Lots of road wander!!

Since I'm new to the Jeep world I would like to know where should I look first to figure out why I have so much road wander?!?!?!? It requires constant attention especially at speeds above 50 mph. I have checked all of the steering components/linkage and all seem fine. Last owner even had a new steering box installed but couldn't fix the wander. I have talked to a jeep owner and he said it might be the tires.........don't know if I buy that as the tires show no weird wear patterns and are fairly new!

Any advice will be appreciated!!!!!!!

Lee

 

If its been lifted and the steering gear geometry changed that might affect it. Does rotating the tires help? To rule them out as a culprit it would be ideal to steal a set from someone else and see if the problem persists, but if thats not possible, check balance and rotate them. The faster you go the more centrifigal force intensifies flaws. My newer Jeep has beadlocks and 38s and because its pretty much impossible to balance them I get issues at higher speeds, even with an RV centrifigal balancer installed. http://bulletproofsteering.com/geometry.html has some explanation of steering geometry. www.funcomotorsports.com is for sand buggies but the principles are the same on drop pitman arms, etc.. I think Rockcrawler.com did an article explaining toe in and toe out.

 

I dont want to sound stupid but I am sure I will. What are caster degree shims and would it help my wander problem to even if I have SOA lift?

thanks,
byron

 

Shims are wedges of metal that go between the spring and its mount. The wedge will change the pivot angle of the steering knuckle (caster), perhaps correcting bad steering geometry. You need some caster so that the steering will return to center by itself and tend to stay there unless you turn the steering wheel. Can't say if your Jeep could use it or need it, since it's not stock and it would depend on how the SOA was done.

 

I had replaced the steering box on mine and still had bump steer aka death wobble. Once I had the caster checked, that was the issue. Mine was way off. Now I don't have bump steer as bad and my CJ drives a whole lot better.

 

Isn't wandering all over the road at highway speeds normal in an old CJ??? Damn, driving mine is more like driving a boat. I have to kind of dance with her down the highway!!

 

Frame could be cracked too. I borrowed a blazer that was dangerously wandery. I told the owner about it, he thought that was how it was supposed to be. Sure enough, the frame was cracked behind the box.

Also, what about tie rod ends??? Mine has a little slop there. I think I should put on new ones, but it's something to look at.

High5

 

If you take you hands off the wheel while turning, does it tend to straighten out? In other words the steering ought to be self-centering. If not, you need to get toe-in, etc, checked.

If it toes out, it will tend to turn one way or the other instead of tracking straight ahead. Ungood.

Pete

 

OK, you got me thinking...I know, it's a dangerous thing.

My manual says caster +6 (no degree symbol on my keyboard) is the factory preset. It does not give me a toe in or out in degrees, just a measurement of 3/64 to 3/32 greater rear than front. Does this sound correct or does anyone have anything better that I can provide my alignment guy. I seriously doubt he will have any specs on a 74 CJ5.

 

Tumbleweed,
I will look for the shims tomorrow(on mid night shift right now). I origionally thought it was the bearings because when I converted to disk brakes all of the bearings were shot so I replaced them. Still have the wander.

Dana,
Wish I did have an extra set of tires but don't.....yet. Tires I have now actually seem well balance, I don't notice any shaking in them all the way up to 65mph!

PeteL,

Haven't tried that yet but will do it tomorrow and post the results. When I let go of the wheel going straight down the road it will dart real hard in either direction. So far everything I have visually checked under neath looks and feels tight. I am thinking more along the lines of castor/camber being the culprit.

Thanks for the inputs!!!


Lee

 

Not to hijack this thread, but are shims typically only needed on a lifted vehicle? If the Jeep is stock are they typically ok w/out the shims?

 

Yes.

 

i had the same problem with my 81 cj5 and it turned out to be that my tires where toed out. had the toed in 1/16" and it steers like a lexus. well sort of. but it did cure my problem good luck and happy wheeling!!

 

I'll bet a dollar it's either caster or toe-out.

Any takers?

 

Lee,

That "darting" is exactly the condition I was thinking of, when it wants to look for the ditch.

Doubleplus-ungood.

Yes, caster or toe-in need fixing. You'll feel so much better afterward!

Pete

 

I had the same problem when I put on my 33's. I'd also put on lift springs and shackles which screwed up my camber angle. Not exactly, but essentially, due to the pinion angle change created with a lift shackle, the front of your front differential is tilted down slightly. This changes your camber angle and it's kind of like having a toe out situation. This gives you really light steering feedback and creates the wander effect. Does that make sense?

Anyway, there's 2 ways to fix it. Put on shorter shackles or put in spring perch wedges. I'd heard some discouraging things about wedges, ie. they can deform and work loose; you really have to keep an eye on them, etc. I made some shorter shackles. I lost about 3/4" of lift but it corrected the problem.

I don't know if that's your problem, but it sure sounds like it.

 

Okay, had some spare time this weekend and wrenched on the jeep. I re-checked all steering components and everything is solid. I checked toe-in and found front edge of rim was wider than rear edge of rim by a 1/4 inch. I adjusted it to the recomendations in this thread and it helped alot. It didn't cure the whole problem though! Previous owner had installed a steering stabilizer and I thought that might be the culprit, took it off and found a little more improvement! There are no shims in between the spring and axle, so that is the next area I will attack!
I have one question to add, why would someone add a crossover link on a leaf sprung axle? This jeep has one.

 

I had/have this issue as well. I was both toed-out and my caster angle was a 0. I have since toed-in the wheels (huge improvement), but it still likes to bounce when I hit bumps. I have currently just recieved my 6* shims for the front axle, which I plan on installing this weekend.