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General Forums => The Mess Hall => Topic started by: chrisfranklin on October 13, 2012, 02:39:04 PM

Title: Allignment - Caster +4 degrees on both front wheels
Post by: chrisfranklin on October 13, 2012, 02:39:04 PM

How do you tend to correct Caster angle on a YJ?  Local tire shop I used referred me to a local body shop for the Caster work...

Figuring it's result of trail driving and might just live with it.  Doesn't drive bad as is.


http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/leeiaccoca/Allignment1_zps26547d3a.png (http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/leeiaccoca/Allignment1_zps26547d3a.png)

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/leeiaccoca/Allignment2_zpse92f6f1e.png (http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg271/leeiaccoca/Allignment2_zpse92f6f1e.png)

Title: Re: Allignment - Caster +4 degrees on both front wheels
Post by: sharpxmen on October 13, 2012, 03:24:21 PM

angle shims under the spring perches.

Title: Re: Allignment - Caster +4 degrees on both front wheels
Post by: neale_rs on October 13, 2012, 06:11:47 PM

Different than stock shackles will change the angle.  If it drives well, I wouldn't worry about it.  My YJ is a bit off too but drives well enough.

Title: Re: Allignment - Caster +4 degrees on both front wheels
Post by: aw12345 on October 13, 2012, 06:48:51 PM

Does it wander on the road? If it tracks well don't worry about it.
Caster is basically there to make sure that the steering returns to straight and help keep it from wandering all over the road

Title: Re: Allignment - Caster +4 degrees on both front wheels
Post by: chrisfranklin on October 13, 2012, 07:28:03 PM

Quote from: neale_rs on October 13, 2012, 06:11:47 PM

Different than stock shackles will change the angle.  If it drives well, I wouldn't worry about it.  My YJ is a bit off too but drives well enough.

Ok, the shackles.  Makes sense.  

Took a multiple choice test:  

Question:  How did wheels get off by close to the same caster angle on both wheels?

A) Both front wheels hit an obstacle at the same time/force to cause both wheels to suffer nearly identical caster misalignment
B) Guy at tire shop good at hacking alignment computer in an attempt to generate business for brother's body shop
C) CARB sends goons to adjust caster angle 4 degrees on both wheels of any CA vehicle that has failed emissions.  Any alignment technician seeing this 4 degree caster result number for both wheels knows to remind customer to get his automobile's emission problem corrected, immediately.  If customer questions technician's awareness of automobiles emissions test failure --given that customer is at an alignment shop-- technician should act surprised, say he thought he heard customer mention it earlier...
D) All of the above, A-C
E) None of the above, A-C

I went with D.  Turns out E.  D#$$%t!
 

Title: Re: Allignment - Caster +4 degrees on both front wheels
Post by: Bounty Hunter on October 13, 2012, 08:26:50 PM

It would take severe trail abuse to change caster, and it likely wouldn't be the same on both sides.

Do you have longer shackles installed? +5* is acceptable so you're close.

Title: Re: Allignment - Caster +4 degrees on both front wheels
Post by: chrisfranklin on October 13, 2012, 08:38:27 PM

Yes, some front/rear that yield about 1" of lift.  That appears to be the likely culprit. 

Title: Re: Allignment - Caster +4 degrees on both front wheels
Post by: aw12345 on October 14, 2012, 12:31:40 PM

Caster being low does not cause tire wear, so if it drives good move on to something else.

Title: Re: Allignment - Caster +4 degrees on both front wheels
Post by: chuck172 on October 19, 2012, 04:55:32 PM

So with a stock yj, is there any reason why caster would be out of whack.?

Title: Re: Allignment - Caster +4 degrees on both front wheels
Post by: Jeffy on October 19, 2012, 05:04:18 PM

Quote from: chuck172 on October 19, 2012, 04:55:32 PM

So with a stock yj, is there any reason why caster would be out of whack.?

On a stock YJ, the leafs can flatten out which cause the caster to change a little.