Steering Box Question...Return to Center?

[jmarkel]

Hey guys...my jeep never returned to center from the day I got it. I have since installed new everything under there except the box. Still no return.

Today, I replaced the stock box with an AGR box. Still, no return to center.

My jeep is stock other than 31" wheels. Can someone give me some ideas why it won't return to center? Could it be my steering stabelizer? It is a rancho if I remember correctly and has been on there for about 6 years. Don't think it is bad, but is this the reason for not returning automatically?

Also, what does the little adjuster do on my AGR box? In/out? In seems like it takes all the play out of of steering, but I'm just not sure. This is my first ever steering box replacement in any vehicle. Oh...and what a PIA it was!

Thanks for the help!

 

[ineedajeep]

Probably not enough caster. You may need some degree shims on the front axle.

 

[kohldad]

The adjuster on the steering box is to adjust the internal gears. Too loose and you get slop, too tight and you will prematurely wear the gears out.

Odds are the previous owner added longer than stock shackles to give a small 1/2" to 1" lift. This rotated the axle a couple of degrees reducing the caster andle. This caster angle is what forces the wheels back to center.

This can be simply fixed by adding degree shims between the axle spring perch and the sping. Since you are complaining about death wobble a 2 degree shim may be enough or you could possibly need 4 degrees.

Too much caster will make it harder to turn.

 

[jmarkel]

thanks

The shackles were replaced by me with stockers a while back. I got it aligned shortly after the replacement of all the steering stuff. If I remember, it staymed that way after the alignment.

Anyway, I suppose I could have it realigned. The tires do wear perfectly straight...and I mean perfectly straight.

Yes...this thing had some death wobble when you hit bumps...a buddy of mine refused to drive it and was white as a ghost after 70 miles. I am used to it by my wife wouldn't drive it.

Now, it steers like butta! Straight...and its not all over the place. Just wish it returned to center is all.

 

[scott anderson]

I would bet its caster...dont worry about taking to an alignment shop..just get some caster shims and give it a few more degrees negative caster...it will also help on the death wobble syndrome

 

[jmarkel]

shims?

Got to looking at my jeep and there are no shims in there. I read somewhere on the net that stock cj's came with 4 degrees positive caster. I don't know what mine has.

So, the fact that I only have 31" tires and no other suspension mods, should I assume that I need 4 degrees? I'll go for the anglometer and see where I'm at. Having a quick look shows that the upper ball joint is slightly behind the lower, but I guess that's not where I should be measuring from...

Should I be measuring off the front pumpkin screws?

THis new steering box has made a world of difference in the drivability but now I want to make this better.