edited to delete content

reason turned out to be drag link and track bar not being parallel

also bent/damaged both RE radius arms, control arm joints, and then alignment was done so the vehicle tracked straight, but resulted in axle shift when under load

 

Which kit do you have? There are so many kits and not all of them have front track bar brackets.

 

There are many opinions on the subject, for the money I say get an adjustable front track bar. There are several good ones on the market.

I have read to many posts with forum members having issues with a front track bar braket failing. I would think any quality kit would have came with some provision to correct the axle shift. Maybe the kit was incomplete. If not just get a new track bar.

And welcome to the Forum.

Mike

 

This is a cut and paste from the sticky in this section
https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/show...72&postcount=2

Q: Why do I need an adjustable front track bar?
A: After installing a lift, your front axle will shift over to one side and an adjustable front track bar will allow you to reenter it.

This is the condition you have described in your 1st post. Without a braket or longer trackbar, you will not be able to recenter your axle left to right. The higher the lift the more pronounced the effect.

Most would agree that lifts 2-2.5 or lower will be ok with the stock bar. Anything over needs some type of corection. Many opinions can be found.

I am not a suspension expert, so I hope my explanation helps. Otherwise there are much more experienced members that can help shed more light on the issue.

Mike

 

As I was afraid of your issue would be past my abilities.

I wouldn't worry about the vendor getting a bad rap. You may find that others with the same kit may have had the same issue and can tell you how it was handled. At least this give the forum a chance to be specific and hopefully will get your issue resloved. If it is a installation problem, we can learn from your pain.

Mike

 

If you don't tell us which frickin' lift it is, we can't give you a specific answer to your question. Different companies use different components to correct various problems. Sounds like a steering geometry problem to me, but I have absolutely no idea what components your lift has. It sounds like you don't know either though... How the heck can you have an axle that is centered after a 3" lift without an adjustable track bar or a bracket? Which begs another question...Wy a long arm kit with only 3" of lift?

Edit: Wait a minute- stock track bars don't have "thread." Cough up some info, post pics, or give it up.

 

There is no way to center the axle with the stock TB and it is fixed so it cant be at the end of it's threads. You must have an adj track bar. The lift wont add any horsepower either so that part doesnt make sense either. There are alot of reasons this be happening. If your lift is a long arm, which I dont believe it is, you would have provisions for adjusting the track bar. What you are experiencing sounds more like bumps steer. This happens when your drag link is not in alignment with the TB. It also happens when the two bars are at a steep angle to the axle. The latter is corrected with a drop pitman arm togethter with a drop track bar bracket. No one can help 'til we know what you have though.

Your axles will shift when the suspension is flexed. All you can do is start in the center which you said you are. The shift under flex will be less pronounced when the two bars are closer to parallel with the axle.

Also shift in the rear might not help either...What do you have on that track bar.

 

Too many unanswered questions, plus descriptions that are not making sense in this context...which means we NEED the context to help you.

Correct me if wrong, clarify as needed:

1. It sounds like you had a shop install this for you, and, under accelration it steers left, which it presumably, did NOT do before the lift.

2. If the nose is popping up a bit on hard acceleration the rising nose would raise the pitman arm, pulling the drag link, steering you left by pulling the attached links...not a track bar issue per se.

3. If the alignment is "Perfect"..do you mean "Perfect for a stock height JK", or, using the different alignment numbers that might be "Perfect for a lifted JK"?

4. Alignment is for a particular RIDE HEIGHT only. Ride height, Squat and Nose Dive, etc....change the geometry. KEY concept to realize....the links, including the track bars, anti-sway bars, etc....connect the frame to the axle...and, when you raise the frame, you PULL these links TOWARDS the side attached to the FRAME....dragging the front axle one way, and the rear axle the other way (As their frame mounts are on the opposites sides from each other).

5. Torque steer is ANOTHER way in which the rotation of the drive train can steer the rig under power....essentially, more power goes to one side, steering you to the OTHER side. The MORE power, the MORE torque steer.

6. Shock absorber rebound and compression valving can impact the effect as well, by not properly damping the involved forces, excacerbating the condition.

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So - essentially, w/o more detail, the above (Much of which wa already mentioned in one for or another in the posts above as well..) are shots in the dark.

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You came to the doctors office, and said "Doc, every time I drink my coffee, I get this sharp pain in my left eye!"

....and the dr is stumped as to why that might be, and looks for caffeine interactions, etc...

Then he asks for more detail, "SHOW me this - here, drink some coffee while I watch."

AHAH! OK, Mr. Fafnir, just take the spoon out of the cup before you drink it....and your problem should be solved.



Hope this helps!

 

You still haven't posted up pictures or told us anything about what lift you have.

 

??? So have you actually even installed the lift on the front? It sounds like you have installed the rear, but you still "have to find the lift again first" before installing the front. I can see new front shocks and springs in your picture, but nothing else. Good grief Charlie Brown...The RE longarm kit should come with an adjustable front track bar, a track bar drop bracket and a new hi-steer drag link. You shouldn't have any steering issues with this setup properly installed.
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