CJ7 Steering Problems

[78350350]

You sound about the same place as me. If you sit down in front of your jeep and have someone crank the steering wheel back and forth (motor off) you will probably see the front shackles swinging side to side. Four Wheel Parts has a REVERSE SHACKLE kit that solid mounts the front of the spring and puts the shackles in the rear. I am trying to find out more about it. the other thing to look at is the steer box comes loose or flexes. FWP sells a brace that clamps to the box and anchors across to the other frame rail. of course new shocks help. Let me know what you've heard. thanks

 

[tn trooper]

Hey man I've had a similar problem with my CJ7 with a spring over. I have replaced everything and still had the problem with the jeep darting all over the road. Go to an alignment shop and have the caster checked the front end has to have just a little negative caster that means the front end is not rolled over too much forward. This usually stems from whoever weled the leaf perches back on probably didn't have the right angle on them. A wedge should fix this problem.

 

[imbobbbb]

Hey man I've had a similar problem with my CJ7 with a spring over. I have replaced everything and still had the problem with the jeep darting all over the road. Go to an alignment shop and have the caster checked the front end has to have just a little negative caster that means the front end is not rolled over too much forward. This usually stems from whoever weled the leaf perches back on probably didn't have the right angle on them. A wedge should fix this problem.

Yeah the first thing to get checked is the caster angle,people often angle the pinion up when they weld the perches to improve their driveshaft angle,which sends the caster angle into the positive range.If youve got positive caster you can change all the springs/shocks you want,add stabilizers/drop pitman/high steer,etc.....and its still going to wander all over the road.As the poster above noted.....$15-$20 worth of caster adjustment shims,[they bolt between the spring and perch and are wedge shaped],might solve most/all of your steering problems,depending on how 'right' the po did the rest of the spring over.You 'may' then find your front driveshaft angle too extreme......but one thing at a time.

 

[jeepy]

If you want to fix your caster, just putting in some shims probably will not get you what you want. You want your pinion angle to be correct as well as your caster.
So you start with pointing the pinion where it needs to be.
Then you locate the spring perches under the springs, and weld them.
Then you set your caster by grinding/cutting the welds off of your knuckles and rotating the knuckles to the correct caster. Re-weld the knuckles and you are done.

When you determine your caster, the weight of the jeep needs to be on the axle. You can have the axle sitting on jack stands, that's ok. But you can't have the frame supported and the axle/springs just hanging down. Try to keep the vehicle level.

Yep, it's a lot of work. But it is only a few steps.