I've been having a lot of front end wobble and tire movement. Best way to describe it is it feels like my shocks are bad.
I first replaced the bolts and track bar. Didn't fix it. Then I took it to two Jeep shops. First one checked my ball joints and tie rod ends. Those were definitely bad. Replaced them. Fixed the problem slightly but still happens on bigger bumps. Second Jeep shop couldn't find anything wrong. Check drag link, sway bar links, and control arms.
I have been reading a lot about it and people have said they checked their control arm bushings and they felt fine but the problem went away after replacing the bushings. My guess is the bushings seem ok with a little leverage but under 4,000 lbs they fail. So I figured might as well replace them to see if that fixes it. I was going to replace the bushings but the Mopar control arms aren't much more and I think I would save on labor since it is easier to replace the whole thing.
My questions...
1) I have read that when installing a lift, it is best to loosen the control arm bolts when installing the lift then tightening them back up when the Jeep is on the ground. Is this true for just installing control arms with no lift?
2) A shop quoted me 4 hours at $280. I assume a lot of that time is for the upper control arms as I can't see the lower ones taking much time. Does this seem right? I thought it would be about 2 hours.
3) Are upper control arm bushings something that wear like the lower ones? Is it worth replacing the uppers at the same time or should I try the lowers only?
I first replaced the bolts and track bar. Didn't fix it. Then I took it to two Jeep shops. First one checked my ball joints and tie rod ends. Those were definitely bad. Replaced them. Fixed the problem slightly but still happens on bigger bumps. Second Jeep shop couldn't find anything wrong. Check drag link, sway bar links, and control arms.
I have been reading a lot about it and people have said they checked their control arm bushings and they felt fine but the problem went away after replacing the bushings. My guess is the bushings seem ok with a little leverage but under 4,000 lbs they fail. So I figured might as well replace them to see if that fixes it. I was going to replace the bushings but the Mopar control arms aren't much more and I think I would save on labor since it is easier to replace the whole thing.
My questions...
1) I have read that when installing a lift, it is best to loosen the control arm bolts when installing the lift then tightening them back up when the Jeep is on the ground. Is this true for just installing control arms with no lift?
2) A shop quoted me 4 hours at $280. I assume a lot of that time is for the upper control arms as I can't see the lower ones taking much time. Does this seem right? I thought it would be about 2 hours.
3) Are upper control arm bushings something that wear like the lower ones? Is it worth replacing the uppers at the same time or should I try the lowers only?