Hey all. I have an 08 JKU with steering issues. I have a 3.25" Rustys lift installed which netted me 4". I have replaced the Rustys adj front track bar with a TF adj and added a pair of TF adj lower CA's. This helped tremendously, however I still have steer issues. Now, I feel pretty confident I will be doing a high steer kit, drag link flip kit, or something of the like, but I feel like I should start by replacing these cheap Rustys hydro shocks. Not to mention I was told to by the 4 wheel shop that installed the TF hardware. So, my questions are:

1. I drive 90% highway and pull a trailer quite regularly. What type of shock will give me better handling?

2. What brand would you folks recommend?

3. After the shocks are replaced what's next? I may need to start another thread for this.

Note: I have a hardtop, but no bumpers etc.

Thanks for the wealth of knowledge around here, and the willingness to share it.

 

I run this kit and still use the factory control arms and have zero steering issues. Sounds to me like something not done right. Did they align it correctly?

 

Ya that can be anything from bad alignment to unbalanced wheels or bent rim. Doesn't sound like it's your lift though... Recenter steering wheel and get alignment 1st.. Then roll over to discount tire and get tires rotated and balanced and work from there if still issues

 

Well lets get this out of the way too.... What do you mean by "steering issues".

 

maybe look into some bilstein 5100's. Ive never personally tried them but ive heard good things

 

I've got the 5100's with RK 2.5 max travel it netted me 4.25 in front and mine drives great. I did need alignment to get toe corrected.
My front stock fender measures 40 1/4 in. to bottom.
I also have 5.1 degrees castor factory is something like 4.2 it only effects how my steering wheel returns back to straight. 5100'a are good for me. Kind of stuff tho but hey it's a Jeep not a caddy. Good luck.

 

Hey y'all. Thanks for the replies. Sorry I was vague on the "steering issues". This is my second lifted vehicle so I have a good idea of the causes of things that can go wrong but I certainly am not what I would call experienced. Since the shop installed the CA's and better front trackbar and aligned it, the jeep has gradually gotten to be sloppy on the road. Will not return to center, has bump steer, and wanders all over. I really have to DRIVE it. Now don't get on me about the drive it part of that. Yall know what i mean. There is no driving with the knee on the interstate while you grab your cell. Or looking to the side. Or making a call. I can not take my eyes off the road or I will very possibly be in the next lane. It absolutely doesn't track straight. And if the road is rutted at all, forget it. It follows those ruts. Especially if you hit the brakes at all. While pulling a trailer all this becomes especially concerning. I have a 6' wide utility trailer that tracks a little wider than the jeep and is a bitch to keep in my lane. I recently took It to a different shop (closer, and different eyes) and had the guy drive it 5-6 miles. Afterwards he suggested I get new, less sloppy swaybar links and a much stiffer shock. He suggested I do those and call it good. The original shop said the same thing. Hence the shock question.



And hey, not to dis on the Rustys lift but the reason I swapped out their trackbar for a TF was the Rustys was flexing like crazy when I turned the wheel. I got under the jeep and saw it. The shop that installed it suggested I swap it.


I hope this new info gives you good folks a better picture of what I have going on.

 

Tire pressures. Go 34 first then drop till it feels better. Mine did the same thing with a leveling kit and 33s.

I'm at 34 lbs now from 38-40 and it's much better. I may drop another 2