TJ: 6" coils, Tera LAT, 35" SSR review...MOAB!

[The Man with the Plan]

We got back from Moab late last night. I finally had a chance to test the Tera LAT and Skyjacker 6" coils w/ the 35" SSRs this weekend!

After getting some braking issues, and steering problems taken care of (for the most part) the trip from Denver to Moab was uneventful. Smooth ride, and excellent road manners. Not a sports car by any stretch, but better than I was expecting.

We ran Flat Iron Mesa on Saturday, and Hell's Revenge on Sunday. Plenty of flex, and excellent traction. However, it feels WWAAYY tippy with both sway-bars disco'd. I now know how Tip Over Challenge got its name. I didn't roll, but it was **** close. Also, steep climbs (eg bump-dump) are downright scary! With my center of mass that high, I did not feel very confident going up or down anything that had some significant steepness to it. Combine that with the lack of climbing ability that TJ's are notorious for, and it makes for some serious *pucker* situations!

All in all, I'm happy with the set-up. However, I may ditch the rear swabar discos for some extended non-quick-disco links, and a Currie Anti-Rock up front. I need something to control excessive body roll on the trail!

Hey Schlingdawg, I've got a feeling that you may be in the same boat as me (if not worse)! IMO, TJs are simply too short and narrow for going this tall. If and when I can afford to get some new axles under my Jeep, I'm definitely going wider for more stability. I would also like to figure out how I can stretch my wheel-base w/o dropping big dough.

[StealthTJ]

Yea, you gotta love them Currie boys ;)... A lot of people bad mouth them, but I think they do come up with some really good ideas/designs.
There's been a lot of discussion regarding the Currie Anti-Rock Sway Bars on JU and a lot of people are calling 'em hogwash.. I think that they do as the are designed to well, which is work with the rear sway bar.. I know some people either disconnect the rear sway bar, or remove it completely, but it seems like TJ's work a whole lot better with the rear sway bar.
I like mine (the Anti_rck Sway Bar) a bunch, and for me, it was worth the price.
Jon, over all you like the Tera Long Arm kit ?? It seems to flex well, etc ??


:)
Fred

[TJ Edge]

I've just been breaking in my TeraFlex S4T LongArm with 1" Body Lift and 33" MT/R's. It does feel a lot more "tippy", but the offroad ride is much smoother and feels more under control.

I also have the Currie Anti-Rock, which is set to the second-flexiest setting. It's great offroad, but it's too scary on the freeway. I'm going to set it to the stiffest setting to see if my freeway ride gets under control. I may play around with different settings to try to find a happy medium. As it is right now, I'm all over the road at speed! :eek:

[StealthTJ]

Mmmmm, I run mine at the softest setting all the time, and I don't have a problem, at speed, on the freeway.. I was for a while and it turned out to be the steering stablizer.. The vehicle does have more body roll than with the factory sway bar connected (I haven't tried the AR at anything other than the softest setting), but it's not a problem, it's not all over the road, it's not difficult to control.. About a month ago I had to do an emergency manuver on the freeway.. Someone cut right in front of me, trying to make an exit ramp.. I was on the brakes hard and steering rapidly into the other lane.. No problem at all, and even with the Detriot in the rear.. If you are "all over the road", I would certainly take a look at what's wrong, but I'ld find it hard to believe the it's the AR, if it's configured correctly.

:)
Fred

[TJ Edge]

I don't think it's the steering stablizer. I put on a Black Diamond unit only 12K miles ago. When I say "all over the road" what I mean is that there is oversteer. The rear feels like it wants to come around a lot faster than it used to. I'm thinkin' that the soft AR setting is allowing that to happen by flexing too much.

But if you have a similar setup as mine and are not experiencing oversteer, then what else could it be? Ball joints? They were just rebuilt to install new poly boots, but retained all the original parts; so I would think they'd be OK. I'm due for a re-torque on everything this week. I'll know more by Friday.

The curious part is that the Jeep is actually very easy to control at speed, if you are paying attention -- which I always am. ;) I took it out on some twisty mountain roads this weekend; and while it felt like it would tip compared to stock, I could keep up decent speed around some pretty tight corners. Getting used to the NoSlip in the rear was fun, though. It kicks in as soon as you gas it. I'm learning how to coast through corners and power out of them.

[The Man with the Plan]

Hey Edge, have you checked your caster and alignment? Mine was behaving similarily recently. Turns out my cam-bolts were WWAAYY out of spec. I cranked 'em forward, and my steering has been excellent ever since.

[TJ Edge]

Hey Edge, have you checked your caster and alignment? Mine was behaving similarily recently. Turns out my cam-bolts were WWAAYY out of spec. I cranked 'em forward, and my steering has been excellent ever since.

Any idea what the numbers should be for the caster settings? I just had it aligned when the lift was intalled, but I'm taking it back in for a re-torque and rear pinion adjustment to get rid of some vibes. I'd like to take the correct numbers in with me. I guess I should check the FSM myself.

Thanks for the idea!

[The Man with the Plan]

I don't know what the actual specs are (-7*?), nor do I know what my caster is. All I did was crank 'em forward. It's pretty easy to do yourself. All you need are two 21-mm wrenches, or sockets. I think the torque spec is about 150 ft-lbs, so you really gotta crank 'em. I'd recommend some strong locktite too.

[Lauti]

Grrr, wanna go / fly / drive to Moab too!!!

Jon, can we see some pictures of you and your rig out on the slickrock? If there were some taken, I'd really like to see them. http://www.ilovejeeps.net/images/icons/icon10.gif

[The Man with the Plan]

Unfortunately Lauti, my batteries went dead. I think there may be one or two pics, but I'll have to wait until the other guys get their film developed.

[jkozub]

Jon,

The Man with The Plan forgot batteries?? Sounds like the Man Without The lack of a plan! :D :D Come one and get us some pics, I am ready to see that beast of yours in action! Have any burritos lately?? Hey I also shot you an e-mail did you get it?