KJ Rear Axle Alignment

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 07, 2013 6:12 pm

We had the rear control arm recall done a while ago. Wife has been complaining about pulling to right. Turns out real axle is cocked to the left. Dealer indicates there are no provision for adjustment.

Anyone know if some aftermarket company makes an eccentric bushing to allow alignment?

Thanks,

DOC

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 07, 2013 8:36 pm

No such thing for the rear of a KJ.

You either need to get aftermarket adjustable rear/lower LCA's(if I remember right stock TJ ones work,no swaybar mounting though) or time to get it on a frame rack and get it pulled straight.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 07, 2013 10:35 pm

TJ,

The Jeep is still at the alignment shop, so I do not have access at the moment. Do you know if the rear LCAs are handed? If not, I wonder if swapping them side to side might reduce the crabbing.

Can sway bar mounts be easily added to the OEM TJ LCAs? Any particular year you would suggest?

I have a printout of the alignment specs six months before the LCA recall was done. Rear axle was dead straight ahead. No accidents/pothole hits. Only explanation is the LCA recall work. Dealer said they would "get back to me".

Thanks!

DOC

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 07, 2013 11:29 pm

Alot can happen in 6 months and even small potholes can shift things big time but yes the you can switch the LCA's from side to side as they should be the same regardless.

As far as rear LCA's you'd have to get aftermarket adjustable ones like from TerraFlex and such which do not have any provisions for a swaybar and not designed to handle the stress of one.OE TJ LCA's are none adjustable and would do noting.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 08, 2013 5:37 am

So what did you mean by "stock TJ ones work"?

If swapping side to side does not help, it looks like there are about a zillion different eccentric bolts available from multiple sources. If I can find the right size and length to match, would there be any argument against using them?

Thanks again,

DOC

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 08, 2013 7:37 am

DOC4444 wrote:

So what did you mean by "stock TJ ones work"?

If swapping side to side does not help, it looks like there are about a zillion different eccentric bolts available from multiple sources. If I can find the right size and length to match, would there be any argument against using them?

Thanks again,

DOC

Stock length,sorry.

You can put in a cam bolt and weaken that mounting point,your life not mine.

Glend · **Posted:** Sat Jun 08, 2013 6:02 pm

Removed

woodtick · **Posted:** Sat Jun 08, 2013 6:10 pm

Is it possible that one of the new LCA's is defective lengthwise? A tape measure could easily answer that. Worth checking.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 08, 2013 8:04 pm

I guess Glend missed that they are new (recall). Yes, checking LCA length is the next item on the list. However, now that I have the alignment printout, there may be more going on. The RR is toed in .25 degrees. The LR is toed in .05 degrees. That accounts for the pulling to the right, but it also appears that the axle housing may be tweaked, though if it is JUST that the right LCA is short, it could account for most of this.

(The wheelbase "difference" is .3", side to side, but the actual wheelbase on each side was not recorded. Ugh!)

DOC

KJ Rear Axle Alignment

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