Maiden Voyage, Never Drove a Jeep Before

After two years of work I took the maiden voyage in my ‘71 CJ5 today. Please keep in mind that I have never ever driven a Jeep before, so I have a couple of questions…

I have installed a new Ford reverse rotation steering box…

Steering is light & easy but requires a lot of attention to keep it going straight down the road & I have 1” of steering wheel play before you see any movement of the tire. Is this normal? Would a steering stabilizer help?

Second question. Entire brake system is new & I upgraded to 11” drums in front. Again keeping in mind that I’ve never driven a Jeep before, well the brakes are down right scary. I have to really mash that pedal down to get it to stop.

Thank you in advance for your impute. Don’t think that I could have done this built without the help of all the fine people on this forum

 

First of all, congratulations!

How is the condition of your tie rod and drag link? Was the steering box new/rebuilt or a used junkyard part? Worn out parts are the usual suspects when you have play in the steering system. As for the stabilizer, it will help with keeping road vibrations from being transmitted up to the steering wheel, but won't do much if anything to make the steering feel "tighter".

Are you sure that you properly bled all of the air out of the system? Is your proportioning valve set correctly?


Just a few points to ponder, I'm sure others will chime in with more! Hope it helps.

 

Also make sure the shoes are adjusted correctly and the hardware is in good shape. I have some broker hardare on my origiona rear axle and never could get teh brakes to work right. Replaced the axle with new brakes after I broke it and the brakes are tight.

If you are used to power brakes then yes you will have to push a lot harder on thepedal to make it stop.

Definately check the entire steering system for worn parts. Sounds like someting is not up to spec.

 

Steering box is new. Tie rods & ends new & rebuilt knuckes. No drag link it's now cross steer with pitman arm...All brake parts new no porportioning valve. Pedal stops about 5" from floor & no give or mush at that point.

 

if shoes and drums are new, break in time will be required.
try "riding " the brakes as you drive around to get the shoes to "seat" in.

 

Yes, shoe's & drums are new

 

When I upgraded my 67 CJ-5 to saganaw power steering, my first ride was pretty scary. As you say, just a little steering wheel seemed to make a lot of difference about which way I was going. Now it seems normal, and for sure, I would never go back. 1" of play seems like very little. I have seen much much more.

I can't compare your Jeep to mine, but it does take a fair amount of pressure on the pedal to stop the Jeep. My brakes are stock and like I said earlier, I seem to be used to it. The Jeep stops much differently than my Toyota.

My son-in-law once drove my Jeep on his own and came back thinking the frame must be broken for it to handle like it did. He is a city "squirrel" driver and had no respect for the old girl. If the frame is broken, I haven't found it in these last 5 years, and it seems normal to me.

John

 

Thanks John I feel better now. I never driven anything like this in my life, it's takes a little getting used to. Before I converted the steering I found it down right undriveble, but the guy I bought from could drive it with no problem. He had to deliver it to my house for me

I check with Herm "The Overdrive Guy" (I'm running his steering converion) I followed his instuctions & tightened up the steering box adjustment. Worked good cut the play down to 1/2"

I just got back from my second ride, I was more relaxed this time & I did'nt try so hard to drive it, I just kind of let it drive itself. Much much better R)

 

I agree. As far as the brakes, stomp on them hard and they will probably lock up.

 

With respect to the brakes......... You upgraded to 11" brake shoes. Were the original wheel cylinders 1 1/8" diameter bore already? Not sure about yours but older CJ5s had 7/8" bore wheel cylinders. If you had 7/8" and didn't upgrade to 1 1/8" wheel cylinders it will require alot of pedal preasure to stop your jeep.

 

No, I have the bigger wheel cylinders. I pulled one of drums, brake shoes surfaces are not yet making full contact with drums yet, gonna have to put some miles on it till shoes & drums are broken in (new shoes & drums)