• Notice for iPhone users: DO NOT use the image size reduction option when uploading photos to the forum. This causes portrait images to post as landscape. We have added a warning to the image insert pop-up as well.

Oversteering woes

FLCJ8

FLCJ8

Legacy Registered User
City
Palm Bay
State
FL
Not to throw fuel on the fire.... I totally agree with mysunnshine.

mysunnshine said:
When the steering shaft or the steering box was installed, that steering column issue should have been caught at that point with no exceptions.
Click to expand...

Except I'll take it a step further,
When the steering shaft or the steering box was being prepped to be replaced, that steering column issue should have been caught at that point with no exceptions.

I'm a firm believer in diagnosing problems rather than throwing parts at a problem till it's resolved.
Also, I realize that most people/businesses don't think that way.

Once the issue is looked at it should be simple to confirm what the problem/solution is. Hopefully your problem will be corrected soon and you can start enjoying your Jeep. :thumbsup:
 
J

JeepWillis

Basic User
City
Austin
State
Tx
Yeah, this whole process has been a nightmare. I've taken it to normal mechanic shops and I've had it at 2 Jeep only specialists. All doing the same thing, working from the gear box and back. I've never even had someone mention there could be a potential problem in the column or I would've had that replaced 6 months ago too. It's only because I keep asking questions to you guys that I find this stuff out.

Everyone else says "that's how a jeep is supposed to drive". I've had 4 Jeeps and they've never driven like this!!
 
J

JeepWillis

Basic User
City
Austin
State
Tx
Update. So I go and drop off the Scrambler at this shop that specializes in jeeps and has a very good reputation, whom also did the last repairs(steering box, shaft and bushing). I talk to them about what's going on and this is what they come up with:

- Tie rod end bushing worn
- They want to take off my drop pitman arm and go back to a stock arm(I have 4" BDS lift)
- steering box adjustment(aren't these set properly from the factory? And they installed this box)
- probably replace column bearing/bushing.

Thoughts?
 
mysunnshine

mysunnshine

Legacy Registered User
City
Phoenix
State
AZ
What happened to the 1/4 turn of slack that was diagnosed to be in the column specifically?

Sent from my SM-G920V
 
BRKLYNZ28

BRKLYNZ28

Scrambler Junkie
Lifetime Member
City
BROOKLYN
State
NY
And i thought u said the tie rods ends where changed?

Sent from my SM-N910P
 
J

JeepWillis

Basic User
City
Austin
State
Tx
BRKLYNZ28 said:
And i thought u said the tie rods ends where changed?

Sent from my SM-N910P
Click to expand...

They were about a year ago, the bushing on passenger side looking a bit worn.

But as to Sunshine pointed out, that doesn't address the column play. And the fact that these guys want to adjust the steering box that they installed pisses me off too.
 
Polarfire

Polarfire

Jeep Aficionado
Lifetime Member
City
Columbia
State
MO
Sounds like it is time to start turning your own wrenches instead of relying on others. You can't do any worse then these guys.
 
Domin8

Domin8

Scrambler Enthusiast
Lifetime Member
City
Astoria
State
NY
Just a thought, probably worthless, but my old CJ-5 acted this way when I had bias ply tires on it.

I know in your first post you say you have 33" BFG with no wear, but I just wanted to mention this anyway.

Good luck to you.
 
J

JeepWillis

Basic User
City
Austin
State
Tx
Got the Jeep back from the shop. They replaced a Tie rod end they said was worn, put on a stock pitman arm and took off my drop, and adjusted my 6 month old steering box.

Still sucks, no difference. I'm at my wits end. Anyone know a good shop in San Antonio? I've tried to stick to 4x4 or Jeep shops, but at this point I don't even care, I just want the steering fixed.
 
CJ7Pilot

CJ7Pilot

18436572
BENEFACTOR
Gold Member
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Yuba City
State
CA
The steering wheel play HAS to be addressed.

