98 Grand Cherokee rear axle

Cooper

Active Member
Location
Bountiful
Is there a kit I can buy or some tutorial I can follow to center the rear axle on my jeep? Its lifted roughly 6 inches and has 33's on it. I know that its common for it to be like this but it drives me nuts and I want to get some bigger tires on there. Any help would be awesome!
 

Cody

Random Quote Generator
Supporting Member
Location
Gastown
That's a ton of lift for 33's....or 35's for that matter. If you have an extended adjustable tracbar, then the best way to do it is just to measure on each side and adjust the tracbar as required to center it. It's easier with 2 people, but if you have a winch or a come-a-long you can do it pretty easily alone.

If you don't have an adjustable tracbar, then you need to get one. JKS used to make the best one, but it's been probably 8 years since one of my grand cherokees needed a rear tracbar so things could have changed.
 

jeep-N-montero

Formerly black_ZJ
Location
Bountiful
As Cody mentioned, an adjustable rear track bar is the best method, IRO has the best for the money right now.

Now, if you were referring to centering the wheel within the wheel wells, then you should have worded the question as such. I'm running 33's on 4.5in springs that have settled to about 4in, perfect height if you ask me.

It sounds like you bought your Jeep lifted and have limited knowledge on how to set things up, spend some time reading on mallcrawlin and you will learn a lot. I have had mine 12 years and been through 3 different suspension setups with 4 different tire sizes, so feel free to ask questions. Cody knows his stuff as well.
 

Cooper

Active Member
Location
Bountiful
I just double checked and the lift is only 4 inches so not as big as I had thought. I really want to get the axle centered in the wheel wells so that I can get some bigger wheels. You are very correct I bought it lifted and this is my first 4x4 that I planned on doing some work to. I know the just of it and can figure stuff out. So if I buy a track bar then its easy quick adjustment to get it centered after the install?
 

Cody

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Supporting Member
Location
Gastown
Do you want it centered side to side, or front to back? These are completely different things.

I had a 98 5.2, not that it makes any difference to the suspension. I no longer have that rig :(
 

Cooper

Active Member
Location
Bountiful
I would ideally like it centered front to back and side to side but what is most noticeable is the front to back it sits super far forward in the rear wheel wells.
 

anderson750

I'm working on it Rose
Location
Price, Utah
Sorry Im super new to this kinda stuff. So is this what were going for?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TJ-X...ccessories&hash=item20bc4c4b56#ht_2391wt_1167

Yes, but make sure they are long enough or have enough adjustability to push you axle back far enough. you will also need upper and lower control arms.

do I need to do the control arms as well as the track bar? or just the control arms?


Control arms will move the axle forward and backward, track bar will move the axle side to side.
 

jeep-N-montero

Formerly black_ZJ
Location
Bountiful
Keep in mind that as the axle articulates(flexes) into the wheel well, the tire/wheel moves toward the rear and centers itself. If you move the axle rearward in its stationary position, the wheel/tire will then rub at the rear when flexed.

You still haven't stated why you think you need bigger tires/wheels? And do you know which lift is currently under it?
 

Cooper

Active Member
Location
Bountiful
I want bigger tires cause it looks weird with the 33s. I want some 35s with steel rims not the stock rims I have right now. I have no idea what lift is under it right now. When the axle flexes it will just go up and down correct? if it moved back when it flexed then why would it be centered stock?
 

jeep-N-montero

Formerly black_ZJ
Location
Bountiful
Have you even wheeled this thing hard since buying it or just want a pavement princess? Know which gears are in it? Enjoy hacking up the body of your rig to fit bigger tires?
 

Cooper

Active Member
Location
Bountiful
Yeah I have its in my garage unless Im wheelin it. It does fine in the mountains. I dont mind hacking up the body for bigger tires I expected that.
 

Cody

Random Quote Generator
Supporting Member
Location
Gastown
Sorry Im super new to this kinda stuff. So is this what were going for?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TJ-X...ccessories&hash=item20bc4c4b56#ht_2391wt_1167

do I need to do the control arms as well as the track bar? or just the control arms?

Those would be a bare minimum. What you really need is this...

http://www.kevinsoffroad.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19_53_72&products_id=781

And no, the tires do not travel straight up and down. they are attached to the vehicle with a control arm, and the tire will travel in the radius of the control arm with the axle side mount being the center. the longer the control arm, the less drastic the radius. The shorter the control arm, the more dramatic the radius. Make sense?
 
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jeep-N-montero

Formerly black_ZJ
Location
Bountiful
Yeah I have its in my garage unless Im wheelin it. It does fine in the mountains. I dont mind hacking up the body for bigger tires I expected that.

Playing up behind the "B" is far from wheeling it hard, but good luck with it. Make sure you carry spare axles, you are going to need them....
 

Cody

Random Quote Generator
Supporting Member
Location
Gastown
Where did he say he was wheelin it hard? It's all relative man, compared to what you do maybe the B isn't that hard, but compared to what others do the terrain you take your rig on isn't even worth locking the hubs--does that make it any more or less enjoyable for the individual?

Everyone starts somewhere. I started out tinkering around up at the B too 15 years ago, and I remember when I thought Poison Spider was terrifying.

As long as you stay off the throttle, don't get bound up, and don't bounce it, your stock 33/HD44 drive train will serve you fine for up to 35's. The stock front CV driveshaft will fail, and you may want to look into swapping to ujointed from shafts, but go use it until you can justify the expense of upgrading those things. The rear 44 in that thing may not have much aftermarket support, but it's not THAT bad of an axle.
 
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