Bad Vibes

[mrchips]

I have had luck with the one in Santa Monica , exit Lincoln Blvd, turn left and dow on your left about 1/4 mile or less. I take mine in after some really serios rock crawling and they will re-check it no problem.In the realm of things $180 is not alot of money when you own a jeep.

[Lawrence]

Schmo, if you have to have the alighnment done again, Find a Firestone tire shop, They offer a lifetime free alighnment for you rig for about $180. It is a great deal

Yikes. Why don't you guys just do your own alignments? It is very easy to do, my TJ hasn't seen an alignment shop since I've owned it and I've never had any problems.

[Shadly1]

Yikes. Why don't you guys just do your own alignments? It is very easy to do, my TJ hasn't seen an alignment shop since I've owned it and I've never had any problems.

I do mine, but I have access to a shop. I definitely don't have a caster tool at home but a toe set is easy. I've done it with a tape measure on my driveway and came "close enough" when I checked it on the machine. I haven't HAD to do a toe set since I swapped the axle but, because of the inverted T design, YJs hold a toe better than TJs. Unless I bash the steering linkage on a rock, I shouldn't have to set the toe again. It's only a matter of time.

[Lawrence]

Setting caster is not that hard and once it is set, there is really no need to mess with it. If you want to do it yourself, I'd suggest buying this nifty tool http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...48295&sLevel=0 (on sale right now for $20). It is accurate within .1* and the readout automatically flips if you position it upside down. This is pretty handy as you won't have to stand on your head trying to figure out what it says.

Now that your caster is set, get a couple tape measures, some aluminum square tubing, a few clamps, and a beer (preferably for after doing the measurements). Use this method to set your toe http://www.jeepbbs.net/forums/showthread.php?t=12586 and you're done.

Now enjoy a cold one. I hope you'll find this helpful.

[maddmike]

Yeah the whole Caster issue came up too when I had it aligned . . . it was at 5.2* which I guess is not good, but I've got bigger fish to fry with the driveshaft issue! It sounded like the Caster being undesirable will not mess up the Jeep, but affect the quality (or lack there of) in handling and make the Jeep wander a bit.

you're also going to have a nice problem down the road when your front tires will never stay in alignment and they wear through in 10,000 miles. i'd go with adjustable front arms as well, more for the caster issue than the pinion angle.

[maddmike]

It's my rear driver that is toed in 0.38* the rear passenger is at 0 . . . very wierd! Musta hit a big rock on that one

that's even a more serious problem than anything else IMO. your rear tires should never be toed to anything different than stock (I don't know but would guess stock is 0 degrees), since they are bolted to a solid axle that cannot move unless something's bent. i would immediately have that checked out too while you're doing all this fussing around with your suspension.

[Lawrence]

Joe,

I believe the stock setting for a TJ is about 7° of caster. With 33s, I would shoot for 6° of caster. Too much can lead to death wobble and too little can cause a wandering feeling in the steering.

[Shadly1]

Joe,

I believe the stock setting for a TJ is about 7° of caster. With 33s, I would shoot for 6° of caster. Too much can lead to death wobble and too little can cause a wandering feeling in the steering.

If you keep your steering components lubed and change them out when they go bad, you'll never have to worry about death wobble. I'm running 8.5* caster on 33s and it feels like I'm on stock tires. When I got my Jeep in '06, it had 3.5* on 33s and that SUCKED!!! That's a lot of the reason the Jeep had so few miles on it when I bought it. The previous owner hated to drive it!

[Lawrence]

If you keep your steering components lubed and change them out when they go bad, you'll never have to worry about death wobble. I'm running 8.5* caster on 33s and it feels like I'm on stock tires. When I got my Jeep in '06, it had 3.5* on 33s and that SUCKED!!! That's a lot of the reason the Jeep had so few miles on it when I bought it. The previous owner hated to drive it!

Yeah, but does it really count since you have a YJ??? :bonk: j/k

[Shadly1]

Hey man, I count! *sniffle*

[Schmo]

that's even a more serious problem than anything else IMO. your rear tires should never be toed to anything different than stock (I don't know but would guess stock is 0 degrees), since they are bolted to a solid axle that cannot move unless something's bent. i would immediately have that checked out too while you're doing all this fussing around with your suspension.

I can't imagine that this would be more serious than my drive shaft breaking loose on the freeway??? I was concerned at first but as I asked about it, I was told more or less: A. Not to worry about it, B. It may have come from the factory like that, or C. I may have nailed it off roading and chances are if I continue wheeling, similar things are going to happen, and D. There's not much you'd be able to do to it anyway. This was all coming from the owner of a frame/alignment/suspension place that's been in business since the seventies . . . I've heard good things about the shop, saw good reviews online, and even got a recommendation about him from a competing shop, so I'm really hoping he's right. It's been that way for who knows how long and hasn't caused any problems . . . hopefully that will continue!!! And at the end of the day didn't buy Jeep for the precision! If someone knows about this stuff and what I've been told is wrong, please let me know!!!

[Lawrence]

If someone knows about this stuff and what I've been told is wrong, please let me know!!!

Yeah... He forgot to tell you E) Don't worry about it, that's why you have 2 driveshafts, stick her in 4Hi and let her rip

[Schmo]

Setting caster is not that hard and once it is set, there is really no need to mess with it. If you want to do it yourself, I'd suggest buying this nifty tool http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...48295&sLevel=0 (on sale right now for $20). It is accurate within .1* and the readout automatically flips if you position it upside down. This is pretty handy as you won't have to stand on your head trying to figure out what it says.

Now that your caster is set, get a couple tape measures, some aluminum square tubing, a few clamps, and a beer (preferably for after doing the measurements). Use this method to set your toe http://www.jeepbbs.net/forums/showthread.php?t=12586 and you're done.

Now enjoy a cold one. I hope you'll find this helpful.

Thanks Lawrence . . . that's some great info. So once the caster is set, all I'd have to do is the toe in and perhaps adjust the drag link if the steering wheel off center, if I nail a big rock and knock it outta whack? Got any cool links to a draglink adjustment how to? Do you ever have to worry about the caster unless you change something on the Jeep? Also, will my caster get better when the suspension settles a bit? And will the settling also affect the pinion angle making an adjustment to the upper rear control arms necessary down the line? Sorry for the barrage of questions:gun:

[Shadly1]

Here's a barrage of answers.

So once the caster is set, all I'd have to do is the toe in and perhaps adjust the drag link if the steering wheel off center, if I nail a big rock and knock it outta whack? Got any cool links to a draglink adjustment how to?

You can't knock your toe out of whack unless you bend something or strip teeth. If either of those happen, you will be replacing parts AND THEN redoing the alignment. Once you get down there and look at it, it will be painfully obvious how to straighten the steering wheel. Just remember that it's a Jeep... your wheel won't stay straight for long Since it's a TJ, you may need to reset your toe after your springs settle. Expect it to toe out slightly in a month or two.

Do you ever have to worry about the caster unless you change something on the Jeep? Also, will my caster get better when the suspension settles a bit?

Your caster is set by the length and angle of the control arms. Unless you increase or decrease your lift or swap out control arms, the caster will hold. Settling will only affect your caster minimally.

And will the settling also affect the pinion angle making an adjustment to the upper rear control arms necessary down the line?

If you want it perfect, you will need to reset it after it settles. I'd just check it all in a few months.

[womb raider 940]

Hey Joe I went and picked up that angle tool.