Tighting up steering

[dalefan88]

Ok I have all new tierods ball joints Manuel steering gearbox drop pitman arm lower bearing in the colum. My steering still feels loose. Am I asking to much from a old vehicle or is it a normal thing with cjs. Just seems like there's still a lot of sloppy feeling in the wheel. Should I go get it aligned? Will that make it better


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[gert]

You have one more part to go, the steering shaft. How much will the wheel turn before the wheels turn? If you block the wheels so they cant move and have someone turn the steering wheel back an fourth you will be able to find where your slack is

 

[tarry99]

Ok I have all new tierods ball joints Manuel steering gearbox drop pitman arm lower bearing in the colum. My steering still feels loose. Am I asking to much from a old vehicle or is it a normal thing with cjs. Just seems like there's still a lot of sloppy feeling in the wheel. Should I go get it aligned? Will that make it better


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Start from one end of the steering system and work forward all the way to the bearings in the spindles..............Normally requires two people.... one moving the steering wheel and the other watching the motion created by that movement. Everything should be near 1 to 1 ratio.............simply meaning that if the steering wheel shaft moves a 1/2" then whatever it is attached to should do the same. Simple process of elimination............easy find it!

 

[dalefan88]

Thanks guys I got new wheel bearings. the steering shaft is only thing I haven't changed. Wonder if it's the joint going onto the shaft going into the steering box is bad. Might have to check that.


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[Old Dog]

Wonder if it's the joint going onto the shaft going into the steering box is bad. http://

I just had to change mine, made a big differance.

 

[dalefan88]

Wow just looked at the prices for a new shaft ouch!!!!!!


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[Mannster]

Old Dog, did you replace the steering shaft coupling? If so, any do's/don'ts? I've got my steering shaft coupling kit sitting on the shelf and I stare at it every couple of days saying I need to get that done...

 

[Old Dog]

Old Dog, did you replace the steering shaft coupling? If so, any do's/don'ts? I've got my steering shaft coupling kit sitting on the shelf and I stare at it every couple of days saying I need to get that done...

No real tricks, it was pretty easy.

 

[dalefan88]

Hope mine is just the coupler


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[KenB]

I replaced my steering column with one from Flaming River ($$$), and it was money well spent. Went from herding between the ditches to one hand control.

 

[tarry99]

I replaced my steering column with one from Flaming River ($$$), and it was money well spent. Went from herding between the ditches to one hand control.

Ken

I think that was a good move..........I had Flaming River do me a no frills 1.75" Black 30" tilt column so it kinda looked like the original column in my 65 CJ and it turned out great not withstanding the tilt feature............They are pricy , but do make a nice product and were pretty easy to work with on a one-off custom basis.

 

[nightwalker1500]

This may or not be relevant to your steering issue, but I accidentally made a huge difference in mine on my new-to-me 79 CJ5 .
I have a 4" spring and shackle lift (PO installed). 31X10.50s, 1" adapter plates behind 8" wheels with a 3" backspace. I didn't like the chrome wheels, so I ordered a set of black Soft 8s (Cragar) and had them mounted. The Cragars had a 4" backspace (no offset) so the flange was centered with the tire.
Prior to the swap, I had some pretty good bump-steer and tended to wander around the road at highway speed.
After the wheel change, bump-steer is virtually gone and the jeep tracks like a brand new one. I can drive one-handed at 65 without wanting last rites administered, now.

 

[tarry99]

This may or not be relevant to your steering issue, but I accidentally made a huge difference in mine on my new-to-me 79 CJ5 .
I have a 4" spring and shackle lift (PO installed). 31X10.50s, 1" adapter plates behind 8" wheels with a 3" backspace. I didn't like the chrome wheels, so I ordered a set of black Soft 8s (Cragar) and had them mounted. The Cragars had a 4" backspace (no offset) so the flange was centered with the tire.
Prior to the swap, I had some pretty good bump-steer and tended to wander around the road at highway speed.
After the wheel change, bump-steer is virtually gone and the jeep tracks like a brand new one. I can drive one-handed at 65 without wanting last rites administered, now.

Nightwalker,

That's great............Interesting that it helped the bump steer by just getting rid of the 1" adapter. Perhaps just getting the wheel / tire weight closer to center line is what improved the handling.

Truth is the 4" lift coupled with the whatever the shackle lift may be will still have a negative effect on your caster and steering & handling.
Bump steer is normally caused by a high angle between the steering gear drag link attachment point and where it attache's to the knuckle.
As the Suspension goes through its range of compression & rebound the drag link because of the angle is longer and thus moves the spindles under compression. In a perfect world the drag link and tie rods should be close to traveling on a parallel plane.
Check your angle............