Front Springs bowed!!

[2020GladRubicon]

Hi y’all!

I have a 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon with the following mods

- ACOS front bump stops
- Bilstein 5100 Rear shocks
- Terra-flex 3.5” coils with upgraded sway links
- Fox Racing Stabilizer
- RPM 2” aluminum steering kit
- Synergy adjustable Front track bar with relocation bracket
- Synergy Sector Shaft Brace
- Front Upper & Lower Terraflex Alpine adjustable control arms
- Metal cloak correction pads

I am having an issue with the my front springs they are bowing heavily forward (see photos) I just recently installed correction pads & got my truck aligned. My bump stops are now hitting my springs.

Any thoughts?

Sponsored

 

[sharpsicle]

Are you sure the springs are seated correctly? And is the axle properly centered under the truck? Something isn't aligned right.

 

[Stitchedupseats]

I had the same issue with the Teraflex springs.. was almost touching my sway bar link.

 

[Rubi-Zero]

You might try and reduce the upper control arm length to rotate the spring seat on the axle back toward center

 

[2020GladRubicon]

Are you sure the springs are seated correctly? And is the axle properly centered under the truck? Something isn't aligned right.

they are seated correctly on the correction pad. Maybe they are not seated correctly on the adjustable bump stop. How would I be able to confirm?

I was told it is properly seated from the alignment shop

 

[2020GladRubicon]

You might try and reduce the upper control arm length to rotate the spring seat on the axle back toward center

The alignment shop adjusted this yesterday.

 

[hjdca]

You might want to give yourself some more caster and increase your pinion angle. In addition, you can use Rusty's off road products -
RUSTY'S JL/JT BOW CORRECTION LOWER COIL SPRING ISOLATORS
$45.00
Part Number: RC-9179

Here is a pic of me installing mine.

 

[Rubi-Zero]

The alignment shop adjusted this yesterday.

Well it’s either that or increase the caster more. Do you know what the numbers are?
Some shops don’t know and try and set it back to factory settings but a lifted Jeep will not have the same factory alignment numbers

 

[2020GladRubicon]

I had the same issue with the Teraflex springs.. was almost touching my sway bar link.

Did you swap them out?

 

[Stitchedupseats]

Yep. Bought a new gladiator.

why change the oil when you can get a brand hammer new one?! Jk lol lol.

Did you swap them out?

Never did get them totally straight. Did a track bar and coil seats. It helped but still off.

 

[OHJeeper]

As others have noted, your axle is not centered properly. When you lift any vehicle, as the axle drops, it essentially tilts forward at the top and more backwards at the bottom. It's essentially traveling in an arc. This isn't a Jeep, but hopefully you get the idea:

With a 3.5" lift, the tilt of the axle is more pronounced. The way to correct this is to either shorten the upper CA's or extend the Lower CA's. To keep the axle properly centered with a 3.5" lift you may need a little of both. If you just extend the lowers, the arc will be lessened, but the wheel will sit farther forward in the wheel well. If you reduced the uppers, the wheel sits farther back

This is a rear wheel, but just to visualize what "not centered" looks like:

 

[Mac]

Looks like the ACOS bump stops are adding at least 2" of spacer lift, have you tried putting the springs in without the ACOS and see if they still bow?

 

[2020GladRubicon]

I have not, they are currently about a 1/2” dropped from being completely bottomed out. Also as a side note. Before the alignment my bump stops were hitting the springs but my springs were not hitting the bump stops

 

[ShadowsPapa]

As others have noted, your axle is not centered properly. When you lift any vehicle, as the axle drops, it essentially tilts forward at the top and more backwards at the bottom. It's essentially traveling in an arc. This isn't a Jeep, but hopefully you get the idea:

With a 3.5" lift, the tilt of the axle is more pronounced. The way to correct this is to either shorten the upper CA's or extend the Lower CA's. To keep the axle properly centered with a 3.5" lift you may need a little of both. If you just extend the lowers, the arc will be lessened, but the wheel will sit farther forward in the wheel well. If you reduced the uppers, the wheel sits farther back

This is a rear wheel, but just to visualize what "not centered" looks like:

My gut told me - caster was set using either just uppers or just lower and they didn't level the axle. It's tipped or - shifted so it's not directly under the top spring seat. It really looks like the axle is shifted, like you describe, and not right straight below the upper spring seat.

 

[2020GladRubicon]

As others have noted, your axle is not centered properly. When you lift any vehicle, as the axle drops, it essentially tilts forward at the top and more backwards at the bottom. It's essentially traveling in an arc. This isn't a Jeep, but hopefully you get the idea:

With a 3.5" lift, the tilt of the axle is more pronounced. The way to correct this is to either shorten the upper CA's or extend the Lower CA's. To keep the axle properly centered with a 3.5" lift you may need a little of both. If you just extend the lowers, the arc will be lessened, but the wheel will sit farther forward in the wheel well. If you reduced the uppers, the wheel sits farther back

This is a rear wheel, but just to visualize what "not centered" looks like:

Thank you for the detailed post. It was very easy to follow.

Another member just brought up my bump stops, they are about a 1/2” from being bottomed out (meaning they are currently adjusting the ride height by 1/2” lift). I left it with a 1/2 spacing due to the fact we had to cut the original bump stops off.

Sponsored