dumb newbie question

[Dirtyjeep92]

What is bumpsteer?

[wannabejeep]

if you're holding the wheel lightly in your hands (or not at all) and hit a bump and the jeep steers one way or the other on its own

[Hydra]

It stems from an incongruency between the steering movement and axle movement.

Aka when your steering and tracbar angles are the same.

[Dirtyjeep92]

ahhhhh gotchyaaa thanks for the input!

[LittleD]

Mines gotten bad in the last few months with the new lift/tire setup. What are some common ways to correct it? is it as simple as a drop pitman arm? (im running a stock one)

[Zullock Holmes]

Not a dumb question at all, i'd be willing to bet there are plenty of "non-newbies" that would need to ask.

bump steer quite simply is when movement in the suspension causes the wheels to turn.

When bump steer occurs the suspension moves in a vertical plane(track bar prevents the axle from moving side to side) and the drag link is trying to be lengthened or shortened by this movement. Since its length cannot be changed then the only way to shorten or lengthen it is to turn the wheels.

When the track bar and drag link are at different angles, there is more bumpsteer and it occurs sooner:



Basically, to eliminate it you need to make those two arcs essentially overlap. Bringing the angle of the trackbar and drag link closer together will reduce it:



Some bumpsteer in a rockcrawler is a good thing. At times of extreme suspension articulation it will point the tires slightly in one direction or another depending on the steering and the link setup.

The key is to getting the angles close enough so that there is enough overalp that regular suspension travel on road (3-4 inches) doesn't affect the steering any.

[Dirtyjeep92]

wow thanks for going so im depth haha that helps out alot. would weak components have anything to do with this? such as tie-rods or tracbar?

[Hydra]

Death wobble and Bumpsteer are not the same, but worn components will make a slight difference in bumpsteer as the slop in joints or bushing allows further deflection from the proper angles.

[Dirtyjeep92]

i know i dont have DW i have had it in a zj what im talking about is much much less.. wobbley hahah

[Ktmracer419]

[Bigbike]

[Hydra]

Is that hefflerpoppefuffelsus?

[Bigbike]

yea

[ninetysix-ex-jay]

HIP-HOP-A-FRED-U-LAS!