it really bugged me how bad it was. After looking into ways to possibly fix it it seemed that half of people said get an adjustable track bar and the other half said adjustable lower control arms. I have a friend that works at Off Road Warehouse and he gave me a really good deal so I said screw it and got both the track bar and lower control arms. I have a Terraflex lift so I went with Terraflex Alpine track bar and LCA's. After installing those and giving it a good alignment holy crap what a difference it made. It was like driving a totally different truck. No wondering, no pulling, the whole front end just feels tighter and I really can't believe how much of a difference it made. I expected to feel a little difference but it made a HUGE difference. This thing drives amazing now!

Jeep Gladiator Fixed my wandering and pulling to the right issues!! track bar.JPG

Jeep Gladiator Fixed my wandering and pulling to the right issues!! LCA's.JPG
Sponsored

 

Mac

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2017
Threads
33
Messages
2,156
Reaction score
2,301
Location
MA
Vehicle(s)
2020 JT Hydro Blue Max Tow
What were the caster numbers after the alignment?
 

MrFahrenheit

Well-Known Member
First Name
Mike
Joined
Jan 6, 2020
Threads
10
Messages
478
Reaction score
793
Location
Arizona
Vehicle(s)
2020 FC Red Gladiator Rubicon
Build Thread
Link
Iā€™m glad your rig is driving better but the only difference in those numbers is the toe. Thatā€™s a lot of money to have someone adjust the tierod.

Iā€™m on my phone though so maybe Iā€™m just missing something.
 

Sponsored

OP
OP
Pescado

Pescado

Well-Known Member
First Name
Matt
Joined
Aug 22, 2020
Threads
6
Messages
163
Reaction score
249
Location
San Diego
Vehicle(s)
Gladiator Overland
Iā€™m glad your rig is driving better but the only difference in those numbers is the toe. Thatā€™s a lot of money to have someone adjust the tierod.

Iā€™m on my phone though so maybe Iā€™m just missing something.
maybe it was the track bar along with some toe that made a difference. I dont know if any of those numbers reflect a track bar adjustmentā€¦I have a hard time believing it was just toe that made the difference I feel but if it is than that was the best $1000 alignment I ever had šŸ˜†
 

Mac

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2017
Threads
33
Messages
2,156
Reaction score
2,301
Location
MA
Vehicle(s)
2020 JT Hydro Blue Max Tow
Were the before alignment numbers were with the new parts? based on the OPs description it read like the before specs were with the new parts and they just adjusted it from there. My guess is the caster made the most difference.
 

NewGladdyOWNR

Well-Known Member
First Name
Johnny
Joined
Aug 7, 2021
Threads
22
Messages
363
Reaction score
523
Location
Michigan
Vehicle(s)
Jeep Gladiator Overland
Occupation
MRI Technologist
With your 2.5" lift, I'm curious to see what your front pinion angle looks like with the ability to have that much caster. I'm trying to find the right balance between my front pinion angle and caster, but when I get my pinion angle correct, it gives me negative caster, which results in an awful driving experience.
 

seven30

Well-Known Member
First Name
Tom
Joined
Apr 12, 2021
Threads
10
Messages
663
Reaction score
532
Location
central texas/ south colorado
Vehicle(s)
2021 JTM 6spd, 2001 Cherokee, 1992 Comanche
Occupation
Programer
The big takeaway here is the Solid Axle does not have inherent wander and pull. Its one of those myths that just wont die.

I do wonder if the bolts may have been loose and in the process of installing the terraflex parts that was corrected.
 

Wet Willys

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2021
Threads
18
Messages
249
Reaction score
153
Location
Fort Worth, TX
Vehicle(s)
2021 Jeep Gladiator Willys
The "before" measurements were likely taken after the new parts were installed, so the caster numbers were probably lower before the new control arms, plus centering up the axle with the new adjustable track bar. Those two things plus getting the toe set right would def make a lot of difference.
 

Sponsored

OP
OP
Pescado

Pescado

Well-Known Member
First Name
Matt
Joined
Aug 22, 2020
Threads
6
Messages
163
Reaction score
249
Location
San Diego
Vehicle(s)
Gladiator Overland
Were the before alignment numbers were with the new parts? based on the OPs description it read like the before specs were with the new parts and they just adjusted it from there. My guess is the caster made the most difference.
Good point. The before numbers had to be with the new parts, they wouldn't get the truck all set up on the alignment rack just to take before #'s with the old parts.

With your 2.5" lift, I'm curious to see what your front pinion angle looks like with the ability to have that much caster. I'm trying to find the right balance between my front pinion angle and caster, but when I get my pinion angle correct, it gives me negative caster, which results in an awful driving experience.
I am not sure. All this is a rabbit hole I didn't want to go down but I guess it's too late.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mac

Renegade

Well-Known Member
First Name
Zac
Joined
Sep 11, 2017
Threads
38
Messages
3,562
Reaction score
4,693
Location
Signal Mountain, TN
Vehicle(s)
2020 JT
Build Thread
Link
With your 2.5" lift, I'm curious to see what your front pinion angle looks like with the ability to have that much caster. I'm trying to find the right balance between my front pinion angle and caster, but when I get my pinion angle correct, it gives me negative caster, which results in an awful driving experience.
Pinion angle should be less of a consideration than caster angle on Jeeps with a CV drive shaft. Prior references to pinion angle over caster angle were from TJ Mopar manuals. Those had 2 u-joints in the front driveshaft.
 

WhyNotJeep

Banned
Banned
First Name
Steve
Joined
Mar 14, 2022
Threads
13
Messages
303
Reaction score
255
Location
La Verne
Vehicle(s)
'14 Ram 2500 Diesel 4x4,,, '14 Wrangler JKUR
Occupation
Done with it
With the CAD in front, the only time the front DS will spin is in 4x4 mode. So set the caster as needed.
 

bleda2002

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 11, 2021
Threads
23
Messages
2,331
Reaction score
3,747
Location
34655
Vehicle(s)
2021 JTR Firecracker Red
With your 2.5" lift, I'm curious to see what your front pinion angle looks like with the ability to have that much caster. I'm trying to find the right balance between my front pinion angle and caster, but when I get my pinion angle correct, it gives me negative caster, which results in an awful driving experience.
The pinion and caster are 6*'s off so if he's at 5.5 or so then his pinion angle will be close to 0 vice versa
Sponsored

 
 



Top