Steersmarts Sector Shaft with Clayton Overland+ 3.5" coil spring rub

[TheTrailGeek]

I have a recently installed Clayton 3.5" Overland Plus lift on my 2020 Gladiator. I've got a heck of a rub on my spring. It's hitting the Steersmarts sector shaft brace. The vehicle has the AEV Geometry brackets as well. It's aligned and drives straight as an arrow down the road. I even took it to a "Clayton Dealer" in Cumming GA and had an alignment done and some adjustments made, but it's honestly worse than it was before. I've measured and the track bar is very close to centered, but the 1/4" it's off would only move it closer to the sector shaft brace. I'm not sure if the axle needs to be pulled back further. I thought the shop in Cumming would have made that adjustment when doing the alignment, but all my original paint marks match up on my front control arms so I don't believe they adjusted anything up front. The Clayton dealer told me they do this setup all the time with no issues. From the middle of the front bolt on the lower control arm to the middle of the rear bolt it's currently 24.25" and the upper is 20.5" and the caster is 6 degrees exactly. The bumpstops look a little wonky to me, but again, nothing that caused a red flag with the Clayton dealer. Just kind of at a loss here as to what to do to remedy the issue. I reached out to Clayton, but got back I should buy their sector shaft brace and told "Ultimately, our coils were designed to fit under the vehicle, as is… Not with a competitor's reinforcement bracket. That's like comparing apples to oranges.". Any thoughts on where to go from here or does anyone have the same setup and can compare measurements? I don't have a ton of room left for adjustments on the lower. Just looking for some help. Thanks in advance.

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[Hootbro]

Get a grinder and relief cut the sector shaft brace and touch-up paint.

 

[TheTrailGeek]

Here is an AI response. It recommended checking with a Jeep Gladiator Forum.


Based on your description, you're experiencing a spring rub against the Steersmarts sector shaft brace after installing a Clayton 3.5" Overland Plus lift on your 2020 Gladiator. This is a challenging fitment issue, especially with the mix of aftermarket components.

Here are some potential fixes to consider:

1. Spring spacers: Adding a small spring spacer could potentially shift the spring's position just enough to clear the sector shaft brace.
2. Spring seat adjustment: Check if your spring seats can be rotated or adjusted to change the spring's seating position relative to the brace.
3. Notch the brace: As a last resort, you might consider carefully notching the sector shaft brace where it contacts the spring. This would need to be done carefully to maintain structural integrity.
4. Control arm adjustments: Even though your measurements show the lower control arm at 24.25" and upper at 20.5", you might try slight adjustments to change the axle position. Sometimes even small changes can resolve clearance issues.
5. Alternative sector shaft brace: Consider replacing the Steersmarts brace with another brand that might offer better clearance with the Clayton springs.
6. Spring modification: A spring shop might be able to modify the end of the spring slightly to provide clearance without affecting performance.

Have you checked with any Jeep Gladiator forums to see if others have experienced this specific combination of parts? Someone might have already solved this exact issue.

 

[Rusty PW]

Had the same problem. 3.5" Clayton springs, Steersmart brace, and Teraflex geo brackets. I shorten both upper and lower control arms. And ground down the edge of the brace.

 

[TheTrailGeek]

Ah, interestingly enough, those big wings aren't on the new version of the brace.

 

[TheTrailGeek]

Any other suggestions @Clayton Off Road before I try to grind on this bracket?

 

[Clayton Off Road]

Hey guys!

While I can't say anything about our springs rubbing with the steer smarts bracket because we never tested our kits with that particular bracket, we do have also have our brace available that we specifically designed not to rub, I'll leave a link below for you to checkout! If you have any questions, just let me know.

https://www.claytonoffroad.com/product/jeep-front-track-bar-bracket-brace-2018-jl-jt

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