My Jeep is swaying bad

Defcon3JKU

Defcon3JKU

Member
I have installed some new accessories to my Jeep and now it seems it is hard to handle above 40mph and around 70mph it is almost white knuckles. My Jeep has a 2" spacer kit with Fox Racing 2.0 shocks since I bought it. Since then I have installed flat fenders, Evo Mfg 1/4 Pounder with Revolution Stinger, Evo Mfg rear shackle mounts, and Rugged Ridge hitch receiver with wiring harness. I had a engine problem and Chrysler put a new motor in my Jeep about 2 months ago. Now I have a axle seal leaking on the front Dana 30 driver side that I'm having to wait on parts to be fixed. My question is with the added clearance from front to back does this add drag under the Jeep that would make it handle like crap and be all over the road. I had an alignment done and had all the tires rebalanced and still bad. I have played with the tire pressure from 35psi-26psi and still the same handling. What am I missing to check. Could it be a bad set of 35s that could cause this. I'm new to having a Jeep and don't know if this is normal or if I have an issue. Any advice would be very appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 

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wayoflife

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
Based on what you've said about your jeep being "hard to handle above 40mph and around 70mph it is almost white knuckles", I'd have to say that your caster is off enough from the installation of your lift for it to be a problem for you. Installing a set of adjustable front lower control arms and adding back a bit more positive caster should help.
 
swampdog

swampdog

New member
Defcon3JKU said:
I have installed some new accessories to my Jeep and now it seems it is hard to handle above 40mph and around 70mph it is almost white knuckles. My Jeep has a 2" spacer kit with Fox Racing 2.0 shocks since I bought it. Since then I have installed flat fenders, Evo Mfg 1/4 Pounder with Revolution Stinger, Evo Mfg rear shackle mounts, and Rugged Ridge hitch receiver with wiring harness. I had a engine problem and Chrysler put a new motor in my Jeep about 2 months ago. Now I have a axle seal leaking on the front Dana 30 driver side that I'm having to wait on parts to be fixed. My question is with the added clearance from front to back does this add drag under the Jeep that would make it handle like crap and be all over the road. I had an alignment done and had all the tires rebalanced and still bad. I have played with the tire pressure from 35psi-26psi and still the same handling. What am I missing to check. Could it be a bad set of 35s that could cause this. I'm new to having a Jeep and don't know if this is normal or if I have an issue. Any advice would be very appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

My guess is that the issue is using a 2" spacer lift rather than a proper coil suspension lift. May be time to pony up for a real set of springs and do it the right way.
 
swampdog

swampdog

New member
wayoflife said:
Based on what you've said about your jeep being "hard to handle above 40mph and around 70mph it is almost white knuckles", I'd have to say that your caster is off enough from the installation of your lift for it to be a problem for you. Installing a set of adjustable front lower control arms and adding back a bit more positive caster should help.
Click to expand...

Good call on the caster being off. That will make handling at speed a monster to deal with.
 
wayoflife

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
swampdog said:
My guess is that the issue is using a 2" spacer lift rather than a proper coil suspension lift. May be time to pony up for a real set of springs and do it the right way.
Click to expand...

Nah, a spacer lift is fine and I've run them without any negative issues. Being that the OP mainly feels the poor handling at highway speeds, it's most likely a caster issue for him. Or at least, that's what I think.
 
Defcon3JKU

Defcon3JKU

Member
swampdog said:
My guess is that the issue is using a 2" spacer lift rather than a proper coil suspension lift. May be time to pony up for a real set of springs and do it the right way.
Click to expand...

I agree with you but I bought it with the lift and tires already on it. I have a baby on the way, otherwise I would be putting coilovers on it. I'm trying to have the ride quality a little better and hopefully make due with a few upgrades to get it ok for now. In 4 years when it's completely paid off will be my overhaul.
 
jeeeep

jeeeep

Hooked
Don't be tempted to go cheap and use caster bolts, they will cost you more in the long run.
 
wayoflife

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
Defcon3JKU said:
Should I get the Evo Mfg ones or are they all about the same quality?
Click to expand...

The EVO or Currie adjustable lower control arms is what I personally would recommend. They both come with Johnny Joints on both ends and are made well.
 
Defcon3JKU

Defcon3JKU

Member
wayoflife said:
The EVO or Currie adjustable lower control arms is what I personally would recommend. They both come with Johnny Joints on both ends and are made well.
Click to expand...

Do you think I only need front or should I do front and rear? Like I said new to learning all this. Also thanks for the information. Much appreciated.
 
KJ_CJtoJK

KJ_CJtoJK

New member
Could also run control arm drop brackets to change caster. This option will be much cheaper than adjustable control arms and also correct geometry of control arm for better ride over bumps in road . This is what I did on my jeep, and I'm very happy with this solution for caster adjustment.
 
WJCO

WJCO

Meme King
Keep in mind with drop brackets though that you lose ground clearance and it's one more thing that could come loose ( unless you weld them on).
 
Napalm

Napalm

New member
This may be a dumb question, but just for my own knowledge, does a 2inch lift always throw off caster? I just installed an EVO level which is a 2 inch coil spring in the front, but I haven't experienced any of the symptoms that OP has had.

Just curious!
 
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wayoflife

wayoflife

Administrator
Staff member
WJCO said:
Keep in mind with drop brackets though that you lose ground clearance and it's one more thing that could come loose ( unless you weld them on).
Click to expand...

Agreed. I would never recommend drop brackets if only because you're purposefully lowering a point that you just spent so much money to raise.

Napalm said:
This may be a dumb question, but just for my own knowledge, does a 2inch lift always throw off caster? I just installed an EVO level which is a 2 inch coil spring in the front, but I haven't experienced any of the symptoms that OP has had.

Just curious!
Click to expand...

Any time you lift, you will change your caster. Some people simply feel the effects of it more than others. It's all subjective.
 
highoctane

highoctane

Caught the Bug
One advantage to the Evo arms is the on vehicle adjustability. You do not have to disconnect the control arm to adjust the joint.
 
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