steering wheel rocking

mattnmette · **Posted:** Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:17 am

Ok, so I've had my lift put on (self and a few others in my garage) running moab wheels and goodyear mtr's. I had an alignment done at the dealership twice but for some reason I get alot of jerking left and right with even the slightest bump in the road. Does anyone know why this is? I have the rusty's spacer lift and had to add some washers to the upper part of the front spacers to make the spacers fit. Could this be the problem? I am hoping someone has delt with this in the past because I do not want to go trough the trouble of taking these washers out if i don't have to.

Thanks,
Matt

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:25 am

Take the washers out, buddy. That's the price of trying to add extra lift by modifying a kit and then finding out it no workie.

hankwood · **Posted:** Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:46 am

it's not the washers, the alignment is still out. right after lifting mine, but before getting it aligned, mine did the same thing. yours still has too much positive camber where most of the weight is riding on the outer edge of the tire, so that when you hit a bump or drive over ruts in ice or snow with the middle or inner edge of the tire, it pushes the vehicle away from the rut or bump, makeing it drive all squirrelly.

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Wed Mar 22, 2006 12:33 pm

I drove the KJ out of the dealer after the alignment and it shows a big difference. Your alignment is still out - The dealer might not be able to align it perfectly if there is no more space due to the washers being there.
I had the same issue Sunday - steering wheel moved freely very easy - the back of the KJ was swinging side to side too much - After the alignment it was like day & night. Probly taking the washers out will allow dealer to do better alignment.
BTW - nice seeing your KJ at the dealer yesterday ready to roll - looks like they did a good job with the doors....

deboy922 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 27, 2006 6:45 pm

I installed my Frankenlift on 11/12/05. Ih ad a professional alignment on 11/30/05. The Liberty drove decent, but I always thought that it had too much bump steer. I had 225/70R16 tires with 35psi.

I just installed Rubi rims and MTR tires, running 40psi. I now have a lot more bump steer. The steering wheel is very sensitive to any bump that hit. If the road is smooth, the Jeep tracks perfectly. But any small bump, and you better be ready to correct the steering wheel.

Please provide opinions. Do I have positive camber as stated above? I cannot detect any extra wear on the outside of the old tires that I removed.

Thanks,
Deboy922

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Mon Mar 27, 2006 7:29 pm

seems to me that the alignment is still off - by a good amount - did you add anything extra besides your frankenlift?
My alignment was done right the first time - I went wheelin yesterday and no problems coming back home.
I had the exact same problem but an alignment fixed right away.
Like I said - alignment got to be off.

deboy922 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 27, 2006 10:26 pm

I made an alignment appointment for Tuesday with the shop that did my original alignment in Nov05.

So, for those of you with a Frankenlift and Rubi wheels & tires, is your ride OK on paved non-highway roads? I drive on a lot of roads that are paved, but in a car or van you really do not drive over 60mph. Now, with my KJ with Frankenlift and Rubi wheels, I do not feel comfortable driving over 50mph. Before adding the Rubi wheels this past weekend, I routinely drove these roads at 60mph.

Thanks,
Deboy922

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

A good alignment will make a huge difference. However, any lift will start to cause some bump steer. The higher you go the more bumpsteer, unless droping the steering box, different knuckes, etc. When you lift it you put the tie rods at a sharper and sharper angle. When one wheel start to travel up from a bump the tie-rod angle changes, which change the lenght of it in the horizontial plane resulting in movement in the steering wheel.

deboy922 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 9:43 pm

My alignment was off. The mechanic said that my right side was way off, and everything had to be re-adjusted to get the overall alignment done.

The Jeep drives better. But as stated around this forum, the heavy MTR's make for sluggish steering, and I lost about 2 mpg.

Deboy922

CaKJFreedom · **Posted:** Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:14 pm

I gladly gave the 2mpg up for getting the traction offroad. As far as sluggish, there's totally a different feel when you're driving, aside from them just being heavier, what's your air pressure at?

deboy922 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 07, 2006 7:45 pm

I am running 40psi with the MTR's.

65mph on the highway...you better pay attention and keep both hands on the wheel.

Before, With lift and 225/70R16's Mastercraft Courser HTR's, 65mph on the highway driving with one finger, drinking a Coke, and changing the radio.

Deboy

Guyute1210 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:46 pm

deboy922 wrote:

I am running 40psi with the MTR's.

65mph on the highway...you better pay attention and keep both hands on the wheel.

Before, With lift and 225/70R16's Mastercraft Courser HTR's, 65mph on the highway driving with one finger, drinking a Coke, and changing the radio.

Deboy

I'm running MT/R's and running 70 down the highway is like driving better than stock, my steering wheel is fine. Your alignment might be off.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Fri Apr 07, 2006 10:32 pm

deboy922 wrote:

I am running 40psi with the MTR's.

65mph on the highway...you better pay attention and keep both hands on the wheel.

Before, With lift and 225/70R16's Mastercraft Courser HTR's, 65mph on the highway driving with one finger, drinking a Coke, and changing the radio.

Deboy

Is it bad to drive like that. :roll:

Dont worry, if you ever pass me and wonder how I have one hand on the radio and Im eating with the other...You cant see my legs. :lol:

mattnmette · **Posted:** Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:21 pm

Ok so it seems like another alignment (number 3) isn't helping any so I will have to take out the washers and lose alittle lift but I would rather be safe than sorry. Thanks for all the help.

steering wheel rocking

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