New member with steering problem

[earlygl]

Well here I am. I've been reading the forums for quit a while and finally decided to join. My 16 year old son and I just purchased a 1984 CJ7 with a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l . Great little jeep and we are just getting it figured out. I am not new to the CJ world, in 1980 I bought myself a new CJ7 and drove it for 14yrs. Wish I still had it, boot in butt. From reading the articles there are a lot of great topics that will help us out during our fix up. My son will be using this Jeep for a daily driver. After getting it in good running shape we found that the steering does not return to center when you turn left or right. You have to steer it back. All of the linkage is good order and so loose that it would make a difference. Does anyone have any suggestions????????
Thanks for the warm welcome and we look forward to joining in on all the Jeeping fun.
Gary and Bret

 

[Vvajk]

Welcome to the forum! 84 CJ7 Kudos! That sounds awesome. . . you and your boy. Mine is 7 yrs old, but I think it'd be cool to do something like that when he's of driving age. As to your question: You will get a better response if you post it under the sub-forum known as "Suspension and Steering" I wish I could help, but I'm pretty much a green horn mechanic, just trying to learn here and on my own CJ. Good Luck

 

[cerrajero]

is it a tilt or standard...? when you grab the wheel does it move.....little or alot? ( in Park )......my specialty (in this forum) is keys and columns

 

[Sasquach]

Well here I am. I've been reading the forums for quit a while and finally decided to join. My 16 year old son and I just purchased a 1984 CJ7 with a AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l . Great little jeep and we are just getting it figured out. I am not new to the CJ world, in 1980 I bought myself a new CJ7 and drove it for 14yrs. Wish I still had it, boot in butt. From reading the articles there are a lot of great topics that will help us out during our fix up. My son will be using this Jeep for a daily driver. After getting it in good running shape we found that the steering does not return to center when you turn left or right. You have to steer it back. All of the linkage is good order and so loose that it would make a difference. Does anyone have any suggestions????????
Thanks for the warm welcome and we look forward to joining in on all the Jeeping fun.
Gary and Bret

Did you read the sticky?
http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f19/troubleshooting-correcting-your-steering-4106/

 

[cerrajero]

i agree matter of fact i would recomend reading all TDHofstetter threads and posts

 

[Old Dog]

Well we found that the steering does not return to center when you turn left or right. You have to steer it back.
Gary and Bret

Sounds like a caster problem. If you have lift shackels get rid of them, they can cause that problem.
Although toe-in, if it's way out, can cause this also.