Okay, I bought my Jeep X used and "as is".....don't laugh...

The Jeep pulled to the right when I bought it....and I thought...little alignment and we will be fine...wrong...

So far I've replaced the drag link and both tie rod ends....bent, and the steering stabilizer, bent also....

Today while having my new tires installed, the tech comes over and shows me the rim from the passenger front side.....



Ouch....

Alignment readings...are all in spec...EXCEPT for the castor...go figure...
Left is 4.9
Right is 2.6

So.....my question is where to start??? I've been doing lots of searching of the forum today and it seems the cam bolts are frowned upon. Should I buy adjustable lowers? What else should I be worried about? Obviously something is yweaked, but is it fiaxable? FYI, while on the lift, the Tech and I , (FWIW) looked at the front end and did not see any other damage or signs of stress.....cracks, bends..etc...

BTW...anyone in NorCal have a X steel wheel lying around they want to get rid of.....let me know...

Any help?

Thanks
Marc
2008 X

 

What is your camber spec. I have had a hunch that DC has been sending out a lot of cambered rigs. I am going to have to put adjustable ball joints on mine because of it.

 

Okay, so here is the current alignment spec sheet for my Jeep....All they keep saying is "bent axle"...any idea what to do next? Offset ball joints maybe??? But the most I have seen for the JK are only 1.75 degrees....that is still not going to get me close....
Other options???
New housing
upgrade to a 44 housing??
Used?


Thanks
Marc
2008 X

 

"As Is"? I'm assuming that was from a little used car lot or something...Is there not any factory warranty left at all?

 

The caster is definately your culprit with the pull. If the Jeep still has the stock suspension including the stock control arms, then something is bent. Shouldn't be too hard for a good alignment shop to find. If it has not had cam bolts installed, DON'T DO IT. Cam bolts are an easy way out. They are not a good idea on something that will see off road use. I would look closely at the control arms and control arm brackets on that right hand side. Something has been bent.

 

So, I assume this is NOT what the lower control bracket is supposed to look like??? Just kidding, the driver's side is messed up for sure. The funny thing is that the Jeep took the hit on the right side, hence the bent rim and drag link.
I guess the force was transferred over and pushed down on this side.
I don't think any amount of adjusting and ball joints is going to help this axle. I would think that somewhere the tube is bent too.

Is the M44 off the Rubicon stronger, as far as the housing is concerned, or is it just internals?



Thanks
Marc
2008 X

 

That's an adjustable control arm,not stock, it swiveled to the side shouldn't be your prob, it can be adjusted. But is that a washer under the bolt or did they add some kind of a tab in there? Looks like the bracket may be slotted. You may just need to adjust the control arms. unless the bushing is bad in the joint. You really need to take it off and see.

 

Someone may have had a lift on it, took it off before they sold it and left the arms. Are all the arms like that one or just the front two. Alot of people just add front lowers to adjust for castor in a lift. Also,some people use cam bolts first and or installers or alighnment guys , then add adjustable arms later and have to fix the hole they slotted in the mount . Looks like there is some kind of cam washer/tab or something where there should just be a round washer.

 

Yes, the Daystar lowers I added and they come with an outer washer that helps in adjustment.
Take a look at the pic, I added some arrows to show where the damage is located.


On the top, the corner where the arrow is pointing, is bent down slighlty. On the passenger side, that top part is level.
On the left arrow, that corner is pulled in.
That whole top corner bent in....and I assume that is why the camber on that side is 1.9 degrees negative. Maybe the tube is bent there too...who knows...

Marc
2008 X

 

People are bending 44 axle tubes, thats why alot are adding axle sleeves. If it is bent a Good mechanic or welder MAY be able to straighten it. Then you should probably sleeve it and gusset the C's. Maybe one of the axle gurus will pop on here soon.