deconstructionist

having an issue with the front end: not the death wobble.

I have a trailaster 5in lift on and never once had an issuesince putting it on until recently.... front tires began to scallop about 2K ago-- So I got 'em balanced and rotated (they were way off). But as of about a week ago I'm getting some real flighty steering: like the jeep is on two different sets of tracks between front and back and some real dodgy steering...........

Was searcing and found thi thread

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...nt+control+arm

was wondering if some more caster would help????????????? Which is the quickest remove & replace set between Rusty's and JKS's???????? Which is the better route to go if you are only going to do one- upper or lower control arms????????


(ps sorry if my wring sounds wierd--- have my 7mo old daughter on my lap who keeps banging keyboard while i try to type 1hand and hold her too!!!/)

thanks

mkjeep

Lowers for the front are the best way to adj castor. Easy to install , just do one side at a time with a floor jack under the pumpkin to move it around.

mkjeep

I would go over all your suspension parts and bolts though. If it was driving fine and all of a sudden it changed, something is awry. Does that kit have trk bar relocation brackets? Have you checked the toe-in lately? Have you hit your tie-rod on anything off-road? Also, when they rotated and bal them , is that when the probs started or soon thereafter? How often have you been rotating? Sorry for all the questions , just trying to narrow it down so your not spending money on something that may not fix your prob.

deconstructionist

Thanks guys- No, no offroad lately (my twins are preventing a LOTTTT of Daddy playtime)

For all *just looking* everything seems straight- front and rear axels look aligned and centered. The trailmaster kit (front what I remeber had a slight drop bracket and longer trackbar............

Wife just reminded me too: we both heard a distinct *clunk* from a complete stop to foot off the brake yesturday: nothing super loud but a distinct clunk coming from what sounded like the passenger side front....


Any suggestions on the lowers? JKS or Rusty's? Or another brand? goods/bad of either?

mkjeep

I take it you have the economy kit, did they install cam bolts to adjust for castor? If so, one or both could have moved on you. I have the TeraFlex front lowers, but I haven't heard anything bad about the ones you mentioned. Both are good companies.

deconstructionist

It was a budget kit but no- there were no cam bolts: lettme try to track down my thread of the install (seems like an eternity now since I did it!)

deconstructionist

Ok ,here was the install thread-- loks like I need to track down the actual kit number........


https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...082#post585082

deconstructionist

Ok, here's the kit/////removing hyperlink as I dunno if trailmaster is a sponsor............


http://ww......w.shopatron.com/produ...99.23189.0.0.0


gotta run for a bit- but I'll be back and ANY input is appreciated.

mkjeep

I would check the torque on the frt trk bar and check the bushings as well. But yeah, if you have that much lift , you need frt lowers. Also, check the torque on your stock control arms and shocks, one of those could be a clunk source.

deconstructionist

Just a followup (a tad bit overdue but having twin 8 month old girls kinda has kept me busy!)

I got the jeep aligned- seems the toe was kicked out to the passenger side by about 4 degrees: *Most* of the problem now solved. No more flighty steering. The printout they gave me is showing the caster is at 3 degrees---> I thought I remembered reading somewhere here that 4-6 degrees was optimal......? Should I still proceed/get some adjustable control arms????????

Still getting a clunk-ish sound fron the front passenger side & a whole new bunch of squeeks from (what I assume are) the front coil springs.

Guys at the shop couldn't find anything loose & watched as they threw a wrench on just about everything under there. I aint had even 20 minutes to go throw a wrench on anything myself due to me playing Mr. Mom....

So in short- Thanks for the input & the flighty steering is gone but anyone have any other ideas on where the clunk might be from? Anyone got a fast fix for squeaky coils???????


Many thanks & sorry for the delayed followup