Hey everyone, just want some advice here after I got an alignment yesterday on my JKU Sahara. Lets start out that I work at a Toyota dealership and I needed a tire rotation. I figured after blasting all the potholes over the winter that a fresh road force balance and 4 wheel alignment might as well be in order as I get a discount working there. They use all Hunter equipment. The balance went fine, no problem. I watch them as they are doing the alignment and I notice that they are having some issues and I see 3 guys working on things.... That's not usually a good sign. The finish up and the guy tells me that they had to adjust the steering wheel after it was off centered after they worked on it. I asked if they have any problems and he said that they "loosened up things and then tightened them all down". I was puzzled... So today, I adjusted the steering back to center as it was off still from yesterday. I drive it around to make sure everything is good, I go to pull in a parking spot and the turning radius is not as sharp as it is pulling left. Pulling right seems ok, but not left. It actually skidded into the spot... What could they have messed with to jack up the turning? Any advice would be helpful as they I'm having them correct it tomorrow (hopefully)

 

Not sure why you had an alignment since there's no adjustments other than setting toe-in /toe-out.Did they mess with the steer stops

 

Check the steering stabilizer. Might not be centered with the steering wheel centered.

 

Are you saying it turns less sharlpy to the left than before, and now skids as you try to turn sharply left?

That sounds like maybe the stability control is applying a brake because the steering wheel position doesn't agree with the yaw sensor input during the sharp turn.

 

I think that when the steering wheel was recentered they may have went the wrong way on the drag link, go a full turn the other way! In other words the drag link may be pushing too far one way and not far enough the other.

 

How would you correct that then?

 

Toyota mechanics don't know anything about solid front axles. Why did you let them touch it???

 

That's apparent. Haha. I told them today they are done touching it. Haha

 

I believe we have one of the easiest vehicles to align ever...how do you **** it up...? Anyways, if you understand how all your suspension and steering links work then get under the truck and have someone turn the wheel back and forth lock to lock. Look for anything that is wrong. Is it a stock vehicle or lifted? I mean, you should not have to align your steering wheel when aligning a stock jeep...you can only align the toe...everything else is fixed...

Check the Drag Link threads to see if it has been spun too much. You will see nice new threads that used to be covered up. If there is a bunch of threads showing then it has been twisted all the way around.

Check the steering stabilizer if they undid the clamp bolt and messed up putting it back. It will cause full lock early by bottoming out the shock.

Good luck.

 

It is a stock JKU Sahara with a 10a suspension. They did fudge the ss so I had to correct that and that fixed the turning radius issue so I think. The only issue I have is the steering wheel lock to lock doesn't lineup properly. If I turn all the way to the right the steering wheel is centered. When all the way to the left it looks like it's off centered a bit.