Jeep Liberty Alignment

[mbalbritton]

Bought my kid an '03 Liberty 2WD. Front tires were worn bald on the Inside edges and the steering was squirrely as shit so I knew it needed an alignment to start. Dropped some new tires on the front and had an alignment done and now it drives MUCH better. however I noticed that when it returns to center, it returns about 95% the way from either direction. It does not finish the last little bit and leaves you in a slight turn that you have to correct. Returns from Left and leaves you at a slight left turn, returns from right and leaves you in a slight right turn. One last bit of info of anything that I can think of that might effect steering (but I don't think this is it), the Front tires are slightly larger than the rear tires. the PO put 235 on the back, I put 245 on the front.

Before I take this thing back to the service shop, could there be something else with the vehicle causing this issue assuming that it's aligned properly? I do think they were in a hurry to align it at the end of the day. May just be a bad alignment job.

 

[Fabrik8]

Caster and toe are the big drivers for return-to-center, and they probably changed the toe if it was wearing on the inside edges before. What's the alignment sheet say about the front toe at the moment; is it set pretty neutral?

If it's an '03, there's probably some pretty good rubber bushing deterioration (either in the steering rack mounting or the suspension) that's fighting against you as well from geometry changes.

 

[a_kelley]

LCA bushings possibly. Just did some ok a Murano but that was fwd/awd, would steer left under throttle, steer right out of throttle. Both sides pooched. Jack up by frame and pry the LCA to check bushings, should have no discernable movement.