Caster w/3" lift and 35" Tires so no vibration?
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Wake Forest, NC
Caster w/3" lift and 35" Tires so no vibration?
The opinions of caster settings seem to range all over the board....
I have read that Factory is 4.2 degrees postive stock with 32" tires.
Most say the 3" lift effects the caster 1.5-2.0 degrees by itself.
I have a Black Diamond 3" kit and I got Full Traction LOWER CA's. I have 35" MT ATZ's- '09 Wrangler Unlimited with Auto.
They set the starting point at 23" center to center on the short side of the FLACA's to start with. Adjusting them to an approximate 6.5 Degrees of Positive caster at the "C"'s put an approximate 23 5/8" center to center to get this.
Lift shop has voiced some concerns about the front driveshaft angle at the U-Joint Yoke.
We can't drive it until tomorrow as we're waiting on Spidertrax 1.5" spacers, but I figured you guys would have an answer.
What is optimum caster for a 3" lift, 35" tires?
2.5" lift- 32"-33" tires= 5.0+ caster??
3" lift - 35"-37" tires= 6.0-7.0+ Caster (some say as much as 8.0+)??
I know about taking it to the alignment shop to get the EXACT, but for now, in the beginning, they are using an angle finder to get as close as possible.
I don't want to bind or cause uneven stress on the front stock U-Joint.
Any help would be awesome.
I have read that Factory is 4.2 degrees postive stock with 32" tires.
Most say the 3" lift effects the caster 1.5-2.0 degrees by itself.
I have a Black Diamond 3" kit and I got Full Traction LOWER CA's. I have 35" MT ATZ's- '09 Wrangler Unlimited with Auto.
They set the starting point at 23" center to center on the short side of the FLACA's to start with. Adjusting them to an approximate 6.5 Degrees of Positive caster at the "C"'s put an approximate 23 5/8" center to center to get this.
Lift shop has voiced some concerns about the front driveshaft angle at the U-Joint Yoke.
We can't drive it until tomorrow as we're waiting on Spidertrax 1.5" spacers, but I figured you guys would have an answer.
What is optimum caster for a 3" lift, 35" tires?
2.5" lift- 32"-33" tires= 5.0+ caster??
3" lift - 35"-37" tires= 6.0-7.0+ Caster (some say as much as 8.0+)??
I know about taking it to the alignment shop to get the EXACT, but for now, in the beginning, they are using an angle finder to get as close as possible.
I don't want to bind or cause uneven stress on the front stock U-Joint.
Any help would be awesome.
JK-Forum Founder
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 36,534
Likes: 16
From: Laguna Niguel, CA
The opinions of caster settings seem to range all over the board....
I have read that Factory is 4.2 degrees postive stock with 32" tires.
Most say the 3" lift effects the caster 1.5-2.0 degrees by itself.
I have a Black Diamond 3" kit and I got Full Traction LOWER CA's. I have 35" MT ATZ's- '09 Wrangler Unlimited with Auto.
They set the starting point at 23" center to center on the short side of the FLACA's to start with. Adjusting them to an approximate 6.5 Degrees of Positive caster at the "C"'s put an approximate 23 5/8" center to center to get this.
Lift shop has voiced some concerns about the front driveshaft angle at the U-Joint Yoke.
We can't drive it until tomorrow as we're waiting on Spidertrax 1.5" spacers, but I figured you guys would have an answer.
What is optimum caster for a 3" lift, 35" tires?
2.5" lift- 32"-33" tires= 5.0+ caster??
3" lift - 35"-37" tires= 6.0-7.0+ Caster (some say as much as 8.0+)??
I know about taking it to the alignment shop to get the EXACT, but for now, in the beginning, they are using an angle finder to get as close as possible.
I don't want to bind or cause uneven stress on the front stock U-Joint.
Any help would be awesome.
I have read that Factory is 4.2 degrees postive stock with 32" tires.
Most say the 3" lift effects the caster 1.5-2.0 degrees by itself.
I have a Black Diamond 3" kit and I got Full Traction LOWER CA's. I have 35" MT ATZ's- '09 Wrangler Unlimited with Auto.
They set the starting point at 23" center to center on the short side of the FLACA's to start with. Adjusting them to an approximate 6.5 Degrees of Positive caster at the "C"'s put an approximate 23 5/8" center to center to get this.
