Alignment...Again - P!ssing me OFF
JK-Forum Founder
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 36,534
Likes: 16
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
Thanks, I dont think my C's are bent yet, but I'll have to look into that. I think Im gonna order the gussets anyway.
The pulling started after I nailed a stump off of the drivers side tie rod and link. I checked the toe and it was toed out 1/8", I changed the toe to toe- in 1/8". That took most of the pull out of it, now it just kinda drifts to the right yet. The steering wheel also acts wierd too.. it will be slightly off when stopped, but perfectly straight going down the highway.
Here's the stump.... dont ask
The pulling started after I nailed a stump off of the drivers side tie rod and link. I checked the toe and it was toed out 1/8", I changed the toe to toe- in 1/8". That took most of the pull out of it, now it just kinda drifts to the right yet. The steering wheel also acts wierd too.. it will be slightly off when stopped, but perfectly straight going down the highway.
Here's the stump.... dont ask
JK Junkie
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 0
From: Mount Carmel, PA
hmmm, could be you damaged a TRE from the impact or the splines of your steering box shaft. both can cause slop in your steering and result in a pull as well. grab your pitman arm and see if it jiggles at all - it shouldn't. also check the TRE's on your drag link and tie rods to see if there is any abnormal shifting - it should rotate but not shift side to side or up and down.
Sorry for the hijack Knucklehead!
JK Junkie
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,123
Likes: 1
From: Chattanooga, TN
A loose or bent steering stabilizer shouldn't cause the steering wheel to be off center. It could limit your steering, but it shouldn't change it unless something else was bent too. I have to align mine regularly after wheeling. There's just too much force being put on the front end to keep it in spec.
JK Junkie
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,122
Likes: 0
From: Mount Carmel, PA
JK Jedi
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 10
From: Georgia
A loose or bent steering stabilizer shouldn't cause the steering wheel to be off center. It could limit your steering, but it shouldn't change it unless something else was bent too. I have to align mine regularly after wheeling. There's just too much force being put on the front end to keep it in spec.
JK Jedi
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 10
From: Georgia
How can you disagree? Crawl under it and LOOK. One end of the stabilizer is mounted to the axle housing. The other is mounted to the drag link. If the stabilizer is bent, it is the same as shortening the stabilizer, and WILL pull the drag link to the right AND cause the wheel to be off center. There's NO way around it.
JK Jedi
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 10
From: Georgia
You may have the twisted steering sector WOL was speaking of. It takes a HARD lick to do that, though. What happens is, the sector can become twisted causing the wheel to be off center. The steering box is the recirculating ball type, which always "hunts" for the center of the sector shaft while the pump is energized. They all do it. It is an inherent design concept. Since the sector shaft is now twisted, the steering box "thinks" the center is still in the same place, but it's not. So, the Jeep will have a slight drift because of this. I've seen it on more than one occasion, though it is RARE. You probably have another problem causing it, but it is a possibility.