Dire Dilemma!! This is dread man, truly dread

[RajahSC]

Hey guys! Been working on the CJ7 and finally got it ready to test drive down the road after new fuel tank and new poly shock and spring bushings all the way around. Decided to take the wife to see what she thought. She was white-knuckled the whole time! I admit this thing is all over the road. Very disappointing to me, but I realize that it's a very old truck and needs some help.
Been researching the suspension forum here and decided that it needs new shackles (homemade ones on mine from po), new shocks (anybody's guess how old the ones on it are), smaller tires (it has 31's now), do the steering box brace thing, check out the spring mounts for cracks, new steering stabilizer (bracket is bent), and re-check ball joints, tie-rods, etc. (they seemed fine). My question (and I do have one) is, what about the sway bar? My jeep doesn't have one. Nor do the spring plates have anyplace to mount one. Was this an option? Does anyone sell the OEM type?
If I don't figure this out it's gonna be very disappointing and unrewarding to do all this and her still not want to ride in it. May as well sell it and continue fixing up her '73 Mustang convertible. I like the jeep. Hard to talk her into letting go of the retirement funds tho...

Have I missed anything?
Thanks in advance
-Rajah

 

[Petescj]

Can we have some pics of the shackles and the front end in general? I wouldnt do everything you stated all at once. If the shackles are crazy homeade ones that alone could be your problem. Your Cj should be fine on 31 in tires , so no need for new ones unless they are worn. Id replace anything thats bent and look over the ball joints and tie rod ends like you stated. Ive driven alot of Cjs without a sway bar as well. I dont think you need one. If you find you want one with the proper spring plates pm me.

 

[alpha6]

Ball joints and tie rods would be where I check first also. My shackles need replacing but it didn't throw me all over the road.

 

[Old Dog]

We need some pic's of the front end.
Did you read this ? http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f99/troubleshooting-correcting-your-steering-4106/

 

[PaRenegade]

I'm not opposed to longer shackles or a shackle basher, but in this case it sounds like a likely culprit. Yes pics please, and measure your shackles bolt to bolt length. Also, check to make sure your lug nuts are tightened. Sometimes they can get forgotten.

 

[jdcaples]

How fast were you trying to go and under what conditions was it "all over the road?"

For me, on a flat, newish road with no cross winds, I'm comfortable going 65 mph

Take the same road, but add gusts of 15-20mph of cross wind, and I'm probably going to happier at 40 than 60 mph.....

Now add variables like ruts and/or fresh rain lifting motor oil off of the asphalt and/or pot holes and/or some measure of cross wind.... then speed reduction is required to go from "white knuckle" to "hey, this ain't bad!"


Also one or two 70 lbs sacks of sand or gravel in front of the tail gate can calm things down.

-Jon

 

[csuengr]

There is much to look at. My CJ, after getting tire pressure dialed in, will cruise down the interstate at 75 if I'm not paying attention. Doesn't wander a bit anymore. My steering stabilizer has been dead for a while now. I just keep it on so I don't have empty brackets.

Making sure all ball joints, TRE's, bushings, frame integrity, allignment, wheel bearings, and other stuff is good can be difficult.

 

[IOPort51]

take a look at the u-joint at the bottom of the steering shaft to the steering box and check the steering box for slop. you don't have a spring over axle do you?

 

[RajahSC]

Thanks guys for all the replies! Regarding pics, I can try to get some up, however, I'm on dial-up so. We'll see. @ petescj--I really couldn't afford to do it all at once anyway. Have to take a systematic approach to it. Thanks for the head's up on the sway bar. That's comforting as I have NOTHING that even hints there may have been one. Tires are a little dry- rotted but nothing worrisome. Good tread.
@PaRenegade-I will measure bolt-to-bolt length. The shackles don't look bad, but you can tell they're not OEM and do seem longer than the stock ones look.
@jdcaples-- Speed was not a factor. Never got to 35 it drove so badly. Seemed to have particularly bad lean while turning. (hence my question about the sway bar)
@IOport51-- I have not gone in depth on checking out the steering box. It looked okay, didn't leak, works. It doesn't have a spring-over. The mounting looks stock.
@ olddog-- I overlooked that post, but I will check it out.
@ csuengr and alpha6 --Checking everything (even what at first glance looks okay) is now top priority.

