Steering linkage pics

Steering linkage pics
J

JCM 1420

Jeeper
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Location
Georgia
Vehicle(s)
'84 CJ 7, 258, 4 speed
Can anyone post up a picture of the front of their CJ? Specifically the tie rod and drag link, need to make a comparison to what mine looks like - 84 CJ7 .

My steering/handling is awful. At first I wrote it off as its an old jeep, and then was pretty disappointed if I was going to have to live with it. Well I've convinced myself it isn't supposed to be this bad and after looking at it closer I'm pretty sure my drag link and tie rod are bent. I figure if I replace both of these and new ends it can't hurt my handling, will let me hopefully get it lined up right, and if it doesn't fix all my problems it at least eliminates something.

Also, can anyone link a thread on how to do this, some reading I've done says to Jack the front, others say you can it with the tires on the ground.

Thanks.
 
JCM 1420 said:
Can anyone post up a picture of the front of their CJ? Specifically the tie rod and drag link, need to make a comparison to what mine looks like - 84 CJ7 .

My steering/handling is awful. At first I wrote it off as its an old jeep, and then was pretty disappointed if I was going to have to live with it. Well I've convinced myself it isn't supposed to be this bad and after looking at it closer I'm pretty sure my drag link and tie rod are bent. I figure if I replace both of these and new ends it can't hurt my handling, will let me hopefully get it lined up right, and if it doesn't fix all my problems it at least eliminates something.

Also, can anyone link a thread on how to do this, some reading I've done says to Jack the front, others say you can it with the tires on the ground.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

the handling should not be awful, there should net be any bends in your steering components
 
JCM 1420 said:
My steering/handling is awful.
Click to expand...
We need a better description of the problem. The term awful can mean anything when it comes to mechanical things. Steering problems create handling problems. But handling problems don't necessarily mean steering problems.

Does it dart/wander while driving?
Does it shake violently? If so, at what speed does it start? 2wd? 4wd? Both?
Does it make rubbing noises when you turn the steering wheel to full lock?
Are the tires wearing uneven? What sort of tires and size?
When was the last time the wheel bearing were serviced?
Does the Jeep have a suspension lift? Shackle lift? Both?

Easy DIY check:

Get someone to turn the steering wheel while you look at the tie rods. Are the tie rods moving before the front wheels start to move? If so, bad tie rod ends. Same for the drag link.

Put the front on a pair of jack stands, and grab a front wheel/tire. See if there is any in/out movement.

Get it to an alignment shop. One that knows how to check alignment on a solid axle vehicle. If you don't have enough positive caster, you are going to have handling issues.
 
HackFabrication said:
We need a better description of the problem. The term awful can mean anything when it comes to mechanical things. Steering problems create handling problems. But handling problems don't necessarily mean steering problems.

Does it dart/wander while driving?
Does it shake violently? If so, at what speed does it start? 2wd? 4wd? Both?
Does it make rubbing noises when you turn the steering wheel to full lock?
Are the tires wearing uneven? What sort of tires and size?
When was the last time the wheel bearing were serviced?
Does the Jeep have a suspension lift? Shackle lift? Both?

Easy DIY check:

Get someone to turn the steering wheel while you look at the tie rods. Are the tie rods moving before the front wheels start to move? If so, bad tie rod ends. Same for the drag link.

Put the front on a pair of jack stands, and grab a front wheel/tire. See if there is any in/out movement.

Get it to an alignment shop. One that knows how to check alignment on a solid axle vehicle. If you don't have enough positive caster, you are going to have handling issues.
Click to expand...

I would describe it as darty.

Quick update : I wrote off a caster issue because it isn't lifted, well after digging around a little more I figured out that even though it sits stock the shackles see aftermarket, and longer than stock. Looks like my front axle was swapped at some point because I have drum breaks... On and 84, I'm guessing the shackles have something to do with this.

After spending some more time underneath it the caster could definitely be an issue. Going to drop it at a buddy of mines alignment shop tomorrow. At this point I'm planning on tie rod, drag link, and hopefully figuring out how intensive it is going to be to correct the castor issue.

On another note, discovered a gas leak when I filled it up yesterday. Only leaks when slap full, so I'll be addressing that in the near future as we'll, but first I've got to get it where it doesn't try to kill me at 45 mph.

Thanks for the help guys, I'll try to keep this thread updated so maybe it can be a reference for someone later.
 
The oem tie rods are pretty weak items, as I have seen them bend even with stock size tires. First thing to check with leaking gas at the tank are the fuel filler and vent hose clamps. Hope your trip to the alignment doesn't end up with too expensive of a repair. With drum brakes up front, you probably have the oem master brake cylinder that is setup for front disks along with the oem prop valve. I am not sure how this will affect your brake system but just an fyi.
 
