Eagle Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 Since my 2000 XJ was repaired after the fender bender two years ago, it has had a constant pull to the right. I know the body shop had the front end aligned, and I'm sure that's what created the problem -- but I didn't get a before and after report, so I have no idea what they did. The steering wheel is straight, so it's not the drag link. Camber can't be adjusted, so it's not camber. So we're down to toe-in or caster. The tires aren't wearing funny, and toe-in doesn't usually cause a constant pull to one side, so unless someone tells me otherwise I think I've ruled out toe-in. So I'm basically down to caster. If it's constantly pulling to the right, which side to I want to change, and do I want to increase the caster or (if possible) decrease it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 I assume this happens even after the tires are rotated? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEEP_cannible Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 First thing I would do is take the tire off the side it pulls to.Make sure the brake isn't dragging,and there's no bad bearing's on that side.Those are the things that body shops over look.If they didn't have any problems with the alignment they probably got overlooked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share Posted April 18, 2019 2 hours ago, Pete M said: I assume this happens even after the tires are rotated? Yes. Pulls to the right, fairly strongly, regardless of what tires are on the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted April 18, 2019 Share Posted April 18, 2019 If the pull is due to the caster being off, the vehicle will pull to the side with less (more negative) caster angle. The caster is adjusted using shims behind the lower control arm brackets on the body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AZJeff Posted April 19, 2019 Share Posted April 19, 2019 How practical/easy is it to create drastically different caster angles between the 2 sides of the front axle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted April 19, 2019 Share Posted April 19, 2019 13 minutes ago, AZJeff said: How practical/easy is it to create drastically different caster angles between the 2 sides of the front axle? What we don't know is the extent of the damage, how the damage was repaired, what did they overlook? My guess is this has nothing to do with an alignment. What I'd like to know is just how much stress the control arms are under? My guess is the axle and or the frame has been tweaked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted April 19, 2019 Share Posted April 19, 2019 20 minutes ago, AZJeff said: How practical/easy is it to create drastically different caster angles between the 2 sides of the front axle? Worn LCA bushings are usually what causes caster to go out of spec, but on a vehicle that has been in an accident, who can say for sure? I can think of plenty of different things and most of them are "something got bent in the accident". Perhaps the shop found one of the LCAs was bent and only replaced one, leaving original worn bushings on the other side? That would be a crappy thing for a shop to do, but I'm sure it's happened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustEmptyEveryPocket Posted April 19, 2019 Share Posted April 19, 2019 My $0.02: I would grab a tape, pick a point to measure from on each tire, and take measures from front tire to back tire on each side, RF tire to LR tire, and LF tire to RR tire. I would agree with JeepDriver that most likely your frame or axle is tweaked off, causing it to pull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted April 19, 2019 Author Share Posted April 19, 2019 1 hour ago, Jeep Driver said: What we don't know is the extent of the damage, how the damage was repaired, what did they overlook? My guess is this has nothing to do with an alignment. What I'd like to know is just how much stress the control arms are under? My guess is the axle and or the frame has been tweaked. Your guess is incorrect. I called it a fender bender for a reason -- that's what it was. The damage was sheet metal and a headlight. The factory foglights survived, so you can get an idea of the [lack of] severity of the impact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted April 19, 2019 Author Share Posted April 19, 2019 3 hours ago, Minuit said: If the pull is due to the caster being off, the vehicle will pull to the side with less (more negative) caster angle. The caster is adjusted using shims behind the lower control arm brackets on the body. I know how it's done, but I have never had to do it with an XJ or an MJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted April 19, 2019 Share Posted April 19, 2019 OK then....... Why'd the body shop do an alignment? If it's so minor? Why have you only had the problem with it pulling after the minor incident? On one had you present an association and on the other hand you say it's not associated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted April 19, 2019 Author Share Posted April 19, 2019 51 minutes ago, Jeep Driver said: OK then....... Why'd the body shop do an alignment? If it's so minor? Why have you only had the problem with it pulling after the minor incident? On one had you present an association and on the other hand you say it's not associated. Because it's their standard protocol when a vehicle is in a front-end collision. They did the same thing with my wife's 2000 XJ (the other 2000 XJ) when the "damage" was just scraped paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted April 19, 2019 Share Posted April 19, 2019 what about jacking up the front tires and see if they spin by hand with the same amount of force. maybe the drag will be obvious? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted April 19, 2019 Author Share Posted April 19, 2019 1 hour ago, Pete M said: what about jacking up the front tires and see if they spin by hand with the same amount of force. maybe the drag will be obvious? Checked that while playing musical tires. Both wheels spin freely. I think Minuit got it. I have a bag of those shims somewhere. Now it it would just stop raining ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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