I've been searching and reading until my eyes feel like they are going to burn out of their sockets, and can't do much more tonight. I just need to throw this out there and see what the conventional wisdom is these days.

Jeep is an '08 JKU Rubicon with 37k on it, light to moderate wheeling but not abused, on 35's.

What I'm reading is that bent axle tubes and bent C's are not uncommon on the JK's. My alignment shop thinks that would explain my camber numbers found today:
I'm reading all about trusses, gussets, sleeves, off-set ball joints, and new axles... all to remedy the problem.

I've also read that some amount of variance is a given from the factory on all components, and not to worry about it.

And that sometimes the alignment shop machines can vary wildly and are not necessarily reliable and to get a 2nd opinion.

Jeep drives fine. Tires seem to be wearing fine. Maybe I should just drive it.

On the other hand, if - IF - I did bend something, I'd like to know with certainty what it is and what to do about it. Not crazy about any of the options.

tia

 

Don't feel bad. Mine is about the same. The Dana 44s will support 35s with good offroading and you will be able to spare your axles from getting bent. 37 are pushing it for the axles. 40s are really pushing it. Now I know there are plenty of people who are running 37+ tires and have no problems. It's all up to the driver and where they wheel. Sand/rocks/trails/mud all effect the axles differently. If its bent then there really is nothing you can do for it. You cab try to bend it back but remember what happens to a paperclip after you bend it. Personaly if your worried then take it to a real offroad shop and have them put some extra steel on it. Or just leave it be and don't worry. Think about how much 1 deg is. It's not that much. It just might be ballljoints wearing early because of the tires. Who knows. If its not giving you problems and it has plenty of oil then let it run. It's a jeep. Gonna act weird just because it wants to.

 

Doesn't seem to be off much. Maybe normal wear or ball joints?
Before I did much wheeling I installed sleeves, gussets and LCA skids. Much cheaper than new axles and worth some peace of mind.
I was over at Off Road Warehouse and went in the garage to see some bumpers being installed on a new Wrangler. Next to the one getting the new bumpers was a JKU getting a new front axle assembly since the old one had a broken tube! After seeing that and reading all the posts, I committed to the upgrade.

 

Since your tires aren't wearing funny, keep driving it as is. Could be it came from the factory with those numbers, but more than likely the c's were tweaked while offroading, or hitting a curb, or a pothole, or maybe a speedbump while cruising the mall. You should consider adding gussets to help keep them from bending further.

If you do notice excess tire wear, offset bj's seem to be the fix. Along with gussets -> to keep them from bending further.

For the housing itself, the best way I have seen to determine a bend is to gut the housing and slide an alignment bar in. Some posts indicate that a 'good' 4wheel alignment will show it, but I haven't read anything differentiating bent c's from a bent housing from an alignment rack. (case in point, you know your camber is out of spec, but is it the c's or the housing...)

If you find that it is bent, just buy a new one or upgrade. By the time you pay to have it gutted, and then the 6-8 hours to straighten it, and then the sleeves/truss/gussets/mounts/skids you will likely talk yourself into you're at the cost of a new housing anyway.

 

Did you go to a specialty shop? Or was it a standard run of the mill place that usually does stock vehicles? I have had some poor numbers from places that just don't know exactly what they are doing with these rigs. Ran into some caster issues at a different place as well.

I had 10 ounces taken off a wheel after bringing it to a Truck place that also serviced the big rigs. 10 ounces is ridiculous. No more shake going down the road, wonder why, haha.

I'd also agree, gussets are cheap insurance, mad at myself for not doing them sooner.

 

Thanks for the advice.

The alignment shop is a regional chain (Les Schwab), but in this particular area they tend to be very good. He suggested the axle was probably bent and suggested trussing it, but only if there was a way to get it straightened out first. He mentioned offset ball joints to compensate, but frowned at the idea if the root cause was not addressed first, because it would just continue to worsen.

But it could still be caused by any number of things... or it could be there is really nothing to worry about at all...

I think my next plan will be to take it into the dealer and have them check it and see what they find (if anything) and just to get a 2nd opinion before I do anything else. I've read more than one post of bent tubes specifically on '08 models.... who knows? Maybe there is a trend that could eventually result in a recall.

I'm very reluctant to have anyone - even an professional shop - weld anything on my axle tube, after seeing the axle tube on my old TJ crack along a weld line (done by a reputable fab shop, too). But gussets on the C's may not be as prone to heat fatigue from welding as the axle tube itself (?). :

I can see investing some cash to gusset the C's to maybe stop it from getting worse, and doing offset BJ's to correct the camber. But if - IF - it turns out the axle tube IS bent (which would be a bit upsetting, given that I really haven't done anything that should result in a bent axle tube on D44) I won't be trying to fix that, except maybe by getting a new HD 44. Big maybe.

But if it comes to that point, honestly I'd be just as likely to get a new JK and keep it totally stock, or no more than 33's.... but that's another thread.

I appreciate any further input on this, and I'm sure I'm not the only one wrestling this one.

 

I don't think dealer is going to do anything. Find a good 4x4 shop and have them look at it. And the "44"s on the rubis are not true 44s. It's more like a 30 with a 44 diff. If its bent still. Weld on gussets and let it go. Not much you can do. The angle its bent is still not much to mess with. I guess no more jumping the jeep then.

 

Bad ball joints can cause these numbers too. Have you changed out the stock ones yet.

 

those numbers really arent bad. Throw a truss and some gussets on to stiffen up the tubes and C's, than throw some offset ball joints in to correct the camber. It will be just fine.

 

Yeah. Pretty much. Cost you about a grand. Less than a new axle