Might want to check and see if you actually dont just have a 1984 tub on an older chassis.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
 
:agree:

This doesn't have a 'salvage title' does it?
Caster is king in CJ steering stability. You want your caster to the high side of tolerance.
LG
 
Lumpy Grits said:
:agree:

This doesn't have a 'salvage title' does it?
Caster is king in CJ steering stability. You want your caster to the high side of tolerance.
LG
Click to expand...

It honestly could be, it was a bill of sale transaction, so no title changed hands... Which I was good because it was a pretty good deal on a running 7 with a decent frame in this part of the world.

I'm waiting to hear back from my alignment guy, I think I'll still be ok - strong engine, tub doesn't need immediate attention, just get the steering worked out (shackles, tie rod, whatever I have to do to make it right) and I should be able to tackle most of the other little stuff as I go along. At least that's what I'm telling myself. It would have to get real expensive for me to consider fire selling this one considering their aren't a whole lot of decent ones for sale around here. At least not in my price range.
 
If you do not have a title(AKA 'pink-slip')in your name. YOU, do not own this motor vehicle, in any legal sense. How can you expect to register a vehicle and insure it, if you are not the registered owner?:confused:
Bill of sale only proves you didn't steal it.........
I wish you only good luck here! But, you may have a battle on your hands with your state's dept of motor vehicles.
Respectfully,
LG
 
Lumpy Grits said:
If you do not have a title(AKA 'pink-slip')in your name. YOU, do not own this motor vehicle, in any legal sense. How can you expect to register a vehicle and insure it, if you are not the registered owner?:confused:
Bill of sale only proves you didn't steal it.........
I wish you only good luck here! But, you may have a battle on your hands with your state's dept of motor vehicles.
Respectfully,
LG
Click to expand...

Common practice in GA on vehicles before '85. Already have it registered and insured.

FYI - the way it works is you can register a vehicle made before 85 if the previous registration in the state system is under the name of the person who you have a bill of sale from. If this isn't the case, then you submit a form, they run numbers to make sure the vehicle isn't stolen. All of this only applies in GA, I'm not sure of other states.

In my case it had a current registration to the guy I bought it from, so it wasn't a big deal at all, they even provide a boilerplate bill of sale from the DMV.

Is it ideal, probably not, but I was willing to roll with it on a cheap 3rd vehicle/project vehicle.

Appreciate the help guys, this forum is proving to be a wealth of information, looks like I'm going to be looking at a shackle swap, off to search the old threads I go.
 
Glad to hear this.
Sounds like you live in a state that has reasonable requirements.:D
very few states would be that easy to work with.
Heck-I still have to SMOG test my '85, CJ7 every 2 years here in PRK(CA.):mad:
LG
 
Bumping this thread with an update...

Switched out my front shackles, didn't measure them but they were clearly longer than stock by a good bit. For now I've just got some cheap crown shackles up front as I wanted to see what other problems I might uncover.

Steering and handling is 10x's better than it was. It still has some issues but I feel a lot more comfortably tackling them one at a time now that the general geometry is close to what it should be.

Long term plan is to order a 2.5 inch lift kit with new leaf springs and shackles just to get all new hardware.

I would say the stock shackles are probably half as long as the shackles that were on the jeep, and the change in stance in barely noticeable.
 
Thanks for the update, looking at those Crown spring shackles on the net, they seem to look pretty oem.
 
JCM 1420:
I just finished a rebuild of the entire frontend, 1980 CJ7 , for the same reasons you gave..... it wanted all the road when a pothole shakes up the front end. The tierod/draglink fip was the easiest. The knuckle in the front wheel axles was the next to worst, one locked up, the other really stiff. The WORST was getting the upper/lower ball joints out and new ones back in. My wife could hear me from the kitchen; said she learned a few new words.
 
DHugg said:
JCM 1420:
I just finished a rebuild of the entire frontend, 1980 CJ7 , for the same reasons you gave..... it wanted all the road when a pothole shakes up the front end. The tierod/draglink fip was the easiest. The knuckle in the front wheel axles was the next to worst, one locked up, the other really stiff. The WORST was getting the upper/lower ball joints out and new ones back in. My wife could hear me from the kitchen; said she learned a few new words.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips. A complete front end rebuild is in the future, probably at the same time as I replace the springs. Just swapping the shackles really helped things so for now I'm content with the handling. Next up is fixing the very intermittent stall at idle (it's a pain to trouble shoot when it doesn't happen very often) and figuring out what part of my drive train is leaking like a sieve dripping oil all over the driveway. Oh yeah, and the funny noise related to the clutch/Transmission . Hopefully I'll have it squared away by the Spring.

Thanks again to everyone on this site, I've found a ton of great information through searching old threads.
 
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