by Kahdir Johnson
Quadratec Channel Staff Writer
If you have made the decision to install a suspension lift or change out other steering components on your Jeep TJ Wrangler, it is certainly important to get a proper front end alignment after installing these products. Not just for safety and handling issues, but also because an improperly aligned front can result in severe tire wear.
And while having that front end alignment done is all well and good, getting to a professional who will perform that alignment is not always the easiest thing once these new items are on the vehicle. Nor is it really safe to try.
So here are some tips you can utilize right on your driveway in order to set your toe-in and re-center your steering wheel, all so you can head out to get that professional alignment accomplished.
Here is what you will need:
- Ratchet
- 13mm, 15mm sockets & Socket wrench
- Tape measure
- Vice Grips or Pipe Wrench
- Floor Jack (optional)
- Jack Stands (optional
- Wheel Chocks
- A friend to help you measure things
NOTE: Some people like to do a toe-in end alignment with their front axle sitting on jack stands. This allows the wheels to move freely and thus making things easier to adjust. However, this step is not necessary and some may argue you actually need to set your toe-in with the vehicle's wheels on the ground.
Here is an overview of the basic Jeep TJ front steering and suspension components:
Setting Your Toe-In: You can't see it, but your front tires are actually not parallel to each other - or at least they shouldn't be when pointing straight ahead. This is called the "toe-in" and if it set correctly, the front of your tires should actually be pointing inward just a hair. Here are some simple steps will help you to adjust your toe-in and can all be done in minutes.
First off, park on level ground and then - with the help of a friend - measure the width between the front of your front tires and compare to the back of your front tires. It is important to use the exact same measuring point front and back (such as the mold seam in the middle of your tires) in order to get an accurate reading.
Next, using a 13mm socket and wrench, loosen sleeves on both ends of the tie-rod.
After that, grab the tie-rod with a pair of vice-grips or pipe wrench and rotate it a little bit at a time taking measurements along the way. Continue this process until the width in the front is about 1/16" (but no more than 1/8") closer together than the back.
Once your toe-in has been set, re-tighten the tie-rod sleeves. After that, it's time to center up that steering wheel.
Re-Centering Your Steering Wheel:
With your tires pointing as straight as possible (leave your steering wheel rotated as is) and your tires on the ground, loosen the bolts on your drag link turnbuckle with a 15mm deep socket or wrench.
Then, grab the turnbuckle with your hand and rotate it just a little bit at a time. Check your steering wheel periodically while doing this until it appears to be centered.
Try to make sure the bolts are pointing away from the track bar (rotate just the bolt sleeve and not the turnbuckle itself if necessary) and then tighten the turnbuckle bolts.
Finally, take your Jeep out for a test ride and determine if you need to make any other adjustments. It may take a few times to get it right, but at least it is easy to do. If you just installed a 2"-3" lift, the above steps should be about all you need to do. However, if your lift is 4" or greater, you should seriously consider purchasing a set of adjustable control arms so you can properly set your caster.
