binding or hard steering

[drmango]

How do you know if the tightness of manual steering is normal or if something is binding.

60 CJ5

Thanks

 

[Sasquach]

How do you know if the tightness of manual steering is normal or if something is binding.

60 CJ5

Thanks

There are lot's of moving parts in your steering system and each contributes to the problem(or could).
When I rebuilt my 64 3b steering the main problem was the steering knuckle king pin bearings were rubble(were your wheels pivot on the axle), the other culprit was the ball ends had been replaced years earlier and the zerk fittings never installed so not only were they never greased the were open for water intrusion and had become extreemly stiff.
With everything(and I mean everything) rebuild and or replaced from knuckle bearings to ball ends to rebuilt steering box it turns with one finger sitting in the garage not moving.

Your 60 must have a closed knuckle front axle and if so I would start there. Raise the front ennd off the ground and try moving the wheels by hand, also see if there is any movement up and down or play at all. Next look at your ball ends, have they ever been geased?

 

[drmango]

Thanks, I know the P.O. did a lot of mudding. I greased all the fitting I could find along the steering linkage and joints. I could not find any place to grease the large ball joints at both ends of the axle (pardon my technical terms - I am mechanically challenged) this is basically where the wheel attaches to the axle. I beleive you called them steering knuckle king pins? How do you grease them?

Thanks for all the input.

 

[drmango]

I did jack up the front end and the wheels steered a little easier. And yes it appears I do have a closed knuckle front axle. I feel that if I can grease these large ball joints it could help I just don't know where and can't find my repair manual.

Thx

 

[Sasquach]

How do the wheels feel when moved up and down by hand? any play?
Those enclosed knuckles are supposed to be full of what the old boys call "pudding" and it's a grease like mixture that is part mistery. As I said earlier though those bearings(king pin or steering)inside the knuckle tend to get reduced to rubble after 50+ years of abuse.

 

[drmango]

I will check again to see what kind of play but I don't recall them having any "wobble" at all. How do you grease/lube the enclosed knuckles?

 

[Sasquach]

I will check again to see what kind of play but I don't recall them having any "wobble" at all. How do you grease/lube the enclosed knuckles?

There is a fill plug toward the rear about half way up. I would try to dtermine the bearings condition before doing any pudding fill and you want to determine the condition of the knuckle seals that are bolted in 2 semi circles around the inner sides, if they are bad all your pudding will end up on the garage floor.
Also I think it was member Price? who had the idea of using CV lube in a squezze tube in place of the misterious pudding mixture.

 

[drmango]

Thanks, I have recently replaced my wheel bearings and my local mechanic checked and there was no play in the wheels. I will try to hunt down my repair manual or by a new one. I want to get these knuckles lubed! I will try the cv lube. these knuckles don't have to be drained, right?

 

[Sasquach]

No draining, They are not sealed perfectly when new and that is the reason for the pudding mixture, it does not flow well and is kept somewhat within the knuckle by the felt seals I mentioned.
Here is a pic of my king pin/steering bearings that are inside the knuckle.
http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/attachments/f98/3908d1287527733-cj-3b-rebuild-p1010068.jpg
As you might guess it did not steer well.

 

[drmango]

Wow! Now those are different from the wheel bearings or are the wheel bearings and steering bearing the same thing? Because I already replaced the wheel bearings.

 

[Sasquach]

We are talking about the knuckle/steering, when you turn your steering wheel the knuckles pivot on these bearings.

 

[drmango]

Gotcha, That's what I thought but they look like the same part.

Thanks again!

 

[drmango]

How many steering/knuckle bearings and sleeves are there per side?

I guess the only way to change them is to pull the wheel and brake assembly, correct?