Axles offset to driver's side

[Jimy]

The axles shouldn't be offset. That said, factory fresh vehicles had a lot more variability to them than you'd expect. In regards to lifted Jeeps, any ride height change from stock will also affect the centering of the axles. You have a track bar (or called a panhard bar in a lot of other automotive circles) that runs left/right and connects the axle to the frame. This controls the side to side movement of the axle in relation to the chassis. Because it runs from the axle to the frame, when you raise or lower the vehicle it travels in an arc and results in an offset. This can be fixed with an adjustable track bar. You would install the track bar then adjust the length to get the axle back under the center of the Jeep at ride height.

View attachment 469840

What's odd in your situation is that you're saying both axles are offset in the same direction. The front and rear track bars mount in the opposite direction of each other, so when a height change offsets them, they offset in opposite directions.

My question would be what caused the bent control arm mount? If there was damage to the mount there could possibly be other bent items like the track bar mount at the frame, the track bar, or even the frame itself. Maybe some pictures of the various connections could be helpful, or even a trip to an alignment rack to see if something's out of square.

The axles shouldn't be offset. That said, factory fresh vehicles had a lot more variability to them than you'd expect. In regards to lifted Jeeps, any ride height change from stock will also affect the centering of the axles. You have a track bar (or called a panhard bar in a lot of other automotive circles) that runs left/right and connects the axle to the frame. This controls the side to side movement of the axle in relation to the chassis. Because it runs from the axle to the frame, when you raise or lower the vehicle it travels in an arc and results in an offset. This can be fixed with an adjustable track bar. You would install the track bar then adjust the length to get the axle back under the center of the Jeep at ride height.

View attachment 469840

What's odd in your situation is that you're saying both axles are offset in the same direction. The front and rear track bars mount in the opposite direction of each other, so when a height change offsets them, they offset in opposite directions.

My question would be what caused the bent control arm mount? If there was damage to the mount there could possibly be other bent items like the track bar mount at the frame, the track bar, or even the frame itself. Maybe some pictures of the various connections could be helpful, or even a trip to an alignment rack to see if something's out of square.

@bluescapegoat, thanks for the explanation, I had the similar situation here, I have 2005 TJ with 2 inches lift sitting on 33 inch tires, and as I can see the right wheel is sitting like 1 inch more out than the left wheel, so this is normal because of the track bar logic. but front wheels seem symmetrical, is this normal? only non symmetry on back wheels after lift? greets from Germany

 

[Rickyd]

Unscrew the cup that holds the rubber bump and get rid of the extensions front and rear.they are there to keep longer lift shocks from bottoming out.

Unbolt one end of a front and rear shock and measure compressed length. Google stock tj shock compressed length and compare.

Don't get any rough country parts.they are garbage. Moog would probably be ok for a stock track bar.

There are a few adjustable track bars that can be used on a stock height tj. If a stock replacement doesn't do the trick it's what I'd do rather than spending a bunch at a frame shop getting it bent back into shape.

 

[LONGJP2]

but front wheels seem symmetrical, is this normal? only non symmetry on back wheels after lift?

If you don't have an adjustable trackbar on the front, then maybe someone drilled a new axle side mounting hole.

 

[TheBoogieman]

If you don't have an adjustable trackbar on the front, then maybe someone drilled a new axle side mounting hole.

View attachment 470342

That's what I was thinking.

 

[Jimy]

That's what I was thinking.

Thank you guys...the problem is, it's so hard to find really good Jeep expert & repair center here in Europe...another thing I suspect is : 2 weeks ago they changed my right rear axle shaft, my Jeep has ''drum type'' breaks, but we couldn't find that axle shaft variant...so instead they used axle shaft for ''disc breaks'' version...and I don't know how they managed to implement that into drum break wheel...but jeep goes well and they say axle shaft implementation has only one right position, and they have done it right, and they say it has nothing to do with that rear right wheel is 1 inches more outside than the left one...since I have 2 inches lift.. But I'm not sure.. so what would you say? I will check front trackbar anyways

 

[jhw528]

Do you like Miatas?

