Thoughts on steering issue

[VA6489]

Another thought on the floaty feeling what Ball joints are you running? Look at a good quality joint like Dynatrac.

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[Rubiwoo]

Another thought on the floaty feeling what Ball joints are you running? Look at a good quality joint like Dynatrac.

Ball joint deletes

 

[imallcrawl]

Why 40 PSI? I would think 35-37 would be sufficient on the JT.

Not sure why, but both 4WP and Maui Off Road setup the tires with 40psi. I trust both of them since they have many years in the industry

 

[kevman65]

At 4.5" of lift you may want to look at flipping the drag link to get it closer to parallel to the axle and tie rod.

 

[kevman65]

If you've done all the normal trouble shooting and found nothing, try removing your steering stabilizer and see if your problem goes away, stays the same, gets worse.

Steering stabilizer can cause problems in some cases. But it almost always masks the real problem.

If your track bar has been a problem before, the mounting holes could be oblong and causing an issue. You would have fixed that problem on one end with the sector shaft brace, but then moved it all to the axle end.

There are so many small things that can cause steering issues. Not saying this is your problem, but after a lift is done and been driven on, bolts in the control arms can loosen and then your axle housing is floating around.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Not sure why, but both 4WP and Maui Off Road setup the tires with 40psi. I trust both of them since they have many years in the industry

Watch that tire wear for excessive wear on the center tread blocks.

(I don't trust 4WP at all)

 

[Rubiwoo]

If you've done all the normal trouble shooting and found nothing, try removing your steering stabilizer and see if your problem goes away, stays the same, gets worse.

Steering stabilizer can cause problems in some cases. But it almost always masks the real problem.

If your track bar has been a problem before, the mounting holes could be oblong and causing an issue. You would have fixed that problem on one end with the sector shaft brace, but then moved it all to the axle end.

There are so many small things that can cause steering issues. Not saying this is your problem, but after a lift is done and been driven on, bolts in the control arms can loosen and then your axle housing is floating around.

I plan to double check torque and movement at the joints this weekend.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

3.25 BS is a huge change from stock. This will effect scrub radius. This will make the wheel more sensitive to road imperfections and obstacles.





Cheers

Took me years here to get anyone to believe it. It's truly a big deal. And that's why I asked about WHEELS or wheel changes.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Not sure why, but both 4WP and Maui Off Road setup the tires with 40psi. I trust both of them since they have many years in the industry

And so do dealers, tire shops and other places- bring in a Jeep, no matter the tires on it, even new Jeeps, and they automatically pump in 40+ psi.
Doesn't make it right or good.
The fact they do it on various tires varying in size, ignoring what the tire makers say or even the door jamb decal tells me - doesn't matter how many years they've been doing it, could still be wrong.
I had a college professor who taught us that- "someone has done something that way for 25 years could have been doing it wrong for 25 years"

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Yes, but where is the 1/8" toe in measured at?

“Toe in” means the front of both tires are closer together than the back of the tires.

 

[DanJT]

Not sure why, but both 4WP and Maui Off Road setup the tires with 40psi. I trust both of them since they have many years in the industry

I run mine at 35LB's and they run smooth.

 

[imallcrawl]

And so do dealers, tire shops and other places- bring in a Jeep, no matter the tires on it, even new Jeeps, and they automatically pump in 40+ psi.
Doesn't make it right or good.
The fact they do it on various tires varying in size, ignoring what the tire makers say or even the door jamb decal tells me - doesn't matter how many years they've been doing it, could still be wrong.
I had a college professor who taught us that- "someone has done something that way for 25 years could have been doing it wrong for 25 years"

Actually after many years of driving lifted vehicles on 40s, 40psi works perfectly for me on the road. No one needs to follow that, set your psi however you want, all I'm saying is 40psi makes me and my Jeep happy

 

[DanJT]

Actually after many years of driving lifted vehicles on 40s, 40psi works perfectly for me on the road. No one needs to follow that, set your psi however you want, all I'm saying is 40psi makes me and my Jeep happy

I have never thought of running PSI at 40 but if it works for you, the the Hell with what anybody says.
"You do you"

 

[Rubiwoo]

Quick update:
- changed steering stabilizer from medium to soft. No change
- changed caster from 7 to 6. Drives much better.
- kept stabilizer set to soft

FYI: Rusty's steering components suggests 7 degrees caster is recommended. I didn't change it when switching to Steer Smarts. 6 degrees for me seems to have resolved my wandering issue

Thanks everyone for all of the suggestions

 

[ShadowsPapa]

FYI: Rusty's steering components suggests 7 degrees caster is recommended.

7 can cause "caster wobble" in some cases. That seems too high for my experiences. For me, personally, 6 would be my top end.

A summary of too much caster from the internet -
.......and a less responsive or even unstable feel during cornering and braking. While positive caster improves straight-line stability and self-centering, excessive amounts can negatively impact handling.
Too much caster can lead to steering vibrations or "shimmy,"

I've tried to explain that here - but some believe more is always better, and increasing caster can resolve a shimmy or even DW - and yet, it can actually CAUSE it (plus the feeling of instability)

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