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Rear wheel sag/bad camber

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rear wheel camber
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ijeep

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Discussion starter · #1 · (Edited)
I have a bit of a problem with the rear end. I've been looking around the forum and have found a few comments related to bad springs in the rear causing the back end to sag.

My back wheels are sitting a good 3/4 inch lower in the back than in the front, as a result I have a bad camber in the back as well. The ABS 4WD! is on also. I'm sure it's related to whatever component has failed in the back. The code I get is for a general body code failure.

I'll be tackling this one on my own (after doing the entire front end). Wondering if anyone has input on what they suspect the problem could be - bad springs? bad toe links? What are the symptoms of bad springs and/or struts in the back?

Thanks in advance for helping.
 
#3 ·
3/4" of drop shouldn't give you excessive camber, that culprit in my experience is usually the lateral link. A dodgy toe link will affect just that, the toe in/out of the tire. A sagged spring is usually my first suspicion, then I would check the strut and other component bushings.

Jack the wheel off the ground, secure the vehicle and push/pull on the wheel assy from 12/6 and 3/9 o'clock positions and look for play. I had a lot of play at 12 o'clock and excessive tire camber. Replacing the lat links solved it.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Thanks DJMurphy, I'm going to give that procedure a try...just wondering about the lateral link. I've been searching for parts just to get myself ready and the lateral link is identified differently in places. One shows it as a boomerang shaped part and the other like a shorter version of the front sway-bar?
 
#5 ·
ijeep said:
Thanks DJMurphy, I'm going to give that procedure a try...just wondering about the lateral link. I've been searching for parts just to get myself ready and the lateral link is identified differently in places. One shows it as a boomerang shaped part and the other like a shorter version of the front sway-bar?
Click to expand...
On my 4WD the lateral link is boomerang-shaped with a bushing on each end. The bushings are not reversible.
 
#6 ·
By lateral link, are you talking about the upper control arm?
(second picture in this thread http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60503)
I'm not sure about the sag, however it's likely that the bushings in the upper control arm are shot, causing the camber problems. (as already said by DJ Murphy)
Do you plan on lifting it ever? The RRO lift kit comes with new adjustable control arms, or you are able to just buy the adjustable arms without the lift from RRO. If you go that route, make sure to have it alligned by a place that knows how to use adjustable control arms to get the camber set properly.

Were I in your shoes, I would consider the stu coils and then get the RRO control arms. Best lift using the coils, and most adjustable with the new control arms, and it would likely solve both concerns.
 
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Discussion starter · #7 ·
The ride has been fixed. The parts replaced were a set of both the rear REAR UPPER Control Arms & REAR LOWER Lateral Toe Arms. I installed a set of gas struts in the front this past summer and finally got around to installing the rear ones at the same time as all the above work.

I don't plan to lower or lift this ride. Dropping to many parts into it on a regular basis.
 
#9 ·
Good to hear. Since replacing mine I've noticed lately how many Patriots and Compasses have excessive rear wheel camber when I pull up behind them at a light. Guess they're all at that age.
 
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