alignment help

[oldskoolgouv]

i lifted my 2004 tj 4 inches in the suspension and now cannot get it to go down the road like it should please lets talk if you can suggest anything to me thank you very much

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Welcome to the Z.

Did you have a professional alignment after the lift, or correct the toe-in and caster yourself? A lift will mess up both the toe-in and caster.

I can give you some tips on aligning it yourself, otherwise you should have it professionally aligned.

 

[oldskoolgouv]

i have had the alignment done professionally and no one can get it right after the first alignment it was bad so i decided to take some action i found the bump stops in the frt springs touching the springs so i figured caster was way out but according to the print out they gave me caster was right on the money seemed impossable to me so i corrected that situation by adding longer upper control arms to roll my frt diff back up to the way i thought it should be i had a second alignment done after that to see what was what noe caster is out a mile as well as toe i also have a minor camber issue from a crash i had and the shop wants 508 dollars to align this thing for me so its what they call aligned right im frustated to no end

 

[currupt4130]

Sounds like your axle is shifted too far to one side if the bump stops are touching the springs... How about taking some pictures under there to help us out. A lift shouldn't mess up your alignment so bad you can't drive it down the road.

 

[oldskoolgouv]

well i dont think its an axle side to side issue the lift supplied me with longer lower control arms which when installed rolled the axle out on the bottom causing the bump stops to very nearly touch the frt of the spings so when i added the longer uppers it pushed the top of the axle foreward centering them up again but i dont understand why caster would be off now actually i dont even care if its not gonna caus a handling issue is caster a handling issue???? should i address camber for my problem or just toe to see how it drives after that alignment bill is addin up quick

 

[jonsolbe]

Here's your problem. When you put more distance between the frame and the axle, it changes the angle of the track bar. That's what's pulling your axle to the side. You need to either A) get a longer or adjustable track bar (goes from one side of the axle to the oposite side of the vehicle on the frame), or B) look on the passenger side of your front axle and drill a new hole 1" closer to the center of the axle to move the axle back where it's supposed to be (more towards the passenger side. Also, on a straight axle or full floating axle, doing a suspension lift shouldn't change the camber of your wheels. You will, however, need to realign the steering wheel. If it's an IFS vehicle, a lift will change the camber.

 

[jonsolbe]

Also, there's a track bar on the back axle. Some companies make a track bar relocation bracket which may help. Or, you need a longer/adjustable track bar there too. It's always something, isn't it?!

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Camber does not change with a lift, so if it's off like you say, I think that's your main problem.

I would also search the local jeep clubs for info on a shop with experience aligning lifted vehicles.

 

[oldskoolgouv]

thanks to all for the advice i have already installed relocation kits for the track bar frt and rear i think that my problem is its a jeep wrangler that didnt want to be big and tough maybe its a female i should have checked the sex when i bought it hahahaahahah really though i dont know where to go i have to disagree with the camber bieng my main problem due to the fact that if it doesnt change on a straight axle vehicle with a lift then why did it drive 100 percent before the lift and now this immediatly after im going to have toe reset this weekend the only thing ive done is rolled the axle up with the upper control arms and now toe is way out so one more alignment and we will see where im at after that thanks again and im still taking advise from all you do it your selfers bieng an auto mechanic my self i like doing it myself