Here's the deal. I have a 4" RC kit. 35" tires. I have taken my Jeep to my local 4x4 shop to work on a front end problem. (This guy seems to know what he is talking about. He builds rock buggies and jeeps). Any way back to my question. He told me that due to the tires, lift, and the shop that I had line up the front, I need to invest in a long arm kit and a new stabilizer shock system. This should cure the problem I am having. I have the RC stabilizer on it now and he said its not enough.

So where do I go? What long arm kit would work with my kit and any sugestions on a beefy stabiizer

 

If you have adjustable control arms all around, im inclined to disagree.

You dropping two grand in his shop might not help either

Do you have adjustable track bars or anything else, brackets, etc.?

 

Just to verify and make your question simpler. Is he telling you that you need a long arm kit to fix a wobble issue? If he is, turn around, look for another place and never look back.

 

My kit has nothing adjustable.

As far as his opinion, I don't buy from him. He is just my mechanic. So there is nothing to influence hs decision there. He runs a mech shop and does the buggies and crawlers as extra.

So I guess let me get your guys opinion, the problem I am having is when I put one tire on an obsticle at an angle, I can feel my front tires turn approximately 20 degrees before the steerng wheel ever has any movement. Driving down the road the front wants to veer one way or another and then I have to chase it with the steering wheel. If I jack the Jeep up, I get instant reponse from the steering wheel when I steer the tires with my hand. What do you think would fix all this? My jeep is not a daily driver, but if I want to jump on the interstate and go to town, I want it to track straight and not have me white knuckling it all the time.

 

No he is not. He is saying the ball joints are rolling the wrong direction. With out seeing it in person and knowing exactly what he is taling about I am kinda behind trying to explain this.

He told me I need a better stabilizer and then I asked him about long arms and he said that would definitely eliviate (spelling?) the problem.

 

Ok first and foremost 2 long arm upgrade kits that keep your current gear and bolt on, Off Road Evolution and Full Traction. However Like another poster suggested try adjustable lowers at the least. Another option if you dont want to spend much and I will get bashed for it, AEV sells their front control arm brackets (100.00) to help adjust caster back to where it should be. Good try before spending 2 grand. From what you are saying about the car tracking all over the place seems to me and I am sure many here your caster is out along with little toe in causing you to drift all over.

http://project-jk.com/jeep-jk-write-...-end-alignment

 

Thanks for the info, and yes the caster is off. According to my shop guy, which does not have alignment equipment, seems to think the other guy that does my alignment did it to factory specs and what he should have done is give it a slight toe out to help with tracking because of the 35's

 

after having my 4" lift for a few months I purchased the adjustable control arms and coil spring correction wedges. IMO adjustable control arms and adjustable track bars is the way to go on this. just my .02

 

Did you happen to get an alinement readout?

Also , the so-called mechanic sounds like he's just trying to sell you something or charge you labor for putting on a longarm and he hasn't identified the problem your having.

 

I wouldn't add long arms to this setup without first diagnosing your steering issues. With the wheels on the ground, have someone turn the steering wheel while you look underneath. Watch for any play in the steering system. Also look at your drag link and track bar to make sure they are al the same angle relative to each other. With your 4" lift I would expect that you would have a drop pitman arm in combination with a track bar bracket. If you don't have these (or a high steer kit) that could be a part of your steering problem.

Check your ball joints as well as it sounds like your mechanic mentioned something about them and they are a notorious weak spot on JK's. Also with your 4" lift you should have adjustable control arms. Something to think about is that you don't need a 4" lift to clear 35" tires a 2.5 or 3" lift will work with 35's just fine.

A steering stabilizer won't fix your problem either, they tend to just mask steering issues.

It would be a lot easier to help you if you described your problem better.