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Well that was a little scary...

2K views 22 replies 15 participants last post by  mommymallcrawler 
#1 ·
So let me preface this by saying this is my first Jeep. This is my first truck of any kind. I've never even owned an suv before. I'm used to Euro sedans with modified suspensions that handled completely different and I still have a lot to learn about how the Jeep suspension works in comparison. Total newb.

I recently installed the AEV 2.5 lift with geo brackets and didn't have the jeep more than a month before I did so. What I felt the other day made my heart skip a beat. I wasn't driving fast, maybe 30-35 mph and just about to slow down. Maybe even lifted my foot off the gas... I'm not sure. I was coming around a turn and ran over a slight road heave. The jeep's suspension raised a little and as it came down (and this is really hard to explain) it felt as though I lost all driver input for a second. Like it all went soft and numb. I was transitioning into a left turn lane coming up to a light so for that instant I thought I was going to hit the low curb/divider or roll into oncoming traffic on the opposite side. It regained control a second later as I slowed coming up to the light. That feeling of losing all control like that was scary. Like I said, it was just kind of like a split second of driver input loss. No swaying, wobbling, etc. I don't want to experience that again.

So my question is, what causes this and is there something I can upgrade that would make the Jeep more stable in weird situations like that on road? Maybe this was a once in a life time thing where all the perfect conditions came together to create this effect but I'd still like to know what would be the next step in upgrading the suspension and what it would do for me.

TIA!
 
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#3 ·
Honestly, I don't know.
Considering the situation, I suppose it could have.
But I don't recall seeing a light flash on the dash, which I assume would happen? It's possible I just missed it.
The road was curved to the right so the steering wheel would not have been centered.
 
#5 ·
It could very well be just the solid axle nature of a Jeep, both front and rear! A side load directly impacts the other side (unloads) so you get overall less traction. So it ends up skipping on the bumps instead of soaking the bumps like an independent suspension does.
 
#6 ·
Could be a combination of things, pay attention to the TC like Kjeeper has indicated, if it happens again, because you should see the traction control kicking in, and you should feel it on the brakes too, you may be lifting the outside front tire a little and the computer doesn't like, or perhaps something in your steering is a little loose, have you raised either side of the TB with brackets, both trackbars should be sitting at a more or less the same angle front and rear, if they don't, that geometry change combined with vehicle leaning to one side can be interpreted by the computer as an aggressive maneuver, kicking the traction control, maybe not enough tire pressure ?, maybe the lugs in your tires are too aggressive (if you're running MT's) ?.
 
#7 ·
Thanks guys.
To answer some questions...

When sitting still/driving straight, the steering wheel is straight. I had corrected that when I completed the lift.

Tires are 285/75/17 Nitto Ridge Grapplers, C rated AT's. Pressure is 30 cold.

AEV included an axle side bracket with their replacement TB for the rear.
Front is all stock.
 
#10 ·
Yeah, I dropped it the ground, shook it around/bounced on it and then retightened everything.
I'm just hitting that few hundred miles now so I need to check the torque still.
 
#13 ·
This is typical of traction control. Get in a turn and hit a heave in the road, especially higher on one side than the other and you find yourself temporarily not in control. Try it at 70 mph in the middle of St Louis in unbelievable traffic and you'll quickly discover a 100 fold increase in pucker factor. The only thing more interesting is when it happens in a Power Stroke while pulling a 40' gooseneck. The nanny state is making it safer for all of us. Riiiiiiiight! It's not just a Jeep thing.
 
#16 ·
I had something that sounds similar to this. A couple days after getting a lift installed it happened. I was on a highway off ramp. Not going fast maybe 20. I turned the wheel left because there was a curve and it felt like the steering wheel didn't work for a second then it felt like the jeep turned right a bit. Felt out of control, imagine turning your handle bars left on a bike and they came loose. This is basically what it felt like. Scared the heck out of me. I hit the brakes and it went away once I started back up.
 
#17 ·
Wow ok, well I guess there is some comfort in the fact that I'm not alone. LOL!
Next time I'll just remember.... jeep thing, jeep thing, jeep thing. Then check my underwear at the next stop. :D

So what would you do next with the suspension components that would improve stability, road manners, handling, etc? Again, I've got the AEV 2.5" with geo brackets, and I just swapped out the "tuned" Bilstein 5100's for Rancho 9000xl's since my Jeep is light. The Bilsteins were kinda harsh.

Thanks, guys.
 
#18 ·
Wow ok, well I guess there is some comfort in the fact that I'm not alone. LOL!
Next time I'll just remember.... jeep thing, jeep thing, jeep thing. Then check my underwear at the next stop. :D

So what would you do next with the suspension components that would improve stability, road manners, handling, etc? Again, I've got the AEV 2.5" with geo brackets, and I just swapped out the "tuned" Bilstein 5100's for Rancho 9000xl's since my Jeep is light. The Bilsteins were kinda harsh.

Thanks, guys.
It's definitely NOT just a Jeep thing. Got an F250 Power Stroke and a Silverado that do the same thing.
 
#20 ·
Jeep handling does take some time to get used to its characteristics.

It has solid axles with near 50/50 weight distribution, high center of gravity and intentionally very aggressive (conservative) stability control for these reasons.

The numb steering and high travel suspensions provide very little feedback to what the Jeep is actually doing. Many more Jeeps would be upside down or sideways without the computers helping them along.

I'm not say it is bad or unsafe, but the level of feedback and control is significantly less than a sedan yet the Jeep wants to rotate like one.
 
#21 ·
Wet, off camber asphault curves are the best in a wrangler.

All the nannies on new cars make for some inept drivers. Everybody should disable the ESC on their vehicles in a safe area and see just how much they're relying on it when the roads aren't pristine. I can only imagine how quickly the ESC would wear out the rear brake pads if chrysler had V8 wranglers from the factory. :D
 
#22 ·
ESP / traction control etc doesn't always announce itself with ABS pulses... most often it starts with chopping power as well so you get a very unbalanced feel even though it's fighting for balance. I drive a Tahoe for work (police) and it does the same thing... if the tail gets light and you are into any off-camber (or even a sweeping turn), it goes into a self-fulfilling fit where the more it tries to correct, the harder it tries... usually bringing the vehicle down to 20km/h before it releases power back. What it feels like is steering a bowl of jello when this is happening.
 
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