tires stick out differently

Ctskip · 03-24-2008, 09:55 AM

Having just put new tires on my 95, I notice they stick out about 1 inch differently

The d/s rear is 1 inch out more than the p/s rear .
And the p/s front is out 1 inch more on the d/s front

I haven't checked to see if they are straight yet. I have eyeballed them and they seem straight. I have a lazer light that I just held alongside the siderail(step) and it confirms the differance. I haven't tried the angle iron on the tires (front to back) to check for alignment yet. Or, have I followed it down the road in a chase vehicle to look for it dogging down the road. I know it seems drives to OK It's my first jeep. I know my neck is killing me after a 8 hour drive (500 miles). It's like riding a bull for 8 hours. It doesn't pull to one side or the other, and the steering wheel is straight. It has power steering
The jeep was always garaged and well taken care of. Extremely clean with no rust at all. 166,000 miles Everything seems to be tight and in place. This vehicle is so stock it almost could of come out of a museum. Really original, right down to the spark plug wire holders.

I was thinking the frame is twisted. I looked really close and can't see any tweaking anywhere. Then I thought, maybe the leaf spring u bolts loosened and moved. No sign of that.
I have been reading this forum for everything that could possibly be related to my vehicle and comparing pictures. Everything seems to be just as it should be. I'm left with scratch marks on my balding head. And that's starting to bother my sleep. Any ideas as to why tires would stick out differently on opposite corners?
Maybe an alignment is called for? Do they align all four tires on a jeep? Can the entire housing move to one side or the other and stay there? Can I make a adjustment myself? What else should I look for?What am I overlooking here?
Thanks,
Ctskip

tuckinauster · 03-24-2008, 10:18 AM

are you lifted? what about track bars, are they still there? could you possibly have different backspaced rims?

**paultyler** · 03-24-2008, 11:59 AM

I agree that the lift and track bar questions are important. Look at your shackles. Are they vertical or are they leaning to one side? My initial thought was that your shackles are not tight enough, thereby allowing your axles to shift to one side, but that would require no track bars. As stated, do your rims have different backspacing.

Brokagain · 03-24-2008, 12:06 PM

Wow! That's a hard one for me to think through. I would scrutinize the trackbar (as mentioned) very closely. May need new bushings in the trac bar. Maybe the trac bar mounts are cracked, or broken. But when I threw mine away it never made any difference but if your springs are very tired they could perhaps allow the axle to determine it's own placement. Spring bushings. Shackle bushings.

**RockWoRM** · 03-24-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ctskip

I'm left with scratch marks on my balding head. And that's starting to bother my sleep. Any ideas as to why tires would stick out differently on opposite corners?
Maybe an alignment is called for? Do they align all four tires on a jeep? Can the entire housing move to one side or the other and stay there? Can I make a adjustment myself? What else should I look for?What am I overlooking here?
Thanks,
Ctskip

As far as scratching the bald head... I always wear a cap!

Alignment wont help, since there is really no alignment per say. All U can do is set toe and castor.

U might want to check your frame mounts. If they've been tweeked or something,(like hit a rock) that could possibly cause a shift in the springs. But like Paul said, you should be albe to see that in the shackles. Double check your bushings.

I would also double check the spring/perch mounts. Even if they look OK, if you've broken a center pin, as in sheared it off, the spring can shift even if the ubolts look tight.

thats all I can think of right now.

WRM

**paultyler** · 03-24-2008, 12:31 PM

One more thing...rotate the tires front to back and see if the tires that stick out are reversed...front to back. If so, you know it is the tires/rims and not the vehicle itself. Try that.

Ctskip · 03-24-2008, 01:55 PM

Thanks for the ideas. I will certainly look into the shackles/bushings and spring pack.
I have done the tire switch and it makes no differance.
There seems to be no lift (other than whats stock) on her. The springs do look to be flat though. I know I will be doing a leaf spring replacement sometime tihis summer. I'm still looking into the best springs (OMU) (I think) along with shocks as my ars depends on it. Are the greasable bushings ones worth it? I don't do any off roading. The originals had no fittings. I'll have to see once I change the springs and shocks If I still have that problem. I want to get the wider flares so it won't be so noticable. Thanks again . I'll keep at it till all is well. Thanks for the ideas.
Ctskip

Ctskip · 03-24-2008, 02:30 PM

I stood back and looked at the YJ from a distance of about 15 feet and did notice the front shackles were in fact leaning to the side that was sticking out. Hmmmmm Now to find replacements for them. Thanks all. The spring packs were tight and I could see abnormal wear on the side of one of the bump stops. I'll look for replacement bushings for the entire front end. Any suggestions as to good/better/best bushings? They all look to be cracked and worn. Is the track bar suppose to be curved and bent for clearance? It looks to be about 1 inch in dia. Bushings are cracked there also. Thanks again all. Ctskip

tuckinauster · 03-24-2008, 02:34 PM

daystar, and IIRC MORE has bushing kits. im sure you could even get them through q-tec.