Power Steering Too Good

[ColoradoCJ7]

I know there have been discussions on this in the past but my 84 CJ7 has power steering and when I get up to speed (45+) the steering gets real "touchy" I am running 33" Pro Comps AT and other than that everything is pretty stock.

Any suggestions on how I can help keep it safe if the steering wheel moves 1/8th of an inch?

 

[superchicken]

normally that would sound like a caster problem but that needs a lift or raised shackles to happen.

 

[Old Dog]

If your running 33's you either have a lift or a lot of body trimming.
How about posting a few pic's of your front end.

 

[ColoradoCJ7]

I will post some photos in a few minutes but there is no trimming and I do have hockey pucks instead of normal body bushings so that would give me some body lift. I am not sure what the PO did but I could easly fit 35's without trimming. No SOA but may be longer than normal shackles.

 

[81laredo]

Check your Steering Stabilizer.
My CJ7 with Power Steering acted very similar to what you are describing. I just went with the Rancho RS97345 and it made a big difference although I know the original was worn out.

 

[ColoradoCJ7]

Here are the pics:

Front Shackle



Rear mounting point (Stock)



Axle photo



Overall pic of the stance of my CJ7 on the 33's

 

[ColoradoCJ7]

81Laredo that would be a simple solution, and my steering stabalizer looks pretty much shot so I would buy that. If anyone sees anything else let me know.

I am about to replace all the fluids and install new u joints in the drive line as they are due so I will be under there anyway.

 

[IOPort51]

Those look like stock shackles , but they don't look like stock springs.
My money would go for the new stabilizer before I did anything else.
Is your air pressure good?
Are you carrying anything you don't need, extra fuel cans, a tool box that weighs 300#? ETC. My CJ5 will get a little squirrelly at speed if I load it heavy over or behind the rear axle. I usually have to move things forward of lighten the load.

 

[superchicken]

If that doesnt work Quadratec sells caster spacers for about $16.00
I put a 4 degree spacer in mine and it made a huge difference. I have slightly longer shackles so that changes the geometry as well.Just make sure you put the spacer in the right way with the fat end facing forward.

 

[Old Dog]

Check your Steering Stabilizer.
My CJ7 with Power Steering acted very similar to what you are describing. I just went with the Rancho RS97345 and it made a big difference although I know the original was worn out.

81 Laredo , I don't have a stabilizer on mine and it drives fine, if a stabilizer fixed yours its only a bandaid for the real problem.

Colorado, as IO said looks like stock shackels on small lift springs.
Do you have play in your steering? is your problem wandering? darting?
maybe just not use to a short wheelbase? some more info might help us help you.
How are your bushings in your springs and shackels does everything seem tight?

 

[coldwater]

Old Dog is 100% right about the stabilizer. I have said it before, but It's worth repeating. A steering stabilizers ONLY job is to stop the steering wheel from being torn out of your hands from a side impact on a tire, such as you would get by hitting a stump or rock off road. It should never be used to mask a wandering problem, because sooner or later, the real problem is going to show itself when you least want it to. The problem you discribe is not the fault of touchy power steering, there is an issue somewhere in the steering that should be dug out and fixed.

 

[TDHofstetter]

What's your tire pressure like? Also... are all the tires identical? I can't quite tell from that last pic, but they appear to have slightly different tread patterns. It's important to have a matched set of tires, at least matched in size, ply type, and ply count (tread and sidewall, especially sidewall). One tire with significantly different pressure can make it do funny things, too.

 

[Sasquach]

My bet is on loose steering components, have someone turn the wheel back and forth while you lay down and look to see if your ball joints and your steering box has any slop in them, replace/ rebuild as needed.
If that is all good then check your alignment, your manual will give you info needed there.
Does not make any sense to add/replace a stabilizer or do wedges or try to align worn out steering if that is the case.
My CJ only had 74,000 mi. on it and the steering box was toast.

 

[81laredo]

sorry Old Dog but you may have misunderstood what I said, I had no problem just an "Active" Steering when over 40 MPH.
I just replaced a worn out Rear Spring, All of the Spring Bushings with ENERGY Polyurethane, Front and Rear Shackles, Front and Rear Shocks.
I didn't like how the OEM Steering Stabilizer was installed (sandwiched between the Perch and Spring with less than 1/16" of the Pin to locate into the Perch) so I left it out. During my "test drive" after the repairs, I felt as if my Steering was very "loose" although the Jeep was very stable and went straight when letting go of the wheel and using the brakes. I went with the RANCHO Stabilizer after a discussion on a different thread;
http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f19/steering-stabilizer-3897/
The RANCHO Steering Stabilizer made a big difference as it was supposed to, it is basically a Shock Absorber in the Steering Linkage. The Stabilizer added enough resistance to make the Power Steering manageable when over 40 MPH.
If your Steering Stabilizer is worn out I would try that 1st and then work my way through the rest of the Bushings, Shocks, etc. Personally I am not sure that we need Power Steering.

 

[TDHofstetter]

Personally I am not sure that we need Power Steering.

SECOND THAT.

I've got power steering on my CJ7 , and as far as I'm concerned it's far too powerful. A baby could steer that Jeep with one pinkie, on dry hot asphalt. FEATHERY.

I DON'T have power steering in either of my CJ5s, and don't wish for it. I use one to plow snow, and the manual steering with the plow on the front is just fine by me.

 

[Sasquach]

SECOND THAT.

I've got power steering on my CJ7 , and as far as I'm concerned it's far too powerful. A baby could steer that Jeep with one pinkie, on dry hot asphalt. FEATHERY.

I DON'T have power steering in either of my CJ5s, and don't wish for it. I use one to plow snow, and the manual steering with the plow on the front is just fine by me.

Mine came manual and I drove it one time before upgrading to power, It wasn't the effort but the ratio. I think it was eleven turns lock to lock!

 

[TDHofstetter]

There IS THAT. My CJ7 came with a crazy tight-ratio steering box - I'm 1/16-turn ditch-to-ditch.

 

[IOPort51]

I have no plans to power the steering or brakes on the CJ. I have had the thrill of coming down backward with a flame out and would hate to do it with no brakes and or no steering.

 

[Old Dog]

The RANCHO Steering Stabilizer made a big difference as it was supposed to, it is basically a Shock Absorber in the Steering Linkage. The Stabilizer added enough resistance to make the Power Steering manageable when over 40 MPH.
If your Steering Stabilizer is worn out I would try that 1st and then work my way through the rest of the Bushings, Shocks, etc. Personally I am not sure that we need Power Steering.

Sorry I still say fix the problem you have, a stablizer is not ment to fix steering problems. I have power steering with no stablizer and can drive 70mph with no problems.

I've got power steering on my CJ7 , and as far as I'm concerned it's far too powerful. A baby could steer that Jeep with one pinkie, on dry hot asphalt. FEATHERY.

You may not need power steering on the road, but it sure is nice when your off road. I love mine

 

[Cheepjeep85]

i believe you should check to see if you have a drop pitman arm, those are obviously lift springs on your jeep and with power steering you need the dropped pitman arm. over streched steering components will make it do what you are describing