There's no way to make minor steering corrections while driving when you have 1/4 turn of play (especially if your power steering is sensitive). If you want to correct slightly to the right, you quickly turn your wheel clockwise (because you know there's a lot of slack to take up), then everything slams together and you end up with more correction than you wanted, and then you have to do it again to the left! This may not be the whole problem, but it certainly contributes to it.

I have a 1982 non-tilt steering column you can have, if you want to try it out. It will take a couple hours of your time to swap it, but at least you won't be throwing any more money at it. See my thread here: https://www.cj-8.com/forum/showthread.php?46271-Swapping-a-YJ-Steering-Column-in-to-My-CJ8 , and just do the upper steering part.

I don't know what your shop was trying to accomplish by switching back to a stock pitman arm. With a 4" lift, that will affect bump-steer (probably making it worse, unless your drag link is flipped to the top of the knuckle), but I don't see how it could help the issue you've presented here.
 
CJ7Pilot

CJ7Pilot

18436572
BENEFACTOR
Gold Member
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Yuba City
State
CA
Hey JeepWillis, could we see some photos of your Scrambler?

Specifically, a full side shot from each side, and a front shot from down low, encompassing the entire steering assembly, tire-to-tire.

Additionally:

As someone mentioned previously, it's time to stop going to these 4x4 shops, and start getting some real world help.

If turning wrenches isn't your forte', that's perfectly okay.

Everyone who has responded to this thread would be more than willing to come over to your house and help you run this thing down, if we lived nearby... and a town like San Antonio surely has dozens of people just like us who would love to help you out!

Before you go to another shop, look around and join a local Jeep club or off-road club, and find that guru who knows the answer.

I see from you profile that you work in orthopedics. That could mean anything from shoe-inserts to prosthetic limbs, but either way you understand that any series of moving parts must be set up just right in order to work properly... and if everything is set up properly, it must work!

Don't keep chasing shoe-inserts if what you really need is a new hip! ;)
 
Last edited:
J

JeepWillis

Basic User
City
Austin
State
Tx
I'd post a video if I could. Just to show the play and the setup. I just took of the steering stabilizer, no noticeable difference.

Super sensitive steering, just a better ride if I don't put my hands on the wheel at all, totally safe!
 
J

JeepWillis

Basic User
City
Austin
State
Tx
CJ7Pilot said:
Hey JeepWillis, could we see some photos of your Scrambler?

Specifically, a full side shot from each side, and a front shot from down low, encompassing the entire steering assembly, tire-to-tire.

Additionally:

As someone mentioned previously, it's time to stop going to these 4x4 shops, and start getting some real world help.

If turning wrenches isn't your forte', that's perfectly okay.

Everyone who has responded to this thread would be more than willing to come over to your house and help you run this thing down, if we lived nearby... and a town like San Antonio surely has hundreds of people just like us who would love to help you out!

Before you go to another shop, look around and join a local Jeep club or off-road club, and find that guru who knows the answer.

I see from you profile that you work in orthopedics. That could be anything from shoe-inserts to prosthetic limbs, but either way you understand that any series of moving parts must be set up just right in order to work properly... and if everything is set up properly, it must work!

Don't keep chasing shoe-inserts if what you really need is a new hip! ;)
Click to expand...

So true Pilot. I've joined a few local jeep clubs and this last shop is a jeep club shop. The thing about all these jeep clubs, I'm the only Steel in them, they're all wannabes with 50k TJs and JKs. They say they know jeeps, but they're just proving they don't understand CJs.
 
mysunnshine

mysunnshine

Legacy Registered User
City
Phoenix
State
AZ
You need to find a generic 4x4 club then. Yes most of the new jeepers are clueless. Talk to the street rod people too. They always know the good repair shops in the area.

Sent from my SM-G920V
 
CJ7Pilot

CJ7Pilot

18436572
BENEFACTOR
Gold Member
Lifetime Member
SOA Member
City
Yuba City
State
CA
JeepWillis, we still want pics. We're four pages in to this thing, and we'd like to see what we're working with! :shrug:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top