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I took it out for a quick spin today and have noticed that my steering wheel is out by 45degrees and the car wanders slightly. I only took it out for about 2 minutes on the private track next to my house because its not taxed. Is it normal that doing all this to the suspension and fitting larger 205,75,15 off road tyres will mess the tracking up to such an extent and will getting a garage to re-align everything sort the problem?
I experienced this when I put lifting shackles on my old SJ. I took them straight off as they ruined the approach angle but it was the same thing.
When you lift the vehicle you are increasing the space between the chassis and the axle with a longer spring. The steering box is attached to the chassis and has a drop arm on it connected to a steering rod.
That steering rod is connected to the hub which is on the end of the axle.
As the rod has not extended to make up for the extended distance the 2 places it gets connected to are apart, it has to pull on something. That something being the drop arm on the steering box if you like, thus pulling the steering wheel out of kilter.
So it will need adjusting to make it longer to fill that gap. I imagine by both track rod ends equally being the best way.
The track rod ends may need a bit of heat to relaese them if they are on an old car and have not been adjused for some time.
On my SJ I just unbolted the steering wheel and bolted it back on straight but that was not the right way but I took the lifting shackles off before driving it on the road so didn't worry.
Kirkynut
The underdog often starts the fight, and occasionally the upper dog deserves to win - Edgar Watson Howe.
When I bought my jimny the tracking was miles out and when I found some one who would adjust it (most ordinary tyre places looked in horror when I took it in) he also had to adjust the rear end alignment as well - so may be worth checking this too
No, you don;t need a prop spacer with a 3 inch lift. I have a 3 inch lift without one and no probs at all.
Just get your tracking sorted and all will be well I'm sure.
Kirkynut
Cool, well once I get it taxed I will get the tracking done then take it for a good spin to test it out. I have a feeling it is gonna do the whole "death wobble" thing so will probably have to start the process of elimination, clean the crap off the back of the wheels, king pin bearings, wheel bearings etc...
Does anyone have any suggestions with solving death wobble? What is the purpose of a steering damper?
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