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Modified JK TechTech related bulletin board forum regarding subjects such as suspension, tires & wheels, steering, bumpers, skid plates, drive train, cages, on-board air and other useful modifications that will help improve the performance and protection of your Jeep JK Wrangler (Rubicon, Sahara, Unlimited and X) on the trail.
PLEASE DO NOT START SHOW & TELL TYPE THREADS IN THIS FORUM
Nov - Checked ball joints, and had tires balanced which helped a little
I do not get the sense that you checked these personally yourself, and if not, you should double-check them. It's one of the most common culprits on the JK and they are easy to check. jack up one side of the axle so tire is off the ground a couple inches, stick a shovel under the tire and step on the handle using the shovel as leverage to create upward pressure. Look for movement where the C meets the knuckle around the upper BJ. If you see any movement other than "flex", they need replaced.
As much as it seems you SHOULD be able to trust what shops are telling you.....more often than not they don't know what the hell they're talking about in regard to our jeeps. SS isn't going to fix one thing at all.
I do not get the sense that you checked these personally yourself, and if not, you should double-check them. It's one of the most common culprits on the JK and they are easy to check. jack up one side of the axle so tire is off the ground a couple inches, stick a shovel under the tire and step on the handle using the shovel as leverage to create upward pressure. Look for movement where the C meets the knuckle around the upper BJ. If you see any movement other than "flex", they need replaced.
As much as it seems you SHOULD be able to trust what shops are telling you.....more often than not they don't know what the hell they're talking about in regard to our jeeps. SS isn't going to fix one thing at all.
Thanks for the reply. I was at the base auto shop and watched the guy take a pry bar to the ball joints and he could not get movement in any direction, but will try the shovel test this week. I agree that the SS will only mask this, so I'm trying to cover all bases before changing that.
Did the shovel test, and tried the same technique with a pry bar. No movement around either knuckle. I checked the torque on all the front suspension bolts and they are good. I did find my rear sway bar links were loose when I checked the rear track bar. Those were not the cause of the shimmy, but didn't help it. Anything else to check?
Can you post the specs from the alignment or do you at least recall what the caster spec was after adding the control arm brackets? With the Rancho brackets installed I have to think you're spot on, but just curious. Can you post a couple pictures straight on from the front? Sometimes we catch obvious things that don't get mentioned at all in text. Slim shot, but doesn't hurt. We're not talking high mileage vehicle here. Unit bearings aint shot at 78k miles. This has to be a simple gremlin hiding.......never can rule out tires contributing. Can you describe what your idea of "shimmy" is a bit more? When I think of shimmy I think of driving on a highway and merging over to an new uneven lane they just paved. Kinda side-to-side movement.
You have double checked those TB bolts are 125 ft lbs with a torque wrench too right? We're not just talking "tight with a socket wrench"? basic question, but you'd be surprised what we see here.
I don't have the sheet on me, but remember the caster was around -4.5 and -5.2.
The shimmy is additional side movement on worn, rough roads, or going over the tracks at 40 mph. It starts to shimmy, but returns to normal once the road smooths out and I slow down a little. The Jeep is solid when I brake. The track bar was torqued to 125, but I might just change them out for adjustable ones. While I was in the shop, I put in a cheapo hydraulic SS. I haven't felt a change in the Jeep, but the speed limit is between 25 and 35 on base.
Driver Side Suspension front view Driver Side Suspension rear view Driver Side Suspension top view Driver Side Geo bracket Passenger Side Geo bracket Passenger Side Suspension front view Passenger Side Suspension rear view Passenger Side Suspension top view Pitman to drag link Current Set Up
Did another check this weekend. The track bar has a little play even after re-checking the torque. Purchased the Rubicon Express HD track bar since it was on sale and will be installing it during my lunch break. Hopefully that ends the slight wobble.
Installed the track bar...it is much stronger than stock. I must have measured incorrectly as my steering wheel is cocked to the left now, but the wobble has not returned. Here is the new piece installed.
Installed the track bar...it is much stronger than stock. I must have measured incorrectly as my steering wheel is cocked to the left now.
By nature of slightly altering the TB length the axle position changes, and therefore the change in position flows through to the knuckle, drag link, pitman arm, etc....right on up to the steering wheel. Simply adjust the drag link via the turnbuckle (or however your particular DL adjusts) to recenter the wheel and you'll be good to go.
12-10-2019 | 11:02 AM
