Turns right good, left is not good

[Leslie Boyd]

Bought this jeep recently, it turns to the right good but to the left is not good. The angle of the right wheel is good, to the left it is not good. It has aftermarket pitman to knucle shaft 25 1/2 inches. Dropped it off the pitman arm and center the steering box. Shaft will not go back into pitman. I need a new shaft or can i cut the right side off to 24 1/2 inches and retap the threads? If I can't cut the shaft where can I get another shaft?

 

[tarry99]

Bought this jeep recently, it turns to the right good but to the left is not good. The angle of the right wheel is good, to the left it is not good. It has aftermarket pitman to knucle shaft 25 1/2 inches. Dropped it off the pitman arm and center the steering box. Shaft will not go back into pitman. I need a new shaft or can i cut the right side off to 24 1/2 inches and retap the threads? If I can't cut the shaft where can I get another shaft?

Leslie,
It would be nice to know what year Jeep you have? I am assuming that you have a 72 or later CJ with a Saginaw Gear box up front.
The shaft from the Pittman arm is called a Drag Link and I'm assuming it is going to the Right side spindle where your tie rod is also attached?
Have you looked at your steering stops located on your spindle's both left and right?
If they are not in any way stopping travel and you have centered your gear box then one would think that the Drag Link is to long and needs to be shortened.
There should be and adjustable left & right hand threaded tie rod ends on the Link that allows for that adjustment.
A picture would be great!

 

[Leslie Boyd]

You are correct about the drag link being adjustable but it is against the jamb nuts. As soon as it gets day light, I'll get the model of the steering box and take a picture of the drag link. thanks for replying

 

[Old Dog]

It has aftermarket pitman to knucle shaft 25 1/2 inches. Dropped it off the pitman arm and center the steering box. Shaft will not go back into pitman. I need a new shaft or can i cut the right side off to 24 1/2 inches and retap the threads?

By after market do you mean it's 1 1/4" dia. If so most of them use an
insert that is tapped, so cutting may not work. you will have to take the
TRE out and see what you have.
Again, telling us what year you have will help us as jeep changed alot
of things over the years.

 

[Leslie Boyd]

By after market do you mean it's 1 1/4" dia. If so most of them use an
insert that is tapped, so cutting may not work. you will have to take the
TRE out and see what you have.
Again, telling us what year you have will help us as jeep changed alot
of things over the years.

You are correct it is 1 1/4 dia. The jeep is a 77 cj chassis with a 94 yj body. Dana 20 's front and rear, four speed jeep Transmission . I did not find the part no. of the steering box. If I drop the drag link and look inside and the tube is hollow, where will I get a replacement drag link . If I can figure out how to attach a picture I will send it. thanks

 

[tarry99]

You are correct it is 1 1/4 dia. The jeep is a 77 cj chassis with a 94 yj body. Dana 20 's front and rear, four speed jeep Transmission . I did not find the part no. of the steering box. If I drop the drag link and look inside and the tube is hollow, where will I get a replacement drag link . If I can figure out how to attach a picture I will send it. thanks

Leslie,

Not sure how or why that shaft is too long..........I really can't believe someone built it that way and then never corrected it..........

But I guess I should not be suprised as it seems you see this more often than not whereby people are doing dumb things like that when they really have no understanding or knowledge of what there doing.

If your sure ( and I can't tell you from here!) that the Drag Link is one inch too long and the tube is hollow as it looks like from my view you should be able to shorten each end 1/2".
Now that would be depending that those welded on threaded tube adaptor ends are threaded the complete length of those adaptors. Take the tie rod end out and see how much thread you have............most are 1-1/2" or so deep. If so here's how to fix them:

Find someone with a lathe that has the ability to chuck up that tube. The lathe needs to have a center tube that is larger than the greater diameter of the Drag Link. Chuck it up and cut off 1/2" inch on each end. Finish off the cut with a large chamfer tool , that way the internal threads will not be damaged...........if you try to cut that with any other method you then run the risk of needing a Left & Right hand tap to clean up the threads. Takes about 5 minutes per side.

 

[Old Dog]

Ok you have a 77 so you have a narrow trak axle.(stock anyway, if someone hasn't changed it) I measured my wide trak drag link and it was 25 1/2" so your right yours is 1- 1 1/2 inches to long.
Do as terry said if you can, if you cann't cut it, get one for a narrow trak from someone like Big Daddy. Theres a few companies that make them that one is the only one I can think of right now.

 

[Leslie Boyd]

Leslie,

Not sure how or why that shaft is too long..........I really can't believe someone built it that way and then never corrected it..........

But I guess I should not be suprised as it seems you see this more often than not whereby people are doing dumb things like that when they really have no understanding or knowledge of what there doing.

If your sure ( and I can't tell you from here!) that the Drag Link is one inch too long and the tube is hollow as it looks like from my view you should be able to shorten each end 1/2".
Now that would be depending that those welded on threaded tube adaptor ends are threaded the complete length of those adaptors. Take the tie rod end out and see how much thread you have............most are 1-1/2" or so deep. If so here's how to fix them:

Find someone with a lathe that has the ability to chuck up that tube. The lathe needs to have a center tube that is larger than the greater diameter of the Drag Link. Chuck it up and cut off 1/2" inch on each end. Finish off the cut with a large chamfer tool , that way the internal threads will not be damaged...........if you try to cut that with any other method you then run the risk of needing a Left & Right hand tap to clean up the threads. Takes about 5 minutes per side.

I tried to call the person who put this jeep together but he didn't return my call. I believe that its be this way for over a year. I have access to left and right hand taps, don't know anyone with a lathe. I appreciate your help as I believe the jeep is dangerous to drive. Again, thanks everyone for the help and info!