Steering help

Hey everyone, I just got my hands on this 73 CJ5 and the steering is all over the place and was looking for some advice. The front has yj springs on a spring over axle and shackle reversal, the steering box seams
like its tight with very little play. Would a steering stabilizer help or?

 

steering stabilizer won't help with vehicle wander. Sit in front of the vehicle and have someone saw the steering wheel back and forth and watch for play at the rod ends and balljoints. Have an alignment shop check the alignment. with so much custom suspension that you didn't do yourself it could be any number of things. The only thing I notice in the pictures is the upwards angle of the drag link befor the downward angle begins. Looks like a nice ride, where can we see some pics?

 

Thanks for the info seventythree let me know if you have any other ideas.

 

see my thread on 'white knuckle lift hades' for a long conversation about caster angles. I am going through similar now. Stabilizer will do nothing, in fact when I am done i am probably removing mine.

 

Personally I'd dump the wild-a$$ed bent drag link and get a dropped pitman arm to start with. Then make sure everything (axle u-bolts, steering components, tie-rod ends, etc) is tight and not excessively worn. Then get into alignment and caster angles. If still not corrected start looking at other problem areas.

 

Great looking jeep you have there.

i'm curious about what Warloch said:

i've been thinking about something like that but have not seen it/don't really know where to look. i always thought it would be a good idea to put it on top of the knuckle... don't know what to do as far as actually getting that going though.

 

There is a tie-rod flip kit available, but that wont work here because of the spring over location.

the flat top knucke is either a d44 knuckly machined to accept the steering arm up higher, or a new custom cast/machined unit that serves the same function.

Anyhoo, I would get rid of the S-shaped drag link. I've never heard anyone say anything good about them. I'm running a dropped pitman arm, and it is working pretty well, but the flat top knuckle with teh high steer is the way to go.

 

Where in Oregon are you? There is a shop located in Oregon City called R&P (just south of Portland) that makes a good knuckle over set up 503-557-8911. Even if you don't buy from them they can help you with information. MANY other companies make them also. Some are excellent, some are junk so be careful what you buy.
It's not cheap, but we're talking safety here.