Steering lose/jerks

skates04 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:46 pm

I have a 2005 CRD with a OME lift and 265/75/16 tires. I replaced a worn upper control arm that had a bad ball joint and that fixed most of my steering issues but when I hit a bump it still pulls or jerks the steering... This is my 4th jeep but I am new to IFS. Any ideas on where to start would be appreciated

jmark · **Posted:** Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:14 pm

1. check the tie rod ends and the inner tie rods themselves.
2. check the sway bar end links (torqued to 120lbs)
3. check the Lower Ball Joints (do this, no really do this NOW)
4. check the steering rack bushings.

That should give you a decent place to start.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:20 pm

Get a alignment,or in better terms a correct alignment.May need JBA UCA's to center the camber and get close in caster.OE UCA's in most cases will not get close enough to give a good alignment on a lifted KJ.

jmark · **Posted:** Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:24 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Get a alignment,or in better terms a correct alignment.May need JBA UCA's to center the camber and get close in caster.OE UCA's in most cases will not get close enough to give a good alignment on a lifted KJ.

this is a good first idea, on my KJ it was at max adjustment with a franky and OE, i basically HAD to go to al's arms to stay in spec and have any adjustment.

skates04 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 13, 2012 2:28 am

jmark wrote:

1. check the tie rod ends and the inner tie rods themselves.
2. check the sway bar end links (torqued to 120lbs)
3. check the Lower Ball Joints (do this, no really do this NOW)
4. check the steering rack bushings.

That should give you a decent place to start.

Thanks I will check all those out... all the lower ball joints are good, I checked all the ball joints on the control arms, and found the one upper bad, and that made a big difference once I replaced that one, there is still just some slop when I hit a bump and it will push the steering wheel a bit.

My plan is to get an alignment but I just wanted to make sure I checked everything first because no one is going to do an (proper) alignment if there are other issues with the steering.

nmadd118 · **Joined:** Wed Jul 08, 2009 9:13 am **Posts:** 2

i have a similar problem i've started to notice after lifting about 3/4 weeks ago.. hitting man whole covers and having the wheel jerk on me.. how exactly to i check these and what should i be looking for if they are bad?

with only 55k miles i would assume they are OK but always worth a check

i also notice a bit of a shaky start accelerating from a stop - sort of a wobbly feeling that goes away after going anything over 5 mph.. thoughts?

i had an alignment done right after the lift/tires which i did together but i still notice a bit of a drag to the left on the highway so i plan to bring it back to the shop to have them take a second look at adjusting it

skates04 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 14, 2012 2:03 pm

I was just reading over on the jeepkj forum and seems they have a sticky for this issue... To resolve bump steer after a OME life...

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f203/steering-wheel-twitch-after-ome-lift-48262/

It seems for many people the issue is resolved after going with jeepinbyAl upper control arms... Just thought I would get opinions over here before I bite the bullet and get a set... Wish I would have seen the post before I just bought a OEM replacement arm!

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Aug 15, 2012 12:44 am

JBA UCAs are hard to beat
help with alignment for sure

Steering lose/jerks

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