86 CJ7 w/4" lift steering issue

[canuckcj5]

I didn't know that was the rear lol, regardless, yes anything longer than 5" is bad, try running a boomerang shackle, it might help,

 

[Old Dog]

The angle of the shackle itself, should be angled away from the jeep
(spring end farther away from the jeep than the frame end). I like about 30 degs. myself. This is for the front and rear both.
Unless someone moved you rear shackle hanger your springs are to short.

 

[cyberworm]

The angle of the shackle itself, should be angled away from the jeep
(spring end farther away from the jeep than the frame end). I like about 30 degs. myself. This is for the front and rear both.
Unless someone moved you rear shackle hanger your springs are to short.

Can you direct me to a picture? A buddy of mine knows all about these things it seems, so he's going to give me a hand going over all of it and such. He agrees that the shackle is too long, hopefully now it's not a case of the springs being too short as well. I don't mind having to do a little work (which I expected going into it), though I just got her and would like to actually take a short trip. Ha! I'm really hoping it can just be a matter of putting on a new shackle, which would hopefully take care of this issue. If I have to swap springs too, am I looking at a major ordeal, or is it pretty straightforward (as with the shackles) as well?

 

[Old Dog]

What happens is some of the cheap lift springs use stock lenght springs and than arch them for the lift, this makes them to short.
This is the only pic. I have but if you look close the front is about the way it should be, the rear is ok but still a little to close to vertical as they are for a hardtop cj which weighs more.



Heres a good thread also for troubleshooting your steering isues.
http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f99/troubleshooting-correcting-your-steering-4106/

 

[cyberworm]

What happens is some of the cheap lift springs use stock lenght springs and than arch them for the lift, this makes them to short.
This is the only pic. I have but if you look close the front is about the way it should be, the rear is ok but still a little to close to vertical as they are for a hardtop cj which weighs more.



Heres a good thread also for troubleshooting your steering isues.
http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f99/troubleshooting-correcting-your-steering-4106/

Makes sense. That what I was kind of thinking you were describing, just wanted to be sure. I'm going to have to go back outside and study a little bit I think. *sigh*

 

[cyberworm]

Having a look, it looks like the springs are long enough for a new (proper) shackle. What is the recommended size for a shackle with a 4" lift on the leaf springs? Doing a little looking around, it seems like most of them are either stock, or (minimum) 3/8" lift. Looking at her, the front shackle looks to be ok, angle-wise, though obviously that rear one is the troublemaker and is what I'll be replacing first, since cost-wise it does not appear to be that expensive, and with what is there, should be minimal fuss.

 

[Dan86CJ7]

please post what you use...mine look similar and have been looking at shackles...just need $$

 

[Old Dog]

I've run both stock lenght (3" bolt to bolt) and 1/2" lift (4" bolt to bolt)
with a 4" lift. The ones in the pic. are stock lenght.

 

[cyberworm]

please post what you use...mine look similar and have been looking at shackles...just need $$

Will do. I finally took a tape measure out to check the exact length of these rear shackles. They are 6 1/2" bolt to bolt!!!!! The ones up front are 3". The bushings on the front ones look to be shot, so I'm thinking about replacing everything all around, by putting 3 1/2" on the front and rear. When I decrease the shackle length in the rear, what do I need to be aware of in regards to the axle on the spring? Will it still sit in the same place, or will I need to loosen something up around there as well and adjust it?

 

[Old Dog]

It will stay in the same place, leave it tight.

 

[Chip Day]

Final update on this issue:
My Jeep is finally fixed! Believe it or not, the ball joints were shot causing most of the problems! I believe all the things they replaced might have had partial involvement but the biggest was the drivers side ball joint.

Thanks to all that posted suggestions and thoughts. Big thanks to Old Dog!

 

[coldair]

The angle of the shackle itself, should be angled away from the jeep
(spring end farther away from the jeep than the frame end). I like about 30 degs. myself. This is for the front and rear both.
Unless someone moved you rear shackle hanger your springs are to short.

What do you do if you have a cheaper lift and your shackles are at a bad angle?

 

[cyberworm]

My issue was somewhat fixed as well, turned out the steering was a bit loose and needed tightening. I'm still going to reduce the shackle length in the rear, bringing it down a little, but she's been handling a lot better.