How to align your Jeep Wrangler TJ
- Thread starter Jerry Bransford
- Start date
I can say with certainty as I don't have a YJ.
I want to say it's @Brantley who has a YJ, but I could be wrong.
It is indeed me with the YJ. The toe-in process is the same. The only difference is that on a YJ, the tie rod runs from wheel to wheel, instead of from the driver's side wheel over to the drag link. You can still use the metal bars and tape measure to do the alignment, though.
To adjust the tie rod, there's an adjustment sleeve right by the driver's side wheel. Loosen the clamp bolts and turn the sleeve til you get it where you want it.
Noppes
TJ Enthusiast
Great info. I've know about DIY alignment method for some time now but the idea of using the bar clamped on to the rotor is excellent.:thumbup:
Wanted to point out something I noticed in a picture on an earlier comment. Maybe @Jerry Bransford can chime in but I don't think it is good for the front axle to jack it up by the axle tube in the center. Instead use jack stands to hold both sides up. I don't think the axle tube can take that weight.
Wanted to point out something I noticed in a picture on an earlier comment. Maybe @Jerry Bransford can chime in but I don't think it is good for the front axle to jack it up by the axle tube in the center. Instead use jack stands to hold both sides up. I don't think the axle tube can take that weight.
I am planning to do tie rod swap this weekend and set toe in. This may be a dense question but I am assuming you mark wheel width (33 in my case) from the wheel it selfy on aluminum tube and then mark center of that width on tube and then center it on rotor as shown by @Nashorn101 above. Sorry but just want to be crystal clear on it.
I just got a tape measure and measured 33" on each piece of aluminum. I marked at 0" and I marked at 33". I made sure it was centered on the piece of aluminum as well. then you just have to center them on the rotor (as best you can), and you'll be ready to align it.
Once you do it a few times, it becomes almost effortless.
This is one of those tricks that will pay for itself the first time. You'll never have to pay some shop to align it again. Nor should you, because aligning these things is one of the easiest things you can do.
I am a righty tighty mentality and it cannot be too basic, so here is query: Which direction rotating bar from front will result in toe in; i.e., if I grasp the tie rod from the front and rotate toward me it will cause the tires to toe in? toe out? Sorry simplistic but it will save lots of trial and certain first error. Thanks in advance
On a stock track bar, rotation to the front of the vehicle will toe out (get longer) the problem is after market could be threaded differently.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You can see the tires moving toe in or toe out even with a single rotation of the trackbar, so it's easy to figure out once you're there.
I had another question on this topic. Last time I did my alignment I had my tires off and some straight steel up against my rotors. When I stretched my tape measure in front I noticed that since the tires are not supposed to be parallel, but slightly toed in 1/16" over the rear measurement, that the farther I moved my tape measure away from the rotors toward the front of the Jeep, the smaller the distance becomes (simple geometry, the two theoretical lines would eventually converge), and vice versa in the rear. Therefore, at what distance in front of the rotor and behind the rotor should I measure? I hope this is articulated clearly enough to know what I'm asking.
I've always had my straight edge the same length as the tires diameter, that way the toe-in would be set for those tires. If you swapped to a larger tire without adjusting your toe-in you would have more toe-in than with the previous tires.
derekmac
TJ Addict
Mark three lines on your straight edge. The center mark to line up with the center of the hub, and then measure out for the diameter of your tires. If you have 33's, measure out 16.5" both ways from the center line, then take your toe measurements at those marks.
If you want to get really specific measure your actual tire. I have 31 inch Duratracs that are more like 30 inch. so not that one inch would make that much difference, but if you are OCD measure the tire, don't take the word for it on the side of the tire.
the easiest , quickest way i found is toe plates , made by longacre racing products. it takes less than 3 minutes to check without removing the tires . i use this on my race car always without failure.
Toe Measurement Tools
Click image to enlarge
Toe Plates with Magnets
Toe Measurement Tools
Click image to enlarge
Toe Plates with Magnets
Wow, those are pretty nifty! They are priced reasonably too:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VAOHB2/?tag=wranglerorg-20