If you’ve been in the customization community for a while, or if you’ve perused our blog before, then you’re likely aware that there are many different types of lift kits and suspension upgrades that you add to your vehicle. Long-arm lift kits are just one type of kit, referring to the fact that the kit replaces your vehicle’s factory control arms with longer ones – which is an upgrade you can make if you have another type of lift kit as well.
Adding a long-arm lift kit or suspension upgrade enhances off-road capability, ride quality and articulation, but you’re going to need to adjust your alignment afterwards to get the most out of your lifted vehicle. Not only can improper alignment reduce handling and expedite wear and tear on your tires, but when dealing with longer control arms it can affect many different aspects of your performance. We’ve put together this Jeep guide for post-lift alignment when you’ve gone with a long-arm kit or upgrade, so keep reading to ensure your vehicle’s safety and performance.
Why Alignment Matters After a Long-Arm Lift
The reason that a long-arm suspension can cause even more problems to your alignment is because the control arm mounting points are completely relocated, which dramatically changes your suspension geometry. When that happens, factory alignment just isn’t going to cut it any longer, so you need to get your alignment adjusted post-haste. Here at Glover Customs, we typically include alignment in any packages or customizations that we do involving suspension upgrades.
Getting your alignment checked and adjusted post-lift will ensure each of the following:
- Even tire tread wear
- Centered axles and proper thrust angle
- Correct caster and pinion angles
- Stable steering and return-to-center
Key Alignment Angles to Address
Naturally, we suggest that you get your alignment adjusted by a professional, such as right here at Glover Customs. However, if you’re a do-it-yourself type there are several things that require your attention when performing your own post-lift alignment adjustment. Here are the things to consider:
- Caster Angle
- The caster angle is responsible for steering stability and returning your vehicle to center.
- Using the Jeep Wrangler as an example, the ideal range is going to be from 4.5° to 6.5°.
- You want to make sure that there is less than 0.5° difference between the driver and passenger sides, as leaving it uneven can cause pulling to one side or the other.
- You can increase the caster angle by lengthening the front upper control arms.
- Toe-In
- Toe-in is a term that refers to the front of your front wheels being closer together than the back, which can affect tracking and tire tread wear.
- You can adjust the rate of your toe-in with the tie rod, which should typically be from 1/16" to 1/8" for solid axle Jeeps.
- Thrust Angle
- The thrust angle is what ensures your rear axle is square to the chassis.
- Having a misaligned thrust angle can cause rear-end drift, sometimes called dog tracking.
- You can adjust the thrust angle with the rear control arms and track bar.
- Pinion Angle
- Finally, you have the pinion angle, which is critical for driveline health, especially when dealing with aftermarket driveshafts.
- It’s important that you balance your front pinion angle with your caster angle.
- Then your rear pinion angle should be within 1° of the driveshaft angle.
Trust Glover Customs for Expert Jeep Alignment
Our expert technicians here at Glover Customs have seen and done it all, so we would be happy to take care of your post-lift alignment adjustments for you. Feel free to give us a call if you have any questions about the process or still aren’t sure if you need to make any adjustments, we’d be happy to help in any way we can.