I just bought my 2015 JKU Rubicon with 100k miles on it. Don't know much of its history, but was a one owner who left it stock, traded it in, and thru the auto auctions it ended up at a Off Road shop in CA that specializes in jeeps only. They put a Teraflex 2.5 lift and 33" on it, stock rims w/ wheel spaces, 9550 shocks & steering stabilizer.
When driving straight (or trying to) it always seems to go back and forth, never in a straight line. Even at fairly slow speeds. The steering feels tight, no play or sloppiness. Maybe too tight? The steering doesn't return all the way to center when coming out of a turn. Comes part way back but not completely, and seems worse on a right hand turn.
Driving straight If you flick the wheel to the right it keeps going to the right, won't straighten out. Then you have to steer it back to the left, and it keeps going to the left.... and back and forth it keeps going. :icon_crazy:
I thought with the lift (albeit modest) and slightly larger tires it might be caster angle. So I installed adjustable lower arms and set caster to 5.5 which made absolutely no difference.
Took it in to a 4 Wheel parts shop and had the entire front end inspected. They reported back that the drivers side ball joints were bad, and the tie rod end at the bottom of the pitman arm needed replaced. Had them replace those and the problem remains unchanged. It did steer tighter with the new ball joints, and they advised me that it takes 500 miles to break in new ball joints. I did that.... but the problem remains.
I returned to them, and they re-inspected the front end parts but claim everything else is good. They were not sure what was wrong and basically tried getting rid of me.
I took it to a different off road shop to get a second opinion. They agreed that the remaining front end components do not need replacing, and that doing so was just a waste of money.
I'm wondering if the passenger ball joints are dry, too tight, bound up? When these shops check things they always seem to focus on play, sloppiness, worn out parts.... and often times miss a part that is binding.
Maybe steering gear box? I tried loosening the adjusting nut thinking that maybe the used car auction dealer tightened it up too tight trying to hide a worn out front end. I loosened it in small 1/8th turns to the point that I started getting some play in the steering, but the original problem never went away. When putting the adjusting nut back to where it was I noticed that it's only a 1/4 from bottoming out. Made me wonder if that's normal.
Played with tire pressure (they are almost new KO2) and did the chalk test finding that 28psi showed the most even wear. But regardless of where I put the tire pressure the problem remains.
I've owned Jeeps my whole life, probably had 8 or 9 of the them (well ok..... 8.5 LOL) and I know how a jeep handles. But there is something wrong here.
Makes me think I am barking up the wrong tree. Over looking something.
Any ideas? Suggestions? Similar stories?
When driving straight (or trying to) it always seems to go back and forth, never in a straight line. Even at fairly slow speeds. The steering feels tight, no play or sloppiness. Maybe too tight? The steering doesn't return all the way to center when coming out of a turn. Comes part way back but not completely, and seems worse on a right hand turn.
Driving straight If you flick the wheel to the right it keeps going to the right, won't straighten out. Then you have to steer it back to the left, and it keeps going to the left.... and back and forth it keeps going. :icon_crazy:
I thought with the lift (albeit modest) and slightly larger tires it might be caster angle. So I installed adjustable lower arms and set caster to 5.5 which made absolutely no difference.
Took it in to a 4 Wheel parts shop and had the entire front end inspected. They reported back that the drivers side ball joints were bad, and the tie rod end at the bottom of the pitman arm needed replaced. Had them replace those and the problem remains unchanged. It did steer tighter with the new ball joints, and they advised me that it takes 500 miles to break in new ball joints. I did that.... but the problem remains.
I returned to them, and they re-inspected the front end parts but claim everything else is good. They were not sure what was wrong and basically tried getting rid of me.
I took it to a different off road shop to get a second opinion. They agreed that the remaining front end components do not need replacing, and that doing so was just a waste of money.
I'm wondering if the passenger ball joints are dry, too tight, bound up? When these shops check things they always seem to focus on play, sloppiness, worn out parts.... and often times miss a part that is binding.
Maybe steering gear box? I tried loosening the adjusting nut thinking that maybe the used car auction dealer tightened it up too tight trying to hide a worn out front end. I loosened it in small 1/8th turns to the point that I started getting some play in the steering, but the original problem never went away. When putting the adjusting nut back to where it was I noticed that it's only a 1/4 from bottoming out. Made me wonder if that's normal.
Played with tire pressure (they are almost new KO2) and did the chalk test finding that 28psi showed the most even wear. But regardless of where I put the tire pressure the problem remains.
I've owned Jeeps my whole life, probably had 8 or 9 of the them (well ok..... 8.5 LOL) and I know how a jeep handles. But there is something wrong here.
Makes me think I am barking up the wrong tree. Over looking something.
Any ideas? Suggestions? Similar stories?
