View Full Version : Jeep sways back and forth


nagal
11-16-05, 11:38 AM
So I have had this problem for awhile. Before it was just an annoyance but when putting on the RE 4.5 coil springs it has gotten a lot worse.

When letting off the throttle quickly, my Jeep feels as if it shifts to the right then back to the left. It does not seems to actually steer that way.

I was told to check for cracked control arm mounts, ensure the track bar is nice and tight and inspect the sway bar.

Control arm mounts look good, nothing broken/cracked. Trackbar is nice and tight. Sway bar looks okay but no idea what I am looking for there other than the obvious.

Alignment is a little off, nothing major and one of the tires is out of balance not bad but it causes some vibes when going over 65.

98 TJ I6, D44 front/rear, RE 4.5 SF SA on 33 BFG MTs. Steering is custom crossover (not hi-steer, not inverted t) using WJ knuckles. No steering stabilizer.

Any suggestions?

Old Fart
11-16-05, 12:56 PM
Torque steer?

nagal
11-16-05, 01:01 PM
Torque steer?

Not sure what you mean but I think you mean that the torque of the engine is causing the body to feel like it shifts to one side, then yes that seem to be an accurate statement.

So, is this "normal" in a lifted TJ? I can't seem to think it would be because I am sure it would have been mentioned before. :)

Old Fart
11-16-05, 05:23 PM
Are you manual transmission? I don't know a hell of a lot about lifted coil spring vehicles, but I remember whan my friend Seth lifted his TJ - almost went over the side on the Coronado bridge a few times before he learned to "time" his shifts

Dukes69
11-16-05, 06:27 PM
Are you manual transmission? I don't know a hell of a lot about lifted coil spring vehicles, but I remember whan my friend Seth lifted his TJ - almost went over the side on the Coronado bridge a few times before he learned to "time" his shifts

Did your friend have a detroit locker in the rear?

blackZZR
11-16-05, 06:51 PM
torque steer king here, but that is usually when getting on the gas with a detroit. getting off the gas and feeling a shift is the oppisite, or lack of torque steer, LOL had to set that one up
seriously
I think it may be either you need a stiffer shock
or your shocks are over extended
you may need to have a set of shocks fitted to your lift
it is important to get the correct shocks.
to long or to short for the lift or travel cause problems
as does to soft or to stiff for the load

nagal
11-16-05, 08:30 PM
Manual Tranny, ARB both F/R.

Not sure how shocks would play into this but they are not over extended and I would not call them soft by any means :)

nagal
11-17-05, 08:21 AM
Update:

drove the Jeep to work today for the first time in awhile (been using the Jetta to save on gas). It might be shock related. I notice even when driving straight on a relatively flat road that the front would sometimes seem to dip down on the passenger side and then "float" back up.

Another thought I had is maybe the shocks are shifting on the bar pins? I did not take a look this morning but I will check later to see if the shocks are centered on the pins.

Dukes69
11-17-05, 03:28 PM
shock valving?

nagal
11-17-05, 04:36 PM
shock valving?

Could be but have no idea how to check that.

I am going to call Walker Evans next week and set it up to have my shocks all checked out. Of course that means my Jeep will be down for a few days.

Should have just bought some Fox Shocks...

Dukes69
11-17-05, 06:00 PM
Should have just bought some Fox Shocks...

Yeah, but then they'd still be in the box and not on your Jeep! :wave:

nagal
11-17-05, 06:21 PM
Yeah, but then they'd still be in the box and not on your Jeep! :wave:

True :D

Update #2: Well when getting home tonight I did a "shock load test". I pressed on the corner edge of the front bumper. The passenger side gives in a lot easier than the drivers. So it is settled, I will be sending the shocks back for a rebuild.