lol, not in particular

Thank you guys...the problem is, it's so hard to find really good Jeep expert & repair center here in Europe...another thing I suspect is : 2 weeks ago they changed my right rear axle shaft, my Jeep has ''drum type'' breaks, but we couldn't find that axle shaft variant...so instead they used axle shaft for ''disc breaks'' version...and I don't know how they managed to implement that into drum break wheel...but jeep goes well and they say axle shaft implementation has only one right position, and they have done it right, and they say it has nothing to do with that rear right wheel is 1 inches more outside than the left one...since I have 2 inches lift.. But I'm not sure.. so what would you say? I will check front trackbar anyways

Which model TJ do you have? did a quick search and jeepforum says "Some Sahara's and all LJ's and Rubi's have rear disc brakes" which i think means the disc brakes came from dana 44 axles. I saw you have a 2.4L in your 05, which i think means you have a Dana 35 for the rear. In other words they used an axle shaft from an entirely different axle. I can't speak to how interchangeable parts are between axles though.

Unscrew the cup that holds the rubber bump and get rid of the extensions front and rear.they are there to keep longer lift shocks from bottoming out.

Unbolt one end of a front and rear shock and measure compressed length. Google stock tj shock compressed length and compare.

Don't get any rough country parts.they are garbage. Moog would probably be ok for a stock track bar.

There are a few adjustable track bars that can be used on a stock height tj. If a stock replacement doesn't do the trick it's what I'd do rather than spending a bunch at a frame shop getting it bent back into shape.

Looking at my photos again I see what you are talking about with the bumpstops now, thanks.

I've been pretty bogged down with work lately so it will be a bit before I can do much with the jeep. I will post back with results when I can. Thank you for the insight everyone!

 

[Jimy]

lol, not in particular



Which model TJ do you have? did a quick search and jeepforum says "Some Sahara's and all LJ's and Rubi's have rear disc brakes" which i think means the disc brakes came from dana 44 axles. I saw you have a 2.4L in your 05, which i think means you have a Dana 35 for the rear. In other words they used an axle shaft from an entirely different axle. I can't speak to how interchangeable parts are between axles though.



Looking at my photos again I see what you are talking about with the bumpstops now, thanks.

I've been pretty bogged down with work lately so it will be a bit before I can do much with the jeep. I will post back with results when I can. Thank you for the insight everyone!

lol, not in particular



Which model TJ do you have? did a quick search and jeepforum says "Some Sahara's and all LJ's and Rubi's have rear disc brakes" which i think means the disc brakes came from dana 44 axles. I saw you have a 2.4L in your 05, which i think means you have a Dana 35 for the rear. In other words they used an axle shaft from an entirely different axle. I can't speak to how interchangeable parts are between axles though.



Looking at my photos again I see what you are talking about with the bumpstops now, thanks.

I've been pretty bogged down with work lately so it will be a bit before I can do much with the jeep. I will post back with results when I can. Thank you for the insight everyone!

I have dana 44 with drum breaks, here are the photos, this is weird rare version as 2005 december like 2006 anniversary version, modified engine with 143hp but no abs breaks, and The repair guy doesn't speak good english, so I dont understand how one can implement disc break axle shaft to dana 44 which runs drum breaks.Maybe whatever trick he did is causing this 1 inch out/offset rear right wheel result

 

[Rickyd]

I have dana 44 with drum breaks, here are the photos, this is weird rare version as 2005 december like 2006 anniversary version, modified engine with 143hp but no abs breaks, and The repair guy doesn't speak good english, so I dont understand how one can implement disc break axle shaft to dana 44 which runs drum breaks.Maybe whatever trick he did is causing this 1 inch out/offset rear right wheel result

View attachment 470449

View attachment 470450

Axle shafts are the same. Brakes and bearing retainer are different and make no difference to your axle being shifted by the track bar or its attaching points.

 

[Jimy]

Axle shafts are the same. Brakes and bearing retainer are different and make no difference to your axle being shifted by the track bar or its attaching points.

