So here's a good one... I tagged a rock with the right front tire HARD. Cut the sidewall and felt the impact to the bottom of my soul. Changed the tire and the steering wheel was no longer centered. I took a detailed look at the steering and suspension and nothing is bent or broken. I have a stock steering box and a Barnes 1.5" aluminium tie rod and drag link with one ton tie rod ends. The jamb nut at the knuckle end of the drag link was a little loose. I undid the other jamb nut, recentered the steering wheel and all appears fine. Jeep drives normally, doesn't wander, etc.

Any thoughts on how that's possible?

Thanks!

 

common when that happens..

 

This isn't a stupid question at all. Like jadmt said, it's a very common thing, but tbh, I've never quite thought about WHY. It's not like any of those threads are twisting to lengthen or shorten the TR or DL ends.

 

You may have bent the track bar. See if the axle is still centered. Not a big deal just re-center it.

 

As near as I can tell, the track bar is not bent and neither are the brackets. The axle appears to be centered as well.

 

It could be the alignment was effected. I hit a boulder on Black Bear pass that knocked my drivers side wheel out some. When I got back home i took it in for an alignment and they fixed it.

 

It would not take much of a bend in a bracket or link to make the steering wheel off. You are not going to be able to visualize the bend. Track bars have bends in them already how would you tell that its not bent by looking at it?

 

X100 especially when it knocks your fillings loose and has enough impact to pop a tire.

 

Took a closer look when the rain finally stopped and the axle is not centered. Either the trackbar is bent or the frame side bracket is bent (I think it's the trackbar). Either way I'm ordering an adjustable trackbar which will solve the problem. I knew the steering couldn't have changed for no reason!

 

I have to adjust my draglink after nearly every off roading adventure. For a long time, the bolt holding the drag link to the knuckle would come loose. I tried everything. I replaced the drag link three times, two or three times it was with a steer smarts drag link and tie rod, as well as the end link. It would still come loose. I switched to heim joint ends on 7075 aluminum drag link and tie rod. I marked all the possible spots that could spin, and none did. So evidently, something is bending, but i am fairly certain it is not the metal cloak track bar or reid knuckles, so my answer is, just adjust it.