Super Sensitive Power Steering Question

[OuterAces]

I recently converted my 1979 CJ5 from manual to power steering. Excellent upgrade. All new bushings, tie-rods, shocks, everything. My concern is super sensitive steering. If you lightly touch the steering wheel, it turns the jeep. Drives great, but very very responsive. Is there a way to firm up the steering response?

 

[pwrwgn]

Check your ball joints. With new ball joints set properly it is somewhat difficult to move the knuckle. Also, where did the power steering box come from? Almost any saginaw box will bolt up but some passenger car boxes such as camaros have a pretty fast ratio. I have a Wagoneer box in one of mine and a XJ cherokee in the other and no problems with sensitive steering.

 

[OuterAces]

pwrwgn thanks! I'll do a ball joint check and see if they're loose.
I bought the power steering set-up complete from a on-line seller, great deal, easy fit up, everything included. The power steering set-up came off a parted-out CJ. Thats all I know about the power steering set-up.

 

[MN CJ7]

some of the steering boxes have quick and std steering turns.. I have read about this in the past.

I would count the turns from lock to lock.... so start on one side and count the steering wheel turns.

This should give us a idea if you have something different in you steering box.

 

[oldguy]

They are all Saginaw series 800 "inside the frame" boxes, Jeep, Chev, Ford truck and Doge truck "for the most part". The same housing and basically the same insides. If you have an upgrade and it's very responsive than chances are it's from a Nova, Camaro or Chevelle. These are popular for whats called a GM upgrade. The only difference is that they may have only three bolting points (but they still line up with the two top and one bottom hole) and they will be 2.0 to 2.5 turns lock which is desiginated the close ratio and I wouldn't recommend it because of the height and length of a Jeep. Chev S10 and Impalas have a nice semi close ratio, 3.25 to 3.5 turn lock to lock that I think is ideal for a Jeep. Jeep is usually about 4.5 turns lock to lock. These are used from the factory, I'd assume, again because of the size of a Jeep. You know, liability.

 

[OuterAces]

Thanks for the information...
I have double checked the entire steering system from the ball joints to the lug nuts. Everything is new and tight. I have an idea from reading other posts that the problem is the caster angles. I failed to mention in my original post that I had a 2" body, a 1.5" spring lift and new 33" tires. These lifts have affected my drive angle, which is showing up with the new power steering. Tell me if this makes sense? I'm taking the CJ5 in for an alignment this week. The camber and the caster are not adjustible during the alignment but I get the data I need to make the necessary adjustments.

 

[neilferguson]

All the front front end alignment on y 74 CJ6 is fine..been through the total check..but it still turns with a thumb pressure ..ie hyper sensitive and there is no play.
I found that getting a larger steering wheel helped ( rather contradictory )..it means that you can control the steering distances closer..even though it gets slightly lighter.

 

[neilferguson]

Another thought following my own experience ( and past advice on this site. What pressure are you running the tyres with. I had 33in and found the previous owner had about 34 psi in the tyres. These are huge truck tyres and the Jeep is a 1.5 ton light vehicle so the contact line/area is small and central. I did drop a trye size to 31 for handling ( massive improvement along with correct toe-in of 3mm ). I then have dropped the tyre pressure to bring more tyre in contact with the road and reached 26psi to get full width contact and increased steering force ..not a lot but significant . I used the chalk across tyre technique to see if there was full contact.
best of luck..
NB for you guys 'tyre' means 'tire'

 

[Texas Ironworker]

I have the same problem in my 80 CJ5 33's no lift. And driving at higher speeds it will sway a bit, and if I am doing like 60mph and get off the gas quick it will sway also.Any ideas on this?I just bought my Jeep a week ago and I don't know much about them.

 

[neilferguson]

Check the toe-in as a start....3mm is about right. I found the combination of the correct toe-in and tyres down to 31 from 33 gave me stability. If toe in does not do it then go to square one and use the oracle post...."suspension and steering ' above...before considering a tyre change.

 

[nickgodwin1]

I had a similar issue

1) How is the angle on your steering link/ Is it parralel to the tie rod? I would imagine you dont have a drop pitman.

2) have you played with the adjustment screw on the power steering box?

 

[Texas Ironworker]

Check the toe-in as a start....3mm is about right. I found the combination of the correct toe-in and tyres down to 31 from 33 gave me stability. If toe in does not do it then go to square one and use the oracle post...."suspension and steering ' above...before considering a tyre change.

Thanks I'll have it checked...I was also told if I brought the wheel to wheel base out(spacers)it would improve it also.What are your thoughts on that?Thanks.

 

[Texas Ironworker]

No, I didn't check that.What is a drop pit?pitmen?does the adjustment tighten it up.