ok so im leaving in 3 days for school 6 hrs away. Brought her in the the shop for alignment and inspection (new york btw) i was told the alignment was a waste of time because something in my front end is stiff. They said so because the wheel dosnt return to straight after turning. Ive never noticed this but like they said probably because i drive it everyday. He said to start pulling tierod ends and ball joints to find it.is this guy just blowing smoke? And yes i did have over size tires on a 3 inch lift and off roaded alot in the past few months. What should i do? I convined the guy to not do the work cause i need the car.

 

AFAIK you can only do a toe in toe out on Cherokee's unless you have adjustable control arms. Jack the front end up with someone and wiggle the tires up and down and side to side and look for play in the tie rod ends & track bar...Tj

 

I don't think the mechanic is right. Unless your Jeep has been retrofitted with adjustable ball joints, there is no way to adjust the caster, (which is like the front wheels of a grocery cart) so mine doesn't snap back to straight either. I would guess others have the same problem but I may not have a clue what I'm talking about. Lol Have someone turn the steering wheel while you look for play in the front steering components. If nothing is loose, take it somewhere else for alignment.

 

He doesn't know cherokees then. Most shops don't have a clue. They read stock alignment specs from a PC screen and crap themselves when a lifted XJ rolls on their computer run, laser enhanced wonder machine. It gives them numbers waaay off from stock when they read your angles.

Rack and pinions return to center, generally our traditional steering setups don't have an urge to "return to center". I would check the rod ends for play, ball joints, make sure the steering box is tight, etc... Then take it to a shop that knows 4x4s and tell them to do a toe alignment.

 

wondering if youve checked to see if your steering box might be too tight? its a fine line between overtightened and proper. if your rig has NO urge to roll back towards the center this could be the case. wouldnt hurt to check.

 

the caster will also help the wheels return to center when you release the steering wheel after making a turn. you can adjust the lower controll arms a little bit on a stock setup.

 

nope, I havnt checked anything. I was actually running late for the apointment and there screw up with scheduling made me late to work and I just got out. I'm basically going to do nothing with it because I dont have the time to check anything out before I leave, let alone fix it. Thanks for all the help though, I had a feeling this guy didnt know much. He looked at me like I had 9 heads when he asked where the front driveshaft was and I told him the CV went and i'm rebuilding it.

 

All stock vehicles regardless of setup should want to return to center, lifting throws the angles off and its not as noticeable but you should still be able to tell it.

http://www.familycar.com/alignment.h...on%20%28SAI%29

 

First, have someone waggle the steering wheel back and forth about two or three inches while you lay under the front (engine OFF, e-brake ON) and examine each PIVOT point. Tie rod ends, ball joints, pitman arm, etc.

Any PLAY? Loose or bad part. No play? Garage is full of manure.

 

Some people have said the XJ should 'want to' go to center. Mine wants to, but it doesn't snap back like other vehicles I've had.

I think I help it along a little. But when it comes back to center it tracks straight and true. It's stock except for P235x15's.

Do I have a problem?

 

It will not snap back like rack and pinion/speed sensitive steering. Yes, it does come back but with not much force and I've never seen one go back to totally straight. You also have to be in motion for jeep to "drift" back to near center.

 

@jth877, Thank you, you've made me feel much better. I had my steering components checked and the pitman arm bushing replaced and have been very happy with it. It does not snap back, but 'wants to' return to center.

 

with our cherokees you can do your own alignment at home. get a sharp nail and score a small line in each tire all the way around. then measure front and rear at the same spot and your tow in should be 1/16-1/8 in.

take it for spin around the block and recheck measurements.


i have done this and once a year i get it professionally done and it has always come out to spec

 

96-XJ...I've done that before years ago and it will do a pretty darn good job. Good tip!

 

thanks!


and BTW the best way i have found to score a line is to hammer it into a small little piece of wood. jack up the tire, spin the tire and place the block of wood firmly on the ground and have the nail run along the tire. It will produce a near perfect line every time! and while the tire is up you can check for play