I wonder how much is too much "wander?"
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
I wonder how much is too much "wander?"
Hey JKF,
New to this forum...I've lurked MANY Jeep JK forums and have to say this one seems the best so I signed up today
Back in the early 90's I owned a lifted CJ10 with about 10" of lift (bought already built) and this thing wandered all over the road, however it didn't bother me one bit. Drove it on the freeway up to 70mph, wheeled it through rocks and mud, etc. it was all good.
Having owned lifted vehicles before I never expected the steering to feel like a sports car. So my question today is, how much of you with 4" or more of lift has a slight wander in your steering and what would you consider to be too much wander?
I have a used 2013 JKU Sahara (bought stock in 2016). Within the year, it went from a 2.5" leveling kit to a 4" cheap kit to adding 7.5" lift front, 6" of lift to the rear, 1.25" body lift, 37" Toyos, 5.13 gears, flipped HD drag link, relocation TB bracket, adjustable TB's both front and rear and adjustable CA's. I am not a mechanic by no means, however I play one in my garage LOL - all installs were DIY.
Having said that, I have no bump steer and no wobble however I do have slight wandering at high speeds.
Let me know your thoughts...Thank you!
New to this forum...I've lurked MANY Jeep JK forums and have to say this one seems the best so I signed up today
Back in the early 90's I owned a lifted CJ10 with about 10" of lift (bought already built) and this thing wandered all over the road, however it didn't bother me one bit. Drove it on the freeway up to 70mph, wheeled it through rocks and mud, etc. it was all good.
Having owned lifted vehicles before I never expected the steering to feel like a sports car. So my question today is, how much of you with 4" or more of lift has a slight wander in your steering and what would you consider to be too much wander?
I have a used 2013 JKU Sahara (bought stock in 2016). Within the year, it went from a 2.5" leveling kit to a 4" cheap kit to adding 7.5" lift front, 6" of lift to the rear, 1.25" body lift, 37" Toyos, 5.13 gears, flipped HD drag link, relocation TB bracket, adjustable TB's both front and rear and adjustable CA's. I am not a mechanic by no means, however I play one in my garage LOL - all installs were DIY.
Having said that, I have no bump steer and no wobble however I do have slight wandering at high speeds.
Let me know your thoughts...Thank you!
JK Jedi
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 11,365
Likes: 2,091
From: Willow Park, TX
Got a print out of recent alignment specs? I personally don't think much wander is acceptable assuming you have adjustable components, which you do. Presume DL, TR, and BJ's are all in good order, not worn. Tires do add another variable in that equation....can't recall if the Toyos are know to pull or not. It doesn't handle like a race car, but I can take my hands off the wheel and it tracks straight as can be with 3.5" lift, 37" Nittos, proper caster and high steer kit..
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
I don't have a print out of any recent alignment specs...I still have to install my synergy HD tie rod as well, I'm hoping this may fix any small wandering.
I also can take my hands of the steering wheel and it does track straight forward, however on highway speeds I do have to grip my wheel (with one hand) to control intermittent wandering.
When I had my 4" lift with 315's I had 0 wandering...and you're right, the pull only happened when I bought those dang Toyos.
I also can take my hands of the steering wheel and it does track straight forward, however on highway speeds I do have to grip my wheel (with one hand) to control intermittent wandering.
When I had my 4" lift with 315's I had 0 wandering...and you're right, the pull only happened when I bought those dang Toyos.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,463
Likes: 165
From: Austin <--> Colorado Springs
Yes, Toyo's are one of the tires that many people say cause a pull to one side.
Wandering is generally due to low caster. Without knowing what that number is, hard to comment. As you lift higher, the front axle rotates causing the pinion to raise. As the pinion goes up, the caster goes down, and the steering gets more flighty. The way I read this, you installed a 4" lift, which included some form of caster correction suitable for 4 inches. Then you went up another 3 1/2 inches, raising the pinion again, which lowered the caster. So you need to raise the caster again...
If you have adjustable arms, you may be able to extend the lowers or shorten the uppers. Or add CA Drop Brackets?
At that height, you should expect some trade-off between bad caster and good driveshaft angles. Good caster will have those driveshaft joints binding and causing vibes.
Wandering is generally due to low caster. Without knowing what that number is, hard to comment. As you lift higher, the front axle rotates causing the pinion to raise. As the pinion goes up, the caster goes down, and the steering gets more flighty. The way I read this, you installed a 4" lift, which included some form of caster correction suitable for 4 inches. Then you went up another 3 1/2 inches, raising the pinion again, which lowered the caster. So you need to raise the caster again...
If you have adjustable arms, you may be able to extend the lowers or shorten the uppers. Or add CA Drop Brackets?
At that height, you should expect some trade-off between bad caster and good driveshaft angles. Good caster will have those driveshaft joints binding and causing vibes.
Last edited by nthinuf; Dec 19, 2017 at 12:27 PM.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 19
Likes: 1
From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Yes, Toyo's are one of the tires that many people say cause a pull to one side.
Wandering is generally due to low caster. Without knowing what that number is, hard to comment. As you lift higher, the front axle rotates causing the pinion to raise. As the pinion goes up, the caster goes down, and the steering gets more flighty. The way I read this, you installed a 4" lift, which included some form of caster correction suitable for 4 inches. Then you went up another 3 1/2 inches, raising the pinion again, which lowered the caster. So you need to raise the caster again...
If you have adjustable arms, you may be able to extend the lowers or shorten the uppers. Or add CA Drop Brackets?
At that height, you should expect some trade-off between bad caster and good driveshaft angles. Good caster will have those driveshaft joints binding and causing vibes.
Wandering is generally due to low caster. Without knowing what that number is, hard to comment. As you lift higher, the front axle rotates causing the pinion to raise. As the pinion goes up, the caster goes down, and the steering gets more flighty. The way I read this, you installed a 4" lift, which included some form of caster correction suitable for 4 inches. Then you went up another 3 1/2 inches, raising the pinion again, which lowered the caster. So you need to raise the caster again...
If you have adjustable arms, you may be able to extend the lowers or shorten the uppers. Or add CA Drop Brackets?
At that height, you should expect some trade-off between bad caster and good driveshaft angles. Good caster will have those driveshaft joints binding and causing vibes.