Ok then only reason for 1 inch offset to right side rear wheel must be the 2 inches lift up of the car, do I get it right? then again front wheels are in symmetry, so we will pull the jeep up to see if front trackbar is adjustable or modified somehow

 

[Rickyd]

Ok then only reason for 1 inch offset to right side rear wheel must be the 2 inches lift up of the car, do I get it right? then again front wheels are in symmetry, so we will pull the jeep up to see if front trackbar is adjustable or modified somehow

Look underneath and visualize how the trackbars work. They are different lengths and geometry. Stop trying to make the front and rear react the same in your mind

 

[Jimy]

Look underneath and visualize how the trackbars work. They are different lengths and geometry. Stop trying to make the front and rear react the same in your mind

alright, thank you, appreciate it

 

[P man]

Look underneath and visualize how the trackbars work. They are different lengths and geometry. Stop trying to make the front and rear react the same in your mind

This could be the smartest thing I have ever heard you say lol

 

[P man]

Look underneath and visualize how the trackbars work. They are different lengths and geometry. Stop trying to make the front and rear react the same in your mind

When I did this and really tried to understand how the front suspension works it answered a ton of questions I had. Just lay under there and stare at the different components and ask yourself "what would happen if" and play the scenario out in your mind. It sounds stupid and the neighbors will think you are goofy but it's worth the effort

 

[Rickyd]

This could be the smartest thing I have ever heard you say lol

It doesn't happen often. Glad you were paying attention

 

[TheBoogieman]

Stop trying to make the front and rear react the same in your mind

Easier said than done.

 

[Jimy]

Easier said than done.

View attachment 470610

 

[jhw528]

When I did this and really tried to understand how the front suspension works it answered a ton of questions I had. Just lay under there and stare at the different components and ask yourself "what would happen if" and play the scenario out in your mind. It sounds stupid and the neighbors will think you are goofy but it's worth the effort

I was doing that while taking the photos and i couldn't really see what else would be pulling the axle over except the track bar at this point

 

[jhw528]

Alright I think I just figured it out.

https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/front-oem-trackbar-length.267125/post-2133145
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/track-bar-question.9374/post-144126

From the two links above I found that an OEM front track bar on a TJ is 31-1/4" from the axle side bolt hole center to the zerk fitting on the frame side.
I was having a hard time measuring hole-zerk direct so i held down the start of the tape measure at the edge of the frame side mount over the bolt, and to the zerk it was 32". From the edge of the frame side mount to the center of the bolt hole was 1-3/8". 32" - 1-3/8" = 30-5/8".

So, that means the track bar is 31-1/4" - 30-5/8" = 5/8" short. Measuring one of the tread lines on the tires to flares (super accurate, i know) the passenger side is in 3/8", the driver side is out 3/4". Moving everything toward the passenger side by 5/8" would put the passenger side out by 1/4" and the driver side out by 1/8", which means the whole thing would be offset to the passengers side by 1/8". You know, taking all my measurements as 100% accurate

Anyway, that's all close enough for me to be convinced the track bar got bent

 

[P man]

Alright I think I just figured it out.

https://www.jeepforum.com/threads/front-oem-trackbar-length.267125/post-2133145
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/track-bar-question.9374/post-144126

From the two links above I found that an OEM front track bar on a TJ is 31-1/4" from the axle side bolt hole center to the zerk fitting on the frame side.
I was having a hard time measuring hole-zerk direct so i held down the start of the tape measure at the edge of the frame side mount over the bolt, and to the zerk it was 32". From the edge of the frame side mount to the center of the bolt hole was 1-3/8". 32" - 1-3/8" = 30-5/8".

So, that means the track bar is 31-1/4" - 30-5/8" = 5/8" short. Measuring one of the tread lines on the tires to flares (super accurate, i know) the passenger side is in 3/8", the driver side is out 3/4". Moving everything toward the passenger side by 5/8" would put the passenger side out by 1/4" and the driver side out by 1/8", which means the whole thing would be offset to the passengers side by 1/8". You know, taking all my measurements as 100% accurate

Anyway, that's all close enough for me to be convinced the track bar got bent

I think you have a bent trac bar

 

[jhw528]

I think you have a bent trac bar

i see what you did there