OK, I wanted to do the WOL write up on basic alignment but since I have limited time and no flat driveway I can use...I decided to take it in to Express Tire Goodyear center.

I requested:
I requested toe in to = 1/8"
AND I requested the caster to positive 6-7 deg.
----
My results:
They set the toe in to = .10"
They said the caster can only be maxed out at 3.5 deg and promptly set mine to 2.5 ??? I thought factory was 4.2?

Anyways..I bought a lifetime alignment package for 159.99. any location, anytime...so I guess I'll try another location next week.

All I want is to try to ease my ESP and handle alittle better...

anyone? thoughts?

 

Well, .10" on the toe is fine but is it safe to assume that it was toe-in and not out? As far as caster goes, do you have adjustable upper and lower control arms up front? If not, how did they adjust your caster because they shouldn't have been able to. I sure hope they didn't use cam bolts.

 

With a smaller caster, it might seem a little twitchier. The normally reduce the tow in to make the ride more stable. There is some adjustment on the factory control arms.

 

If this is true, it's news to me. I wasn't aware that there is any caster adjustment on the OEM arms. My '98 TJ came with caster adjustable OEM control arms, but I think that was the last year it was offered.

 

WOL, First long time reader and enjoy your artikles.
Q1. What is wrong with using cam bolts????( Since i have installed a 3" Black Diamond lift myself) Took it to the jeep dealer afterwards to double check alignment and caster was indeed of by 2 degrees. dealer ship wanted to use knock out punches to enlarge hardware holes in the OEM arms to compensate, but i ran out of time that day and would come back later.
Q2: if the caster is off by 2 degrees, how bad is this. What will wear ie Tires, front end components, what gives. Still a new guy on the block. Thanks

 

Lack of caster makes for a more wandering darty kind of ride. Once you knock out the tabs for cam bolts it takes some welding etc to undo it. You only get a little adj out of cam bolts, also. Some adj control arms is the better way to go.

 

Thanks Rubimon.
Sofar, I don't any bad or negative experiences on behalf of the lift, It made it stiffer, and that with the fact that my caster is off slightly does make the jeep more wandering while driving on rough roads. On the highways or city driving it behaves solid.
I am thinking of leaving it alone, since i haven't performed that step of punching out the OEM control arms to adjust the caster. BTW driving a 4DR and will wait to see how everthing wears with more mileage, and then get new shoes.