Looking for some steering expertise. I've searched, but can't find a total answer to my flighty steering issue.

Factory tires were 245/75/16. Now 285/70/17 duratracs on stock moab wheels, With No Lift, and spidertrax spacers.

-I've tiried lowering tire pressure till my jeep was a pig, so I don't believe it's crowning. My current pressure is 29lbs which the chalk test shows to be good.
-I've had the wheels re-balanced 3 times, and the last 2 have shown them to be right on. I still experience flighty steering so much, it looks as though i'm drunk when getting over 50mph. There is also no vibration when getting up to highway speeds, so I don't believe it's balancing.

Now on to alignment.

Front Left
Camber= -.8 degrees
Caster= 3.6 Degrees
Toe= .08 Degrees

Front Right
Camber= -.3 Degrees
Caster= 3.7 Degrees
Toe= .17 Degrees

Cross camber= -.6 Degrees
Cross Caster= -.1 Degrees
Total Toe= .24 Degrees

According to the alignmnet tech the Cross Camber is the biggest issue, and recommends an offset ball joint.

Questions:
-Is the alignment tech correct about the camber?

-The caster is barely out of stock range of 3.7-4.7, so is 3.6 too low, since I've seen some posts here of people running in the 2's with lifts and 35's?

-With 33's do I need to get the Caster back into the 4.5-5 range?

Sorry for the long post, but I need to get this steering in check and would appreciate any help.

 

Any help guys?

 

To change your camber, yes, you will need offset balljoints. But, those numbers aren't horrible. I would look at your caster, and as long as you aren't chewing tires or anything, probably leave the camber alone for now.

What size/type of lift to you have? Still running stock control arms up front? Do you have a budget?

A set of adjustable control arms are your best option for the caster.
Other options are:
Cams - dirt cheap, but have some drawbacks
CA Relo Brackets -relatively cheap, but has some drawbacks
New longer/shorter 'fixed' arms - have some drawbacks

 

yes, it's totally possible. without gussets installed, your c's could be bent.

so long as you're not feeling like your jeep is flighty on the highway, you're fine with this.

only if your jeep's handling is flightly on the highway.

 

Thanks guys. I thought I might need some adjustable lca's by the flighty steering, but the alignment numbers just didn't seem that far off.

 

check your drag link. with a stock set up, you should not have those kinds of flighty steering issues. Get some body in the jeep turning the steering back and forth while you lay under it. Look at your tie rod ends on the drag link and on your tie rod. Also check your track bar ends while the steering wheel is being turned to see if there is excessive movement. retorque your track bar, this is a good thing to do after every other wheelin trip if you are wheelin hard any way. I'd bet $.20 right now that you have a bad tie rod end somewhere.