Centering Steering Wheel After Lift

Rancho LJ

Rancho LJ

Member
Original poster
Joined
Feb 3, 2024
Messages
27
Location
Alta Loma, CA
...2005 LJ/4.0

Last week, I installed 2.5" lift coil springs and new shocks. I used the stock trackbar and the differential ended up off-center by less than an inch. The steering was off-center at about 25 degrees to the right. I just installed a JKS adjustable trackbar and centered the differential to within 1/8". After a test drive and allowing the suspension to settle, the steering is now off-center more at about 70 degrees.

Is it normal for the steering to be off after a lift? I know the answer is out there, but I'm having a hard time finding it. Should I move forward with adjusting centering the steering wheel at the drag link?

Thanks,

Mike.
 
It's easy to recenter the steering box, you only need to use the short adjustment sleeve that's on the drag link which is there for that purpose.

Front-end with adjustment circled.jpg

Loosen its two clamp bolts just enough so it can be rotated then rotate the sleeve until the steering wheel is centered. Leave the bolts loosened then take the Jeep for a short test drive up & down your street and keep adjusting it until the wheel is centered, then tighten them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rickyd and matkal
Jerry Bransford said:
It's easy to recenter the steering box, you only need to use the short adjustment sleeve that's on the drag link which is there for that purpose.

View attachment 499351

Loosen its two clamp bolts just enough so it can be rotated then rotate the sleeve until the steering wheel is centered. Leave the bolts loosened then take the Jeep for a short test drive up & down your street and keep adjusting it until the wheel is centered, then tighten them.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the quick reply. So it is normal for the steering to be off center after a lift?
 
There is a lot to read on that thread. Read the stuff up front about how to do it. But jump to post #337 on Page 17 and use those measurements (1/8" at 24").
 
Jerry Bransford said:
It's easy to recenter the steering box, you only need to use the short adjustment sleeve that's on the drag link which is there for that purpose.

View attachment 499351

Loosen its two clamp bolts just enough so it can be rotated then rotate the sleeve until the steering wheel is centered. Leave the bolts loosened then take the Jeep for a short test drive up & down your street and keep adjusting it until the wheel is centered, then tighten them.
Click to expand...

I tried this on mine and the sleeve will not budge. What tool do you recommend to rotate the sleeve? I used a pipe wrench but I'm wondering if the pipe wrench, by nature of how it works, applies enough clamping force to prevent rotation.
 
Rancho LJ said:
...2005 LJ/4.0

Last week, I installed 2.5" lift coil springs and new shocks. I used the stock trackbar and the differential ended up off-center by less than an inch. The steering was off-center at about 25 degrees to the right. I just installed a JKS adjustable trackbar and centered the differential to within 1/8". After a test drive and allowing the suspension to settle, the steering is now off-center more at about 70 degrees.

Is it normal for the steering to be off after a lift? I know the answer is out there, but I'm having a hard time finding it. Should I move forward with adjusting centering the steering wheel at the drag link?

Thanks,

Mike.
Click to expand...

Yep. What Jerry said. You need to break your drag link loose and do some trial and error until you get it straight. I had to do that when I did my track bar. Just know that how much you turn that bar turns the steering wheel more than you think. Hit it with blaster or if you don’t have that, WD40 too. Lots of mud gets in there.
 
matkal said:
I tried this on mine and the sleeve will not budge. What tool do you recommend to rotate the sleeve? I used a pipe wrench but I'm wondering if the pipe wrench, by nature of how it works, applies enough clamping force to prevent rotation.
Click to expand...

Did you heat it up?
 
matkal said:
I tried this on mine and the sleeve will not budge. What tool do you recommend to rotate the sleeve? I used a pipe wrench but I'm wondering if the pipe wrench, by nature of how it works, applies enough clamping force to prevent rotation.
Click to expand...
Its threads are probably just needing a little lubrication. Soak it and the threads with good lubricant/penetrant like Kroil, Liquid Wrench, or Break-Free. WD40 if that's all you have but that's not a good lubricant and its viscosity is so thin it'll evaporate and leave nothing behind after a few days. A big set of channel lock pliers is the best tool here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: matkal
OldBuzzard said:
By the way, your Jeep looks kind of familiar, somehow:

View attachment 499363
Click to expand...

Twins!

I got everything done. Thanks everyone for the help. For what it's worth, my drag link turned easily after loosening the clamps. It's still off a bit, but I'll go out for a little drive tomorrow with a 15 mm and get it centered perfectly.

BTW... getting the rear track bar adjusted was a PITA!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Jerry Bransford
Top Bottom