Issue with ride quality on 24x14 wheels paired with 6" lift

[Sbro2021]

No problem. Mine is a daily driver too- ~ 800 miles a week. I was at about 20k on the 40’s when my problems arose. Drove perfect before that. I run 40’s on a 4.5”lift up front, with two inch spacers so I can attest to the track following because my steering geometry is off with scrub. The rest is now again back where it should be and drives perfectly again. All of my driving is highway, bought my glad in Nov 21 and I have 45k on it already. I would get off the giant wheels, go back to a 17x8.5 for a 37” anything, go with the minimum backspace required to not rub and go through all the steering components and find the culprits, likely will be a few.

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[Hootbro]

That thing was built for a look and not function. I am with @Sbro2021 in that you need to downsize to a 17" rim, backspacing and appropriate 37" tire.

Whole vehicle suspension needs to be deconstructed and built up right.

Edit: If not already done (which I doubt it has) need to factor in a regear of the diffs if you are wanting to still stay on 37's.

 

[staying_tuned]

I'd try to sell the existing wheels and tires while they are still in decent shape and drop down to 20" max. Maybe toss the RC lift (RC is somewhat disposable) and go with something a little less geometry skewing like a low height yet high quality 2.5" lift. Anyone with 24" or close sized wheels will gush over how lit your ride is but literally every other Jeeper (you know, the 99.9%) will wonder what you were thinking. Just shooting straight with you. End result will be a far better on-road riding vehicle that is bada$$ to most jeepers which can actually articulate and crawl if you ever need to take it off-road. All that aside, great truck and really dig the rubi red stock accents against string gray.

 

[Sailscall]

Did you test drive it before you bought it?

 

[mx5red]

Good idea, I will see what I can find.

I agree with this... Even if you find somebody with 20" rims or something. My guess is that those tires are so wide they're causing a lot of it. The wider the tires, the more they tramline. Even like a 37x12.5 or 13.5 x20 would probably be better.

 

[theCATALYST]

Did you test drive it before you bought it?

I did and just assumed it was an alignment issue. Never did get a chance to open it up on the highway before purchase. I should have tried harder for that opportunity.

 

[Kindafearless]

I have 40s and mine is an off-road rig, but it still gets driven a bunch on the road.

- tire pressure is always the first to watch when wandering (repeating for importance)

- I recommend weighing each wheel and tire and if you replace them, get something lighter. If you can stay sub 100lbs peer corner that’s great.

- Big wheels and tires wear out components like ball joints and any suspension joint. Lift the Jeep and check for loose suspension and steering parts.

- Your steering box can be tightened up. Search on here and you’ll find some suggestions.

- 6 inches of lift causes a lot of body roll, which makes everything else looser. Might be worth bringing it down a little by getting shorter springs. Evo, RK, Clayton, and several other companies make nice spring sets you can swap in, as long as you adjust everything else after.

 

[Jteakus]

In my opinion the tires and wheels are killing your drivability. I agree with dropping back to a 17" wheel in an 8-8.5" width. Lower the lift to get the control arm angles better and you will be much happier with how it will drive. Night and day difference.

 

[dmwphoto]

a 2 1/2"lift properly installed and 37s on 17 x 8.5 wheels will make this a much more comfortable and controlled ride

 

[WILDHOBO]

Definitely no ridicule. But in my opinion, that lift and wheel size is really extreme for a gladiator. It’s not a great setup for on or off road. If you’re not set in that height, I’d get some 17” wheels and 37x12.5x17 tires. Then lower the lift to between 3 and 4”. You’ll probably recoup a bunch of cost by just selling the wheels and tires.

 

[Gren71]

It may or may not be anything, but in your pictures, it looks like your shocks are installed upside down… No idea if this makes a difference, but it would bother me

also, if you get your alignment checked make sure to ask them for a print out of all of your specs. It looks to me like your front and rear control Arms are all at an incorrect angle, which may have decreased caster in the front and rear causing a lot of wander and instability. at minimum you can get the geometry correction brackets for the front and rear, an increase in caster would make a huge difference

 

[Jaxmax]

The OP , “the Catalyst” likes the look of 24” wheels and would like to keep something like that look, not going off-road really, perhaps a compromise between 18-20” rims with reasonable tires will give him the look he is after. Not everyone has to have the same look , nor do they have to be off-road trucks. It’s about what you want, I think your tires are the biggest part of your problem followed by a lift not really set up right and being a bit too tall. Welcome

 

[Cansberry]

I won't jump the in with the rest of the choir about "37 in tires and 17 in wheels." It's not your style. To keep it where you want it aesthetically while also driving safe, I'd look into a 20-22in wheel and I'd drop your lift at a minimum 2 inches. Also investing in a quality lift with a patiently done install will pay dividends. The bigger wheels and tires will definitely stress everything in the system out more, so a regear at some point will also pay dividends.

Been driving Jeeps near my whole life, and they do like to wander. But it shouldn't be scary. A high center of gravity, poor lift, and wide but not meaty tires is definitely going to make it worse. Scale it back a little, expect some slop (It's a solid axle vehicle thats off the ground with a mechanical steering box) and enjoy the Jeep!

 

[WillVra]

I have 2 buddies with 37x13.50 20” both of theirs rode like crap, road wandered and grabbed every groove in the pavement, you could feel every bump and you definitely can’t let go of the wheel. Another friend of mine has 37x13.50 17” drives perfect, no wobble no wandering, I run 37x12.5 17” and mine has no wobble or wandering, can let go of the wheel at 70 and it tracks true. Really nice ride, enough so that one of the above mentioned friends has already changed to 40”x13.5 17” and had them balanced in Moab, says it’s night and day difference. The other guy is now looking to switch back to 17” as well. Long story short I’d see if someone has some 17” wheels you can change and try. That would be my guess is the wide wheels and the lack of any side wall on the tires and overinflation are all adding up to a crappy ride and steering.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

2.5" Clayton lift with 35s and 20" wheels. Rides and drives great, except it does need gears.

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