Lift shop has voiced some concerns about the front driveshaft angle at the U-Joint Yoke.
We can't drive it until tomorrow as we're waiting on Spidertrax 1.5" spacers, but I figured you guys would have an answer.
What is optimum caster for a 3" lift, 35" tires?
2.5" lift- 32"-33" tires= 5.0+ caster??
3" lift - 35"-37" tires= 6.0-7.0+ Caster (some say as much as 8.0+)??
I know about taking it to the alignment shop to get the EXACT, but for now, in the beginning, they are using an angle finder to get as close as possible.
I don't want to bind or cause uneven stress on the front stock U-Joint.
Any help would be awesome.
JK Newbie
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, TX
remember that anywhere from 6-8 degrees is good with a FACTORY driveshaft and won't cause vibes, while having good steering.
this will be be waaaayyy too high for a double-cardan (CV) shaft.
there is a tradeoff between pinion angle and caster. if you want no vibes, you are going to have to get used to steering that isn't quite as "responsive." a good starting point might be about 4.0 with a CV shaft, and then go down a little at a time, driving it after each adjustment.
this will be be waaaayyy too high for a double-cardan (CV) shaft.
there is a tradeoff between pinion angle and caster. if you want no vibes, you are going to have to get used to steering that isn't quite as "responsive." a good starting point might be about 4.0 with a CV shaft, and then go down a little at a time, driving it after each adjustment.
The opinions of caster settings seem to range all over the board....
I have read that Factory is 4.2 degrees postive stock with 32" tires.
Most say the 3" lift effects the caster 1.5-2.0 degrees by itself.
I have a Black Diamond 3" kit and I got Full Traction LOWER CA's. I have 35" MT ATZ's- '09 Wrangler Unlimited with Auto.
They set the starting point at 23" center to center on the short side of the FLACA's to start with. Adjusting them to an approximate 6.5 Degrees of Positive caster at the "C"'s put an approximate 23 5/8" center to center to get this.
Lift shop has voiced some concerns about the front driveshaft angle at the U-Joint Yoke.
We can't drive it until tomorrow as we're waiting on Spidertrax 1.5" spacers, but I figured you guys would have an answer.
What is optimum caster for a 3" lift, 35" tires?
2.5" lift- 32"-33" tires= 5.0+ caster??
3" lift - 35"-37" tires= 6.0-7.0+ Caster (some say as much as 8.0+)??
I know about taking it to the alignment shop to get the EXACT, but for now, in the beginning, they are using an angle finder to get as close as possible.
I don't want to bind or cause uneven stress on the front stock U-Joint.
Any help would be awesome.
I have read that Factory is 4.2 degrees postive stock with 32" tires.
Most say the 3" lift effects the caster 1.5-2.0 degrees by itself.
I have a Black Diamond 3" kit and I got Full Traction LOWER CA's. I have 35" MT ATZ's- '09 Wrangler Unlimited with Auto.
They set the starting point at 23" center to center on the short side of the FLACA's to start with. Adjusting them to an approximate 6.5 Degrees of Positive caster at the "C"'s put an approximate 23 5/8" center to center to get this.
Lift shop has voiced some concerns about the front driveshaft angle at the U-Joint Yoke.
We can't drive it until tomorrow as we're waiting on Spidertrax 1.5" spacers, but I figured you guys would have an answer.
What is optimum caster for a 3" lift, 35" tires?
2.5" lift- 32"-33" tires= 5.0+ caster??
3" lift - 35"-37" tires= 6.0-7.0+ Caster (some say as much as 8.0+)??
I know about taking it to the alignment shop to get the EXACT, but for now, in the beginning, they are using an angle finder to get as close as possible.
I don't want to bind or cause uneven stress on the front stock U-Joint.
Any help would be awesome.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,750
Likes: 1
From: WV relocated 2 Dyess AFB, TX
I have STOCK control arms on a 4 inch lift. 
The jeeps steering is very sensitive but not unbareable at all. In fact control arms are the last thing on my list. The ride is great and I have no issues with caster.
REad my writeup of how I built my lift in my signature. Very informative. But you are right listen to WOL, he is king when talking about caster ajustments.
The jeeps steering is very sensitive but not unbareable at all. In fact control arms are the last thing on my list. The ride is great and I have no issues with caster. REad my writeup of how I built my lift in my signature. Very informative. But you are right listen to WOL, he is king when talking about caster ajustments.