Poor Ride Quality

After taking another drive today and paying very close attention to the mannerisms of it. MOST of the harshness I am feeling is coming from the steering wheel. Hit a bump and steering wheel goes one way, steering wheel wanders back and forth just driving straight, huge dead spot in steering.
 
When your front arms go from parallel to an angle, those ruts are felt. Combo of shocks bottoming and that, is my guess.

But then Ive got stock arms and 3" of lift and I often think my TJ rides cushier than my JKU. Subjective, I guess.
 
FultonD33 said:
Hit a bump and steering wheel goes one way, steering wheel wanders back and forth just driving straight, huge dead spot in steering.
Click to expand...
Whoops that's bump steer. Are you still running the factory steering geometry with a dropped Pitman arm, and/or did you convert it to high steer?
 
Jerry Bransford said:
Whoops that's bump steer. Are you still running the factory steering geometry with a dropped Pitman arm, and/or did you convert it to high steer?
Click to expand...

Factory style to my knowledge (its currie currectlync). My custom track bar setup could be part of it but it did this even before then with a different track bar. Ill post a pic of the geometry below
 

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FultonD33 said:
Factory style to my knowledge (its currie currectlync). My custom track bar setup could be part of it but it did this even before then with a different track bar. Ill post a pic of the geometry below
Click to expand...

Your frame side track bar mount is lower than stock. And the pitman arm looks stock.

If so, you built yourself some bump streer by screwing up the steering geometry.
 
FultonD33 said:
After taking another drive today and paying very close attention to the mannerisms of it. MOST of the harshness I am feeling is coming from the steering wheel. Hit a bump and steering wheel goes one way, steering wheel wanders back and forth just driving straight, huge dead spot in steering.
Click to expand...

So make sure you try the zip tie on the shock to make sure you are not bottoming out. If you have any amount of drop on the trackbar by your description that may be your biggest culprit.

The other thing to do is with the Jeep on the ground loosen EVERY bolt on the suspension. Control arms, track bars, and sway bar links then give the thing a few good bounces and then torque everything back to spec. This will ensure that there is no bind that could contribute to your ride issue.
 
FultonD33 said:
Factory style to my knowledge (its currie currectlync). My custom track bar setup could be part of it but it did this even before then with a different track bar. Ill post a pic of the geometry below
Click to expand...
I can't quite tell what's going on with it but your track bar geometry looks very wonky. That can cause bump steer. The rest of it looks ok.
 
jjvw said:
Your frame side track bar mount is lower than stock. And the pitman arm looks stock.

If so, you built yourself some bump streer by screwing up the steering geometry.
Click to expand...

I agree, however we are talking about a possible 1/8-1/4" this thing is lowered. Don't forget the factory one mounts in the exact same location just flipped. This mod came recommended by a veteran Jeep shop owner who's done hundreds of these. Also, this harshness was present with a factory mount style Currie Track Bar.
 
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FultonD33 said:
.... This mod came recommended by a veteran Jeep shop owner who's done hundreds of these. Also, this harshness was present with a factory mount style Currie Track Bar.
Click to expand...

Whatever the harshness is, is unrelated to how this veteran Jeep shop owner recommended that you screw up the steering geometry.
 
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Jerry Bransford said:
I can't quite tell what's going on with it but your track bar geometry looks very wonky. That can cause bump steer. The rest of it looks ok.
Click to expand...

It came recommended from Dave Kishpaugh at Jeep West in Oregon, great dude. It is a Rough Country (best clearance) track bar with larger bushings pressed in, larger 9/16ths holes and bolts on both the bracket and axle ends. The factory one mounts in the same position, just rotated 90 degrees. We are talking a possible 1/8-1/4" this is lowered now. Also this harshness was present with a factory style mounting Currie Bar
 
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Blackjack said:
So make sure you try the zip tie on the shock to make sure you are not bottoming out. If you have any amount of drop on the trackbar by your description that may be your biggest culprit.

The other thing to do is with the Jeep on the ground loosen EVERY bolt on the suspension. Control arms, track bars, and sway bar links then give the thing a few good bounces and then torque everything back to spec. This will ensure that there is no bind that could contribute to your ride issue.
Click to expand...

I will definitely try the zip tie method
 
FultonD33 said:
It came recommended from Dave Kishpaugh at Jeep West in Oregon, great dude. It is a Rough Country (best clearance) track bar with larger bushings pressed in, larger 9/16ths holes and bolts on both the bracket and axle ends. The factory one mounts in the same position, just rotated 90 degrees. We are talking a possible 1/8-1/4" this is lowered now. Also this harshness was present with a factory style mounting Currie Bar
Click to expand...

Oh, fantastic! All those numbers to hide behind. 🤣
 
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Reactions: rasband
FultonD33 said:
Did you miss the part where I said it was there with a factory style track bar? One that several forum members run...
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You described bump steer. I see a setup for bump steer. This is different than any problems with ride quality.

But since Dave is involved, it could be anything.
 
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jjvw said:
You described bump steer. I see a setup for bump steer. This is different than any problems with ride quality.

But since Dave is involved, it could be anything.
Click to expand...

Great guy or not, we've seen a large number of poorly designed suspensions out of his shop. This looks to be one of them, another is a triangulated 4 link on the rear that keeps the trackbar.

I'm sure he's great, but like any other builder you should spend the time to understand what they do and why. Then when they're done, have them show you on some solid test drives!
 
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jjvw said:
You described bump steer. I see a setup for bump steer. This is different than any problems with ride quality.

But since Dave is involved, it could be anything.
Click to expand...

I guess I didn't do a good job describing it. Yes there is a slight hint of bump steer, but it's more of a wobble over bumps. On divots and such in the road, the tires turn left and right almost independent of the steering wheel. I had a video at one time using the factory style bar but I will have to find it.

That last remark has me worried lol, what do you mean?
 
rasband said:
Great guy or not, we've seen a large number of poorly designed suspensions out of his shop. This looks to be one of them, another is a triangulated 4 link on the rear that keeps the trackbar.

I'm sure he's great, but like any other builder you should spend the time to understand what they do and why. Then when they're done, have them show you on some solid test drives!
Click to expand...

You're probably right. This along with the 4" shocks up front came recommended from him. He didn't actually do them himself but he said what I should do. Check my above reply to @jjvw regarding a more accurate description of the problem.
 
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