Need help with Jeep tracking/wandering on the road-?'s on Lifts also- pls read on

[j0114]

Ok I got a Jeep CJ7 , 86 model, with 33-12.50/15 s on it.
When I purchased the Jeep it was already lifted and it might have wandered some at interstate speed but nothing bad, so I got in a fender bender , front passenger side, had jeep fixed, etc,
Got jeep back and when u get around 60 MPh it wants to track or wander in the road,
So I checked the lift and its a shackle lift and personally not the kind of lift I would have used with no stabilizer for steering, but I wondered if in my fender bender if a leaf pack was damaged and got over looked,
I had a 4 wheel alignment done one it.
A friend of mine owns a 4wd shop, and After I talked to him he said, I should just put a quality lift on it and a steering stabilizer on it and he felt for sure it would fix it and if it didnt he would find the problem and fix it for no charge since he told me the new lift would,
So anyways He recommended a BDS lift kit, he said they have an insane customer service and if u break a part for any reason its warrantied lifetime and no questions ask they replace.
So anyways I am planning on taking to him and getting the lift and a steering stabilizer put on there.
I know a lifted CJ7 isnt an interstate cruising vehicle but when you cant do 60 mph on a state hwy something is wrong.
I know my friend is selling me something but he has lifted my other TJ's and Samurai's and he has never sold me anything just to make the bill higher or upsold me, ive ask about stuff and he said no u would be wasting your money do with this,
And this lift I was looking at several, Rubicon Exp, terraflex, Aev etc all more expensive and he sells them all but told me the BDS was the best way to go and was a bargain for the price of the lift.
I hope someone on here has or has had a BDS lift of a Rubicon or Terra Flex or AEV and can weigh in.
thx

 

[CJ]

Actually a correctly lifted CJ cruises highway speeds at no problem,

I will not get into the lift question (as which one is better because the forum is littered with opinions), but GET RID OF THE LONG SHACKLES... They affect your castor more than you think.

 

[bondo258]

GET RID OF THE LONG SHACKLES...

I agree. Worst. Modification. Ever.

Less than two inches length added (one inch lift) can still be drivable.

Long shackle and stock length shocks isn't good for driveability either...

 

[j0114]

Like i said it didnt do it before I got in the fender bender and I am not positive how long the shackle lift is , b/c when i drove it back from the body shop and it was tracking the road I havent been driving it but in the neighborhood so it gets driven,
I got some cash saved up and am fixing it,

I just dont know what lift to go with,
I dont have a mall cruiser but my jeep is pretty much a full restore but i call it a restore mod, b.c am adding comforts to it, like after this lift, Im installing a mopar mulit point kit i got , but im getting the 4.0 head parts first,


I would like to know what you guys think about the YJ lifts people are putting on CJ's to use the wider springs?

 

[Purple77CJ7]

I have the Rubicon Express lift with their wider front springs, 4.5" lift. It works for me. The ride was stiff at first. Softened up some after wheeling with it for awhile. It might be more expensive than other kits, but it was complete. Compare kit components. Some kits are cheaper but have less stuff, that you will have to get later. I'm running 33 x 12.50 x 15's with this lift on a 79 CJ7 , I still had to do some fender trimming to clear tires at full stuff. Like I said this kit worked for me and was complete. Also used a M.O.R.E. shackle reversal with this lift.

 

[IOPort51]

how much lift do you have and how much do you want??

I did not see this in your post, if it is there I apologize.

 

[priceg]

Causes for wander, Not in order: Over aired tires, not enough negative caster, to much camber, worn steering box or rod ends. Worn steering shaft flex joint. I have repaired frames on chevys and jeeps where the box mounts due to flexing and cracking. If you could, put you alignment specs on here, your alignment guy should have given you a print out.
Take a tape measure and measure left and right wheelbase, you may have sheered a spring alignment pin.

 

[hole]

I've been more than pleased with Old Man Emu Springs! I went with the YJ conversion , 3in lift. I see you're running 33's so you might need to go a little taller though.

 

[j0114]

i like OME lifts as well I had one on my last TJ,
but I thought they only did like a 1.5 in suspension and you had to do a body lift,
what I saw said their lift OME was for 31 10.50;s


ok my lift was on the jeep when i got it, its got rancho shocks and leafs and a shackle lift,
I know that is a bad lift etc,
It was something I had planned on changing when I bought it.

