Please help, unsafe driving conditions

MudTrac · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 8:29 am

I noticed that my MTRs were cupping bad and i needed to rotate them, so I did. This was great becasue it cured the bad chopping noise but now all the vibration isamped and I feel it more when the front tires are in the back. This is just a side effect but Im worried because I noticed when Im at hwy speeds the KJ is very unstable. If i do a lane change it feels as if the shes going to flip over. I say it is most like having pillows for springs. Real musshy. The worst part is when I make a turn off an off ramp like a left turn when the KJ leans it starts to rub the tires, Im guessing on the upper control arm, its real shiny now. I already checked for anything loose under it, I thought it might have been the sway bar making it so unstable, but everything is tight. Ideas? thanks

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:52 am

If the car feels unstable there is something greatly wrong. Go to a local tire dealer and have the tires balanced or checked for roundness first.

After you get an OK on the tires you need to examine your suspension. From what you describe in your post, it sounds like the shocks/struts are no longer providing any damping forces. You should check for oil leaks around the suspension parts, look for broken swaybar links.. It can't be the springs. What about a bad ball joint? I don't think it would cause an unstable feeling but you might want to crow-bar them to make sure.

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 10:22 am

after checking all that, make sure you get a good alignment - as close as possible to factory specs - you will not get there but close enuf...

MudTrac · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:34 pm

I know 100% that the sway bar is fine, but The way the car is acting is just like on our race cars when you use too small a SB the car has lots of body roll, thats what Im getting. And I went back and looked at lunch and for sure the tire is rubbing on the upper control arm. Im pretty sure it wasnt doing that before , not even when the tires were new. Im worried about the UBJ's now that you mention it, I know one is hurt due to its cut and i have to repack it and rtv it all the time. But thats not the side that is making the rubbing noise. Like I said even a small lane change the KJ will body roll @ about 60MPH. Just feels too mushy.

Ill crow bar the UBJs tonight. But Im still looking for other ideas.

corwyyn · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 3:09 pm

MudTrac wrote:

Ill crow bar the UBJs tonight. But Im still looking for other ideas.

I think he was referring to the Lower ball joints (unless you have had the recall done already). Play it safe and check upper and lower on both sides while your under there.

MudTrac · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 3:18 pm

It kinda scares me if it is the ball joints. I dont have a lot of money right now to get the Al's uppers and I dont have a way to drop off the KJ for a day the dealer can service the lower ones. How would the Ball Joint make the tire contact the upper control arm though? and would the upper ball joint make the KJ roll like it is doing?

nolakj · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 3:23 pm

What's up Gaden!! Sorry to hear about your woes. You run the Daystar lift right? Could the Poly spacers be getting mushy?

MudTrac · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:17 pm

I dont think so, what brought all this on is the tire rotation, beside that nothing has changed. Im going to go home today and swap the tires back to the way they were before the rotate. I know the tires are aired up to 80lbs right now, so they arnt underinflated either, and they are tight on the lugs.

Im back to the question, what would cause the tire to rub on the upper control arm at high speed turns (above 40mph)?? and would the ball joints make the KJ have so much body roll if they were bad? I thought they would just break and let go the spindle??

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:24 pm

Sounds like a toe in/out problem or a camber problem. The cupping is usually caused by a toe problem. I would get a good alingment and make sure the pressure in your tires is at least the 33 required. A little extra air would make the sidewalls a little stiffer and could help.

MudTrac · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:33 pm

only 33lbs in the MTRs? Ive been keeping them @ 75-80 and they ride real great. I'm holding off on the alignment till I get my new street tires, dont want to pay twice. Thanks for the input.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:19 pm

80 psi is kinda high for a KJ even with MT/R's,that psi is only for when heavy loads are being placed on it.33 to 45 psi should be just right and ride a lot better than 80 psi.I run 38 psi in my 265/75R16's MT/R's and get really good ride and wear(I have 26,000 miles on them with about 2/3's tread left).

nolakj · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:22 pm

^^^^^^what he said. High PSI probably caused the cupping, no? Could it have messed up the tire so the side wall is all flexy, causing the rub?

FLJeep · **Joined:** Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:27 am **Posts:** 84

Sounds to me the air pressure is to high and the side wall has moved out. that would give you LESS of a contact patch on the road. Bring it back down to 30-35 psi.... I can't imagine having 80 psi in a tire.

psinsyd · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:36 pm

I second/third the alignment suggestion. Mine felt pretty unstable when I first put the lift on, but the alignment totally cured that.

Hope this helps!

FLJeep · **Joined:** Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:27 am **Posts:** 84

A buddy of mine who had the same issue just brought up a good point, he had the same thing happen...

He flipped his jeep, to much air....the insurance failed to pay for anything

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:15 pm

wow, 80psi.. :shock:

Never heard of someone running that much..

Bgame · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:23 pm

80 psi???????? Read on the side of your tire and understand what MAX PSI means..... :roll:

rs4mtnitro · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 8:36 pm

Stock tires are rated for 44 psi but if you look at the door sticker it says to inflate to 33psi. Did you check the lug nuts to make sure they are tight?

MudTrac · **Posted:** Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:15 am

Well my tires have 65 in them since the last time i aired up. I went and did the ball joint checks and they are fine, couldn't budge the wheel. So I went and swapped back the original fronts from the back to the front again, like it was before the rotation, and went for a drive, besides the rough ride and vibrations from the cupping, the KJ was perfect. My guess is maybe one of the rear tires is separating, and due to the rotational force and the lateral turning of the tire it was collapsing. Im going to see what the warranty is on them and if nothing else , go get some street tires, and keep these for the mud. I was bumping the PSI up because in FL it is flat and smooth everywhere on the hwy, I drive about 20 miles to work and back and the 75PSI was giving me way better millage than back down around 35. When I first got the tires the dealer only put 35 in them and I kept them like that till they started getting real choppy, after they got choppy i started putting the high pressure in them and it calmed the chopping. I have about 17K on them right now.

As for the alignment it was done after i got the lift about 8 months ago, still drives straight and smooth a higher speeds, well up until I put the backs in the front.
Thanks for all your help. Since the dealer put the tires on Ill talk to my service guy and see whats he can do about the tires. Im not convinced that the separation would only be from the PSI in the tire, because when the tires were first mounted, the dealer counter balanced the wheel. I think this had way more to do with the cupping also.

MudTrac · **Posted:** Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:26 am

I guess the over inflating comes from towing and my experience at the track, we would run higher than normal pressure to make cornering and steering response better. Its really a pain when I go on the trail because around here I run about 15 in them in the sand and mud. Funny though the MTRs look fully inflated at 15 or 80 the sidewalls are really stiff. I use to run into problems with my F150 running on like 14PSI I could never tell with the Discover ATs they have stiff sidewalls too.

Please help, unsafe driving conditions

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