Right now I have a 3.5" RE super flex kit with an adjustable track bar sitting on 33" tires. My steering geometry doesn't look too hot. I haven't had it aligned yet -- I'm waiting until I can get some suggestions on what to do with the steering. I won't have time to do anything crazy (like full OTK) this winter, but if there are some smaller things I can do to help fix the geometry that would be great. Or perhaps the alignment will take care of some of these issues?

Over the summer I plan on going OTK.

Is it even as bad as I think it is??

 

Not as bad as you think.
Plenty of members sitting in the 3-4 range with stock steering.
It isn't ideal but should last the winter.

 

Thanks. Good to hear that. So I guess I'll go forward and get an alignment. Thanks!

 

Get Serious!

 

I've had stock for a year, but if I was on the trails more it would have been upgraded awhile ago, soon I'll be overhauling the whole front.

 

Yeah I'm gonna run it stock and do some light trails...

My friend has a machine shop and I think I'm going to pay him to make me a custom OTK setup over the summer. Sucks cuz I guess I'll need to get another alignment after we do that.

 

I'm currently building an HP with wj knuckles, I wanted the brake upgrade

 

you can do your own alignment, don't ever pay for it

 

Unless you wheel it hard it should be ok for a while,But i would have upgraded steering on top of your mod list tho.

 

A simple upgrade until summers is grand Cherokee tie rod plenty of good ones in local upulls. Until summer money kicks in....

 

I don't think I would feel comfortable doing my own alignment. Too many factors. Caster, toe in/out, camber, etc etc ... And not to mention the best thing I have to measure is a measuring tape... I'd rather spend 80 bucks on an alignment and prolong the life of 700 bucks worth of tires

 

I've never taken mine to be aligned, but I have read time and time again that a shop will not know how to correctly set your lifted jeep. They go off stock factory specs. So you will waste your $80

Instead, read this http://jeep-xj.info/HowtoAlignment.htm and send me your 80 bucks if you'd like

 

Or I could research recommended alignment settings and have them set it precisely to my specifications? The camber is very negative on my drivers side as well -- I have no idea how to address that.

 

Mostly your going to have a toe set measure from center of tread on the front side and the rear side of the tires and make them close to each other make the fronts a tad bit closer. And as for camber and caster that's set at the factory when the C's are welded on unless you have adjust able lower control arms or uppers. Then the farther back the upper ball joint is from the rear is positive and the more forward it is that's negative.

 

Basically all you need is a tape measure and a wrench. Camber can't be adjusted and like he said caster if you have adjustable arms, but that's as easy as buying an angle finder.