First post...Steering column/shaft movement

[jeepergirl]

Good morning everyone, this is my first post! My cj adventure began when I was 15 years old.... I picked up a 1977 CJ5 for $1500, the engine ran, but was not in driving condition. We towed it home, and I have been slllooowly working on fixing it up ever since. It seams like something always got in the way of me getting the cj on the road. Now, almost 9 years later, I am done with college, looking for a job, and have lots of time to work on the jeep.

A few years ago, I replaced the rusted out tub with a fiberglass one and have since mounted the steering wheel as well as gas/break/clutch pedals. This weekend I reinstalled the actual steering shaft using bolts at both ends, but there is still major movement in the steering column and shaft. I'm not talking about play in the wheel, but the whole thing moves up and down (not so much side to side). I have checked the bolts under the dash, and they all seem tight. What am I missing?

I am 24/f and just trying to figure things out as I go along, so please go easy on me! I can take pictures and post if that would help....

Thanks alot!

Stephanie

 

[BajaEdition]

welcome to the site
sounds like a bracing problem, we have several members withfiberglass tubs so I am sure advice will be soon coming from someone with the experience of dealing with the same issues.

 

[IOPort51]

:ww: from the Republic of Texas.

You need to spend some quality time with you head under the dash and see where the movement is happening. How much are we talking about? 1/2", 3"? "Major movement " is not a measurement.
You will have to forgive us, most of us are men and we like numbers and pictures and one syllable words.

 

[Old Dog]

:ww: IIRC there is only two mounting points. One by the dash and one at the firewall. As IO said you need to stick your head under there while someone moves the wheel up and down to see whats letting it move.
Good luck, hope you finally get your cj on the road.

 

[jeepergirl]

Wow Olddog, this will prove what a blond I actually am. I'm thinking that I am missing a critical component. Now that I look at it, its pretty funny. I have the bracket and bolts right under the dash, but seem to be missing a bracket at the firewall. I have a box of parts that came with the jeep. Could someone post a link or picture of the steering column at the firewall so I can see what I am looking for.

Thanks for all of the responses Hopefully this is the problem. If not i'll post pics later this afternoon. Also, IOPort there is about 1/2-1" of movement up and down and barely any movement side to side......

Thanks for the tips lol... numbers, one syllable words, and pictures

 

[jeepergirl]

Wow, I bet this is it... What a dummy, now i'm embarrassed... Hopefully I wont ask a question like this again....

Is this what I need? (sorry its small)

 

[Old Dog]

Yea that looks like it might be it.

 

[jeepergirl]

After looking through a few boxes, it doesn't look like I have this part... I don't see it in 4wd magazine, anyone know where to get it or what it's called?

 

[Old Dog]

After looking through a few boxes, it doesn't look like I have this part... I don't see it in 4wd magazine, anyone know where to get it or what it's called?

I have a feeling this is going to be a junk yard find, or maybe someone parting out a cj in your area.
I have no idea what its called.
It is two pieces bolted together, heres a pic I just took. Not the best but it mught help you find yours in that box full of stuff.

 

[BajaEdition]

JeeperGirl there is no dumb question but the on you do not ask as if asked you could have corrected something
We like questions around here, otherwise we would not be here. I think you can get that part at a all jeep wrecking yard. If they do not have one locally, get a hold of J&WW Wrecking in antelope valley, we have a link in our links section under parts. They have acres of parts for Jeeps

 

[IOPort51]

We very seldom hear dumb questions but some of the answers get a bit silly.
I must ask, the collage education you just finished, liberal arts or engineering?

Wow, I bet this is it... What a dummy, now i'm embarrassed... Hopefully I wont ask a question like this again....

Is this what I need? (sorry its small)

 

[BajaEdition]

We very seldom hear dumb questions but some of the answers get a bit silly.

Who? US? Get silly? No way. especially with a nubie.

 

[jeepergirl]

Alright! I like it here already.... Now i just need to find that part...grrrr, don't you hate it when you lose stuff.... Ugh, that's what happens when the rebuild drags on for years and years.

IOPort51... I graduated in 2008 with a B.S. in Construction management and then in March with a masters in project management... Seems like now I have all this time to work on the CJ but not enough $$$$.... When I had the $$, I didnt have the time.... I guess thats what happens...I'm just doing what I can with the parts I have and whats fairly cheap for now. Hopefully I'll find a job one of these days...

Next big purchase is tires....

 

[IOPort51]

I was really wondering if you were going to be able to build this part if you can't find one. The one place in life where you will never reach a balance is between time and money, too much of one and not enough of the other. I know you think you can't have too much money but some times you would gladly buy time with it.
Please do a search on what the best tires for you are and don't come right out and ask unless you want 30 different answers from 28 different people. We have chased that rabbit so many times. If you just search tires you should find enough threads to read for an hour or two.

Alright! I like it here already.... Now i just need to find that part...grrrr, don't you hate it when you lose stuff.... Ugh, that's what happens when the rebuild drags on for years and years.

IOPort51... I graduated in 2008 with a B.S. in Construction management and then in March with a masters in project management... Seems like now I have all this time to work on the CJ but not enough $$$$.... When I had the $$, I didnt have the time.... I guess thats what happens...I'm just doing what I can with the parts I have and whats fairly cheap for now. Hopefully I'll find a job one of these days...

Next big purchase is tires....

 

[Sasquach]

The part you seem to be missing is called the "toe plate" and is a 2 part item that clamps around your column and mounts to the firewall.
When I removed my column I left it attached to the column and was unnessesary to remove. You need to dig thru your boxs again cuse I can't see why you would have tossed it? it's interior so would not have rusted out i don't think.

 

[Cheepjeep85]

wow a degree in consrtuction management and works on jeeps, you might just be the perfect woman. sorry no helpful comments on this one, but i had to put that out there

 

[DHugg]

jeepergirl, I WAS struggling with steering system wobble and sway in an '80 CJ7 with AMC 304 like yours. To make sure the steering box was anchored, I just put in a HD Steering Box Bracket (pic belo) from RockyRidge, about 70 bucks I think. It is massive overkill engineering, made of 3/8inch steel plate welded together. At least the steering box isn't going to move a-tall, ever again!

good luck (bon chance, the Cajun bayou people say)