I think I am going to go with the YJ conversion to run the wider springs on my jeep, BDS has a conversion kit so you get it then all I think you got to buy are the leaf springs and shocks, you dont buy the yj cj conversion package and a YJ lift, you would have tons of parts you dont need.

I also like the no ?'s asked lifetime warranty, Ive ridden in a 4 in BDS CJ7 with the CJ lift and it rode well on rode, I mean your riding in a lifted CJ7 with udders its not going to ride like a lexus suv, So I was planning on just doing the BDS CJ lift till I got on their site and saw the option to run yj springs.

To the guy with the rubicon express lift it was my choice before I found BDS, they run the YJ springs on their CJ lift, The Price isnt that much cheaper bds to rubicon express unless your talking a rubicon express long arm kit,
But i like the BDS warranty and I got s friend who owns a shop and he sells both lifts and gives me parts at cost and he has done all my lifts in the past and always been dead on and he was all about BDS and the warranty and said Rubicon was good but the quality wasnt as good as bds, he said it was a great lift nd he thought id be happy with it right up till i broke something and bds is no ?'s get a free part and RE is not.

 

[bondo258]

YJ front springs are a great upgrade for a CJ. As for brand, that may depend what you want to do with your Jeep.

What do you want to do with your Jeep?

Daily driver? Weekend Summer driver? Second vehicle?

Off-roading, what styles? Rock Crawl? Desert? Woods? Mudding? Picnics? Fire roads?

As far as CJ's (and YJ's for that matter) Nothing drives like a Jeep.



It's a blessing and a curse. Keep that in mind with any future upgrades.

 

[AussieCJ7]

Before changing lifts work out the real cause of the wander as when you lift you may well make it worse unless you are lucky enough to replace the part causing wander in the lift (unlikely)

now if I hear the story right you had an accident and had it repaired and it did not wander before but does now ???

I would in order

get a wheel alignment and get a good reading on toe in and castor
Inspect for frame cracks any loose spring hangers steering box movement
inspect every steering joint and have someone turn the steering wheel while you watch closely each tie rod end ball joint and steering box bolt even the slightest movement will amplify the issue
Then look closely at draglink/tie rod alignment at ride height full drop and full compression it can give you insight to bump steer

Read the sticky on here about fixing steering issues and take a methodical approach


mine runs with no sway bar no stabiliser and 4.5" rubicon express lift on 33's and tracks down the high at 65mph if no issue I can drive one handed but it use to be a white knuckle affair to do that the main issue for me was flex through the front end and a good solid bar set up helped a lot to stiffen the front end but you need to work out root cause first or it will cost you a lot of money

 

[Kane]

I can bury the needle on my CJ5 with no problem and not worry about wander. I have 4 inched of lift and 33 inch mud tires. Proper steering geometry and tight bushings regardless of lift is most important. A stock jeep can be scary of these are not addressed.

 

[j0114]

as far as what I do with my jeep, I wheel it i like powerlines etc, but i spent about 3k on a paint job so I dont do trails where trees are scraping down the sides of my jeep and rock gardens where u always leave with rock rashed corners, I got a samurai for those trails,

But i dont daily drive it, but I want it to handle well, and I want to run 33 " tires on it.

I appreciate all the pointers and suggestions to get it handling better b/c this summer I plan to finally get to put some miles on it instead of seeing it sit in my garage, so i owe all the posters with all the good advice to fix my problem a if u was closer it would be a round on me.


But on a side note what do any of you guys think about the BDS lift with the YJ conversion to use the wider YJ springs, I like their warranty no ?'s asked any part broken replaced for free

 

[j0114]

I did get to ride in a friends CJ with the BDS lift and it rode well and had good flex also

 

[bondo258]

YJ spring conversions are a plus in my book. Even stock springs. For any use.

I have OME 2 1/2. they ride and flex great. Ran 31's on them. Rubbed a little on the trail with my shackle reversal, when sway bar disconnected.

Cut my fenders for TJ Rubicon flares, to stuff 33's. Not very fond of extra tall ride heights, myself.

No clearance issues yet. Need to get some U-bolt skids. though. I love rocks and trees. Chainsaws are standard equipment, as far as I'm concerned.


Disclaimer:

( I wheel with folks who "tread lightly", Chainsaw references are for "trail maintenance" on private property)