Help, what causes "veering, swaying, and strange tracking" in lifted TJ's?

jrguy · 10-18-2005, 11:30 PM

I just bought an 05 "Rocky Mountain" Wranger and want to lift it 4" and put some 33 MTR's on it, but I do not want to hurt the ride. I have driven several newer Wrangers and they all seem to suddenly "veer" from side to side. I do not think it is problems with uneven pavement, but somthing to do with tires and or the lifts. I do not want to mess up the ride, as this is my daily driver, and I will log alot of highway mileage. Thanks in advance for any help!

Jim

UCTJ · 10-18-2005, 11:40 PM

The sideways motion you have seen can be caused by whats called bumpsteer....it caused by different things, one being a drop pitman arm on a 4" lift for example may cause it. I dont have a drop pitman arm and I dont have any problems like what you have seen.

Get a quality lift, if your not up to the install have someone who knows what they are doing install it. Yes the larger the tire the harder it will be to balance it...fyi.

AjRagno · 10-18-2005, 11:43 PM

As long as the anti-sway bar is connected and the tires are properly inflated, it shouldn't feel much different than a stock TJ. I'm at around 4" of lift, with 32s, and as long as the front sway bar is connected, my TJ tracks straight and feels tight.

Yes, you should still use the stock pitman arm at 4"s.

otisdog · 10-18-2005, 11:53 PM

As said if your lift kit comes with a drop pitman arm do not put it on.
Jim

Jeepin' Rock Cl · 10-19-2005, 08:38 AM

Bad alignment, improper tire psi, bad brakes, or bad steering geometry (drop pitman arm will do this) will cause that.

03jeeper78 · 10-19-2005, 08:50 AM

I'd have to guess that it's the alignment. Where have you driven these newer wranglers with lifts installed that veer?

sulldoggy · 10-19-2005, 09:51 AM

Also rear control arms...

NoUse328 · 10-19-2005, 09:59 AM

I don't know, I have that problem sort of. No drop pitman arm, Jeep has been aligned a few times, 285's all inflated to about 32 psi, everything is tight, and swaybar is connected. It seems to veer a lot more than when I was stock. It's actually hard to drive sometimes...maybe I should have a shop look at it.

cincytj · 10-19-2005, 11:44 AM

if your caster adjustment is incorrect which happens with a lift if it is not adjusted you will lose the "return to center" and straight tracking the settings are designed for.

also, it is not a global truth that a drop pitman arm automatically causes bump steer. If you use your stock or redrilled track bar locations on the frame and axle then a drop pitman arm is bad, if you relocate the trackbar mount point on the frame lower like the nth kit does, then you have to drop the pitman arm also. it is all a matter of keeping the track bar and the drag link parallel and travelling in similar radii.

moitura · 10-19-2005, 11:51 AM

Exactly what cincy said, you need to keep the track bar and drag link parallel. I have the 4.5 RE LA kit and use both track bar relocation bracket and dropped pitman arm and have zero veering, swaying, bump steer, etc... I say its a good rule to use both track bar relocation bracket and dropped pitman arm together, don't use one without the other.

BlueTJ · 10-19-2005, 01:25 PM

I have put the dropped pitman on every Jeep I have lifted even at 4".
It has never caused any change in ride for me, except it has a tighter turning radius with the dropped pitman. As long as the lift is done correctly and everything is torqued to specs, it should ride fine.

loudog3114 · 10-19-2005, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrguy

I just bought an 05 "Rocky Mountain" Wranger and want to lift it 4" and put some 33 MTR's on it, but I do not want to hurt the ride. I have driven several newer Wrangers and they all seem to suddenly "veer" from side to side. I do not think it is problems with uneven pavement, but somthing to do with tires and or the lifts. I do not want to mess up the ride, as this is my daily driver, and I will log alot of highway mileage. Thanks in advance for any help!

Jim

A REAL(NOT OEM) STEERING STABALIZER FIXES MOST OF THAT THX.

10-19-2005, 08:50 AM	#6
03jeeper78 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Appleton, WI Posts: 1,167 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I'd have to guess that it's the alignment. Where have you driven these newer wranglers with lifts installed that veer? __________________ '03 Bright Silver Metallic TJ Sport BSMCCEP Club Member #45 Stock: 4.0L I6:5-speed:3.07 gears:D35 with Trac-Loc:15x7 Ecco wheels:Dual Top Group Mods: 30x9.5 BFG A-T T/A KO's:JKS Quicker disconnects:Rock-It Man rocker guards:Jeep Medic oil pan/tranny skid:Kilby steering skid:Warn D30 diff guard:C4x4 D35 diff guard:Rusty's radiator guard:Skid Row LCA skids:SilverStar headlights and fogs:Hidden Hitch class III receiver:Old Realistic 40ch CB:2' Firestik II:Arizona Rocky Road tailgate antenna mount Next : Jeeperman rear bumper '06 Candy Orange Honda Shadow Spirit 750

10-19-2005, 09:51 AM	#7
sulldoggy Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: medford ma Posts: 391 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Also rear control arms... __________________ 2000 TJ, BLACK, 3" Teraflex lift, 32" BFG ALL-TERRAINS ON BLACK ROCKCRAWLERS. Yakima roof cargo basket, Okele seat covers.custom mats, Patriot rear tire carrier/bumper

10-19-2005, 11:44 AM	#9
cincytj Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Lutz, FL (north Tampa) Posts: 1,380 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	if your caster adjustment is incorrect which happens with a lift if it is not adjusted you will lose the "return to center" and straight tracking the settings are designed for. also, it is not a global truth that a drop pitman arm automatically causes bump steer. If you use your stock or redrilled track bar locations on the frame and axle then a drop pitman arm is bad, if you relocate the trackbar mount point on the frame lower like the nth kit does, then you have to drop the pitman arm also. it is all a matter of keeping the track bar and the drag link parallel and travelling in similar radii. __________________ [COLOR=Navy][SIZE=2]03 Patriot Blue Sport[/SIZE][/COLOR] Rubi d44 both ends, Crane Diff Covers, Rock trac t-case Tom Woods CV DS, Alloy USA rear axles (waiting for install) ARB front bumper, Rock-it-Man Rockers knoblock rear bumper, OBA in process, bestop tire carrier, 35-12.5-16 trXus MT's on MOABs with 1.25 spidertrax Currie HD steering Nth Degree 6" LA kit. Garvin Wilderness Rack w/hi-lift mnt HEMI & 5spd Auto

10-19-2005, 11:51 AM	#10
moitura Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 168 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Exactly what cincy said, you need to keep the track bar and drag link parallel. I have the 4.5 RE LA kit and use both track bar relocation bracket and dropped pitman arm and have zero veering, swaying, bump steer, etc... I say its a good rule to use both track bar relocation bracket and dropped pitman arm together, don't use one without the other. __________________ 2004 Columbia Edition Wrangler

10-19-2005, 01:25 PM	#11
BlueTJ Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milton, FL. Posts: 40 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I have put the dropped pitman on every Jeep I have lifted even at 4". It has never caused any change in ride for me, except it has a tighter turning radius with the dropped pitman. As long as the lift is done correctly and everything is torqued to specs, it should ride fine. __________________ 2004 Black Rocky Mountain Edition TJ 4.0 5spd Dana 44 rear with 3:73 gears Superlift 4" Rockrunner lift 33x12.5 on AR Baja 15x10 wheels.