I neglected to mention earlier that it has a 3" homemade body lift from the po. Don't know if that would make a difference other than center-of-gravity feel. I would definitely like to remove that as I have to perform a true "booty-lift" to get the wifey into the jeep.

The good news is she still likes the jeep. I'm gonna try and get some pics up, then go piece-by-piece checking everything and replacing anything broken, bent, out-of-spec., or non-stock. We just want something to bounce around in during the summer time. No wheeling. Don't even know when I'll get around to fixing the broken hub

Thanks again for all the help. Hopefully, together we can get this thing whupped!
-Rajah

 

[hole]

If it has been lifted, the castor angle is probably off.

 

[RajahSC]

I tried to load the larger versions but it tells me they are too big. Don't know how to make them smaller. Not the most computer savvy in the world. Can anyone tell anything from these, especially the shackles?

Thanks,
-Rajah

 

[TroyaCantrell]

The tires could also be an issue to add to the list. If they have dry rot they loose some structural integrity and get soft and squishy. If air pressure is super low that will add to your leaning issues as well. What I found on mine was that each component added to the issue just a little, you probably will not replace one thing and solve the problem unless that component has truly failed.

 

[TroyaCantrell]

View attachment 13876

View attachment 13877

I tried to load the larger versions but it tells me they are too big. Don't know how to make them smaller. Not the most computer savvy in the world. Can anyone tell anything from these, especially the shackles?

Thanks,
-Rajah

Yes, they are throwing off the caster angle on the front axle. I would guess they are 2 to 3 inches longer than stock shackles. I saw the best improvement by removing mine and going stock and shimming the front axel back to caster spec.

When you turn a corner does it come back to center or do you have to steer it back to center?

 

[Kilo19]

When you turn a corner does it come back to center or do you have to steer it back to center?

sorry but i don't think any older vehicle will do this, wait older vehicle mine truck is an 07, and i sometimes have to help it along.....oh well

 

[TroyaCantrell]

sorry but i don't think any older vehicle will do this, wait older vehicle mine truck is an 07, and i sometimes have to help it along.....oh well

My CJ didn't when I got it. Shocking the first time it happens! Pulled out of the drive onto the street for the first trip around the block and almost ended up in the neighbor's front yard.

 

[Kilo19]

i can see it now,

"honey, i was just sitting on the can , when i heard this roar, and crash, this HUGE tire standing in front of me!!!!!!!! and i look up and see my neighbor??? I'm thinking why couldn't he use the front door and knock first, for that fact, why didn't he use his own bathroom."

:madjeep:

p.s. its only an anger jeep, cuz he (the person driving) can't keep it on the asphalt

 

[PaRenegade]

Shackles look to be of good construction, though I can't tell the side thickness or length but they don't look too long. This will throw the castor off some but the springs may be adding to it. They kind of look flat and maybe worn out, but it's hard to tell in a small pic. Check their mounts, they may be cracked and just held there by force or only one bolt.
Another thing that comes to mind is your front u-joints. They can dry out and rust, then freeze up. Then as they turn a certain way it can effect your steering. Even with the hubs unlocked. Yes, I know, it makes no sense. I couldn't believe it either but I've had it happen. I could be driving along and the front end just started wanting to whip to the left and right. Took forever to figure that one out.

 

[Old Dog]

Those shackles look way to long to me. I'd get new shorter ones, closer to stock length the better. (3" bolt to bolt)

 

[Petescj]

Me too. I also dont like the way the brace in the middle is so high. They could be flexing with the spring. I had a pair of greasable ones that some jerk stole the bolt/brace out of. It wreaked havok with my steering till I noticed they were gone.

Those shackles look way to long to me. I'd get new shorter ones, closer to stock length the better. (3" bolt to bolt)

 

[IOPort51]

I would loose the shackles and about 2" of body lift. your C of G has got to be way the heck up in the air. Keep in mind, your Jeep was short, narrow and tall when it was new and original. making it taller is something to do with great restraint if you want it to handle well.