Steering Another loose-*** steering post

[RI CJ5]

So I just bought a 1980 CJ5. 360, 4" lift, 33's. PO did a frame off resto. Beautiful work. Everything is new and tight and clean. But the thing wanders all over the road. I have been searching the web for days but outside of " That's just the way they drive" {which is true to a point, but I had an '85 with 33's and a 3" lift and it wasn't nearly as bad} and "Mine drives nice at 90mph on the highway" which sound like a dream, there is nothing I can see to do. Steering box has no play although I cant adj due to stripped allen nut. So, besides adding a steering stabilizer, which will help but not cure. I can see the springs flex side to side when I turn wheel. Whole body shifts, but don't want to crank shackles any tighter and all tie rod ends are tight. So, are there any other ideas out there?
Thanks in advance, Johnny

 

[CJ]

You know, thinking about this I hate just trying random things to see how it drives. It's just time consuming and could get expensive.
I believe you really need to know where your alignment is so anyway you can get it on an alignment rack will save money and time.
I know it's not street legal so can you rent, borrow or make some way to trailer, flat tow or dolly the CJ? What about just have someone follow right behind you?
Having a base line will most likely get you going quicker.
Your CJ sounds great and we would really like to get it safe and drive able.

 

[RI CJ5]

So, I can't get into shop until 1st or 2nd week of Dec. Registry appt a week after. So in the meantime I'll get a protractor and check caster myself. Also, here are some very late pics.

 

[RI CJ5]

 

[CJ]

That's unfortunate about the shop but understandable.
Those are some serious wedge blocks. Can you take one pic from the front at dif level showing all your steering linkages? The best setup is to have your drag link and tie rod as parallel as possible. This helps with bump steer.
This a pic of perfect steering geom. but perfect is not completely necessary.



To check castor all you need is an inexpensive angle finder.

Try to check on a flat surface. Since most garage floors are sloped for liquid drainage, be sure to measure the floor slope and adjust accordingly.
Here is a great thread on checking castor.

Caster...Am I doing this right?

I found it surprisingly difficult to find info on measuring castor on my '83 CJ7, as most seem to say "put an angle finder on the knuckle" without much in the way of pictures or video...I've found that my knuckle isn't exactly flat, so I tried using the a different spot on the axle. Am I...

jeep-cj.com

 

[Patrick]

You can easily measure caster like this. Ask the PO if he still has the sway bar and try it out.

 

[CJ]

You can easily measure caster like this. Ask the PO if he still has the sway bar and try it out.

Lol, forgot about our wonderful smart phones.

 

[RI CJ5]

I think it looks good, but I agree about the shims. They look awfully beefy!

 

[CJ]

I think it looks good, but I agree about the shims. They look awfully beefy!

That looks great, it has correct drop pitman arm.

 

[TSB8C]

What is the amount of lift? Those wedges and the amount of drop in the pitman arm look like a lot. The pics show what appear to be newer poly shackle bushings, so that's good. Also noticed the steering box brace. Some help there. With the angle of your diff as a result of the spring wedges, do you have the x-fer case dropped at all? Too much angle at the rear of the x-fer case and then lesser angle on the axle is not good. And with a CJ5 as opposed to a CJ7, that rear drive shaft has probably got some serious stress on it unless steps have been taken to address it (double cardan joint, x-fer case drop kit, etc).

I agree with others - alignment needs to be verified and then corrected if/where needed using shims or ball joint bushings.

 

[j6824]

What is the amount of lift? Those wedges and the amount of drop in the pitman arm look like a lot. The pics show what appear to be newer poly shackle bushings, so that's good. Also noticed the steering box brace. Some help there. With the angle of your diff as a result of the spring wedges, do you have the x-fer case dropped at all? Too much angle at the rear of the x-fer case and then lesser angle on the axle is not good. And with a CJ5 as opposed to a CJ7, that rear drive shaft has probably got some serious stress on it unless steps have been taken to address it (double cardan joint, x-fer case drop kit, etc).

I agree with others - alignment needs to be verified and then corrected if/where needed using shims or ball joint bushings.

^+1 on the wedges...

Those look like they're twice as thick as they should be for that amount of lift

 

[Belizean]

^+1 on the wedges...

Those look like they're twice as thick as they should be for that amount of lift

They look to be 3 times the thickness of mine.

 

[TSB8C]

Another thing I noticed in the pics is the body lift also. I see three "pucks" about an inch each and a fiberglass tub. I also noticed what looks to be a homemade bracket made of angle iron where the one body mount is attached. How is the rest of the tub mounted? Perhaps some of your flexing when turning the wheel is coming from a combination of these.

 

[CJ]

So I just bought a 1980 CJ5. 360, 4" lift, 33's. PO did a frame off resto. Beautiful work. Everything is new and tight and clean. But the thing wanders all over the road. I have been searching the web for days but outside of " That's just the way they drive" {which is true to a point, but I had an '85 with 33's and a 3" lift and it wasn't nearly as bad} and "Mine drives nice at 90mph on the highway" which sound like a dream, there is nothing I can see to do. Steering box has no play although I cant adj due to stripped allen nut. So, besides adding a steering stabilizer, which will help but not cure. I can see the springs flex side to side when I turn wheel. Whole body shifts, but don't want to crank shackles any tighter and all tie rod ends are tight. So, are there any other ideas out there?
Thanks in advance, Johnny

Just for grins I pasted your question into AI ChatGPT. I wanted to see how smart it's getting. Interesting reply and scary accurate...

Misc. - Fun with ChatGPT AI

Thought I would experiment with ChatGPT with some Jeep questions including some asked in the forums. I asked -->> "What is better, a jeep CJ5, CJ7 or CJ8?" The reply. -->> "Choosing between a Jeep CJ5, CJ7, or CJ8 comes down to personal preference and needs. Each model has its own unique...

jeep-cj.com

 

[Patrick]

TS, did you work at a service station…

 

[Patrick]

TSB8C, it’s just some well intentioned mild sarcasm from me. Kudos to you because you can pinpoint hidden issues easily from imagery.

 

[Patrick]

All those inherent issues associated with lift spring kits are next to impossible to overcome.

There are much better alternatives and options, however, like shaving off (not literally) protrusions from the undercarriage that includes clocking transfer case horizontal, a well designed skid plate, increasing droop length, or getting larger tires. You combine all these and you have great off-road performance as well as on-road manners and amazing stance and looks.

 

[Patrick]

Or keep your spring lift kit and reclock axle perches AND inner knuckles.

 

[Belizean]

I must be blind because I missed seeing that also

TSB8C, it’s just some well intentioned mild sarcasm from me. Kudos to you because you can pinpoint hidden issues easily from imagery.

 

[RI CJ5]

So, got it to an off road alignment shop. My garage toe adj was actually good. They were able to Crack loose the adjustment screw on steering box which was buried, turned it out a few turns and it was vastly improved! Now I just need to tweak it to as close to perfect as I can get a lifted 43 yo jeep! Thanks for all the help gents!!

 

[CJ]

So, got it to an off road alignment shop. My garage toe adj was actually good. They were able to Crack loose the adjustment screw on steering box which was buried, turned it out a few turns and it was vastly improved! Now I just need to tweak it to as close to perfect as I can get a lifted 43 yo jeep! Thanks for all the help gents!!

Don't keep us in suspense... What was off / wrong? What were your initial readings and what was done as well as what were your final readings?
This information could be helpful for others at a later date.