I've seen a lot of posts about having to re-align the JK after a lift, along with re-centering the steeing wheel. I've also read that the only adjustment is toe-in and centering the steering wheel.

I plan on lifting my Rubicon a small amount with a 1.75" Daystar kit. I would like to know how to center the steering wheel if need be? And also, can I set the toe-in myself? If so, can someone please post detailed instructions for both?

I was told by Daystar that the stock Rubicon shocks are long enough and I that I won't have to replace them with this small of a lift? Does anyone know if this is true?

I plan on running 285/70-17 BFG Mud-Terrains on the stock wheels with 1.25" wheel spacers. I think this will be a well balanced lift/tire combo. I will post pics when the job is done!

Thanks guys~

 

The steering setup on the JK is designed in such a way that a toe-in alignment will not be necessary after installing a small lift. As far as re-centering your steering wheel goes, follow the instructions below:

Using a 15mm wrench, loosen the 2 nuts on the turnbuckle as shown in the pic below...



Then rotate the turnbuckle clockwise or counter clockwise as needed while a friend watches the steering wheel (or you periodically check on it yourself) go back to center. Once re-centered, secure the nuts and take it for a drive. This may take a few tries to get it on 100% but that's all there is to it.

As far as your shocks go, I personally would recommend installing a set of new longer shocks as the factory set will be too short for trail use.

 

I recently had 285/70-17 BFG ATs installed on my stock wheels and found that an alignment couldn't fix a steering issue. The Jeep seemed as if it was drifting to the right even after an alignment. My steering wheel doesn't look level when I'm driving a straight line...I have to slightly turn it to the left to drive a straight line....The alignment place said it was aligned and that it's a camber issue and that I should take it to the dealer to get it corrected and should be covered under warranty...he gave me the alignment printout to bring to the dealership...it just looks like a bunch of numbers to me, so I dont' know what it all really means...I honestly would rather not have to go back to the dealership and argue my case...

Eddie, would recentering the steering wheel fix this? Any advice is appreciated.

 

I took mine to get realigned after the lift, just to check on it..(my brothers a mechanic, it was free)

everything was perfect... I already had recentered the steering..

 

Well for one, if your alignment shop really said that "it's a camber" issue, you really need to go to a different shop. Camber is an issue that IFS vehicles need to deal with and your Jeep has a solid front axle. If it really had a camber issue, your axle would be bent.

As far as your steering wheel goes, would you say that your Jeep is drifting and needs the steering wheel to be turned in order to compensate for it or is the steering wheel just not centered when going straight?

 

I honestly doubt my axle is bent (i haven't gone offroad or anything)...I would say the steering wheel just isnt' centered when I go straight. It's kinda turned to the left side instead of level when I'm driving straight...

 

How does one do a toe in ? or out?

 

Oh, I honestly doubt it too and was just trying to make a point. If you're axle were bent, I'm not sure you'd be able to drive your Jeep.

 

You would need to loosen the clamps on either end of the tie rod and rotate it clockwise or counter clock wise but why would you want to mess with this? Due to the new steering design, a toe-in adjustment is not necessary.

 

Didn't someone have a toe in issue straght from the factory. Not sure, I just seem to remember that.