Steering Wheel isn’t straight

[travist09]

When driving straight down the road the steering wheel is slightly offset. Does anyone know how this happens or is it from the loft, tires and stabilizer mounting/install?
I have a 4” lift with Falcon stabilizer.
it also seems to get pretty shaky at 60 mpg. Just over 500 miles on her.

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[Incommando]

If you were to measure I would say your axle may be off-center. Did you replace the trackbar after lifting?

 

[MATANZAS STING RAY]

The lift will offset the steering wheel, just get it re-centered.... google how to do it or have a shop do it for you.... They should have done it when you had an alignment done after adding the lift kit....

 

[travist09]

If you were to measure I would say your axle may be off-center. Did you replace the trackbar after lifting?

I didn’t do the lift...
How would I look to check?

 

[LostWoods]

When you lift a Jeep, the wheel will be turned slightly left unless you redo the alignment because the drag link will be too short. I can't remember which direction but it's an easy at-home fix if you're even slighly mechanically inclined. There's no way to damage the truck so long as you adjust the drag link in small increments (1/4 turn at most) and make sure the ball joints on the link ends are centered before you tighten the sleeve again. That will fix your steering wheel. Toe should be fine because lifts don't impact the tie rod.

 

[LostWoods]

I didn’t do the lift...
How would I look to check?

You need to jack the front, remove the wheels, and measure. Typically we would put a straight-edge on the hub face and measure inward to frame to make sure they match.

But you have an aftermarket track bar in that picture so that should be on whomever did the lift if it's actually an issue - I'm betting your drag link is just slightly off because that's how you adjust the steering wheel.

A shifted axle will impact how the Jeep tracks and can translate into a perceived steering wheel issue but if the jeep drives straight in the middle lane (i.e. where there is minimal road crown - the freeway is ideal for this), then all you need is a slight drag link adjustment.

 

[Moe_Fugga]

Go to 21:18 in this video and he explains the steering wheel centering procedure. As others have mentioned, you may need to make sure your track bar is at the correct length. If you’re inclined to watch the video he may talk about track bar adjustment.

 

[MATANZAS STING RAY]

I didn’t do the lift...
How would I look to check?

If you have shaking at 60 mph, you should take it back to the shop that did the lift..... get them to re-set everything...... and verify everything is tight..... The track bar shouldn't cause that issue as it only corrects the left to right track of the axle and centers the axle between the frame, not front to rear.....

The upper and lower Control arms affect Castor and Camber settings (oversteer or understeer issues and tire wear conditions) and correct differential angles..... I'd suspect something is off slightly but that's why you should have had an alignment done......

The Toe alignment should be about 1/16 to 1/8 inch in at the front of the rotor vs the rear of the rotor to account for roadway slopes... i know that's what RK suggests for their kit..... I'd check to spec sheet for the brand of the lift they installed, print it off and take that with you to the shop or alignment place...... The RK thread in this forum under Suspensions is a good source of info......

I didn’t do the lift...
How would I look to check?

 

[Jeeperjamie]

The adjustment sleeve will get it back right and I'm sure your axle is off center. Need to get a adjustable track bar and then take it in for a alignment, they will get everything squared away for you or you can do it yourself in the driveway. A jeep really only needs a good front end alignment, but if you want it dead on take it to a shop.

Also if it's a Rock Krawler track bar your better off taking it back to the shop. It may not be tight enough and wing nuts suck to try to adjust and get right. The RK track bar has to be adjusted off the jeep. It took me forever to get mine lined up right on my JK. When it wore out I went with one that adjusted on the jeep and was non greasable. Made life easier

 

[travist09]

All great information and really appreciate it.
The shop is not being helpful.
Shaking is minimal, but I assume it shouldn’t at all when professionally done.
mill try track bar and see if I can have someone else look at the shaking and realign.

 

[LostWoods]

The adjustment sleeve will get it back right and I'm sure your axle is off center. Need to get a adjustable track bar and then take it in for a alignment, they will get everything squared away for you or you can do it yourself in the driveway. A jeep really only needs a good front end alignment, but if you want it dead on take it to a shop.

Also if it's a Rock Krawler track bar your better off taking it back to the shop. It may not be tight enough and wing nuts suck to try to adjust and get right. The RK track bar has to be adjusted off the jeep. It took me forever to get mine lined up right on my JK. When it wore out I went with one that adjusted on the jeep and was non greasable. Made life easier

That's definitely an adjustable track bar on there and it should have been set correctly when the lift was installed. A bad axle alignment will dog track so if it's tracking straight with no steering input, it's just a drag link adjustment.

 

[travist09]

That's definitely an adjustable track bar on there and it should have been set correctly when the lift was installed. A bad axle alignment will dog track so if it's tracking straight with no steering input, it's just a drag link adjustment.

Thanks, it goes straight, steering wheel just isn’t center.
thanks again!

 

[Jeeperjamie]

That's definitely an adjustable track bar on there and it should have been set correctly when the lift was installed. A bad axle alignment will dog track so if it's tracking straight with no steering input, it's just a drag link adjustment.

True, I'm just assuming the shop did the alignment but maybe they didn't. They definitely should of got the steering right on it and with a adjustable track bar it should of been easy. @travist09 if the shop isn't being helpful I would one not ever use them again, which if I drove off and my jeep steering wheel wasn't corrected I probably wouldn't use them again anyway, and Two you can take it to an alignment shop and ask for a alignment and they will get everything right for you. Also an easy fix in the driveway. Alignments around my area run $50-$60 so not huge price to pay to get everything right and most of them put a 1yr warranty on the alignments

 

[WXman]

On the adjustment collar, loosen the 15mm nut and turn the collar. It'll adjust the steering wheel. Very simple to do. Go slow and check with a test drive, then repeat.

Bottom of collar spun toward rear of truck will make steering wheel move clockwise, vise versa.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

It's on the drag link that's where you will find the adjustment sleeve. Once you get it adjusted make sure you get it tightened back down good. Not going to fix the shaking above 60 problem though. That's a suspension issue, or tire or wheel issue. Picture for reference.

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