So, I just installed my OME Lift kit.....HD Springs, JKS front and rear adjustable track bars, LT shocks, extended brake lines, Currie Adjustable front UCA's and Currie spring retainers. My question is....how much caster should I be able to get with the Currie front UCA's? I took it to a reputable shop here in Jersey and they told me they can only get +4.1 degrees of caster on the right side and +3.8 degrees on the left side But from what I've read, I should try and get anywhere from +6 to +8 degrees of caster. Is that even possible with just the Currie front UCA's? The shop told me the Currie's only have like 3-4 threads left on each side? Please help! Also, what kind of numbers should I look for in the print out for a good alignment? The only reason I'm asking is because I want my Jeep perfect for the drive cross country in September! I'm travelling cross country from New Jersey to Ouray,CO...then to Utah, then to Arizona and back home. Just want to make sure my suspension is dialed in correctly! Thanks for any input and sorry for such a long post

 

i am in essex co... i can recommend a REALLY good alignment guy for you. he is in the pia costa office park and its called a wheel alignment place. he is russian i believe and very old school. he did my friends R32 and it has never been better. does everything with levels and stuff.. no high tech machine. when i lift my jk its goin ther. i think he charged my friend like 40 bucks. and he did all four wheels! hope this helps.

 

from all of my research on this forum, I was of the understanding that you get lower fronts, and if need be, upper rears-however, if the funds down allow you to get lowers right now-Q-tec and 4wd have cam bolts for like $35-52 bucks-skyjacker and procomp both make adj. cam bolts.-they'd prolly adj enough to make up that 1-1.5 deg. your looking for.

 

Thanks for your input but......Cambolts??? NO THANKS!

The only reason I got the Currie uppers were b/c David from NorthRidge recommended them in the kit

 

The Caster numbers here are via an angle finder that 'you' put under the C's. They are a reference, and do not directly correspond to the numbers coming out of an alignment machine...

The angle finder numbers were about 2deg higher than the machine numbers from the one post I saw that gave both. I'll see if I can find it.

Posted by RyanC
As several people here are fond of pointing out, caster is measured in an arc. The angle finder measures straight lines. So there can't be any direct comparison between them. (ie. the difference between the two measurements will not 'always' be the 1.9deg that ryanc found. Could be higher or lower depending on whatever other factors are involved.) As stated, the 6-8deg you'll see here is simply what people are set to, a reference for caster that has them happy with the driveability of their jk's...

And here is the write-up so you can check your numbers and adjust your own caster. Post what you find vs what the machine found.

http://project-jk.com/jeep-jk-write-...-end-alignment

 

I'd adjust your upper arms to the shortest they will go and then see how it rides. If you still need more caster then you'll need the lowers too. If you're using an angle finder, make sure you are measuring on level ground. I believe the stock caster is around 4.2 so anything above that should give you a better ride. I think 5-6 is a good range but some people run more.

 

What was the length eye to eye when you put them in if you look at WOL wright up it said to put them at 18 1/2 stock is 18 3/4. I have the same set up as you just put it in last sat and set my UCA at 18 1/2 and its driving good I am tacking it to a alignment shop tomorrow to cheek the caster and make sure my axles are centered. After their done I get under their and measure as close as I can to give you a stating point so you can figure it out from their.

 

When I installl my FT upper arms, set to within 1/2 turn of their shortest setting I ended up with the angle finder measurement of 5 on each side.
The Jeep drove terrific, the flightiness and wandering were almost totally gone, and the steering wheel returned to center better than stock. I added the lower arms and even though my caster is up to 7.1 on each side there was just a mild improvement in the front end.

Set your upper arms a couple of turns shorter, and see how it drives then. Don't worry about shooting for some number, shoot for driveability.

 

JerseyJK if you need any additional advice feel free to give me a call.

David

 

Jersey JK- remember (without getting too technical), caster is a drivability (ie' pulling, drifting, darting, etc) factor where camber and toe are tire wear factors. As long as it's driving OK i wouldn't be too concerned with numbers.
Don't know where you're at, but PM me if you need a good alignment shop- there's a great shop in Jersey City i used to take all of my jeeps and beemers to.
Jim