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10-18-2009, 03:56 PM
|  | Can't Get Enough | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: S. CA
Posts: 1,333
| |  God Was Looking Out for Me Today
I was on the way home from church this morning...2 younger kidos in the jeep with me....older one at Granny's...Wife was out of town and on her way home....
Just as I'm pulling into the drive and starting to straighten up the steering wheel free wheels...going in circles...and I'm not changing directions....luckily I was only going about 2 MPH....
The steering shaft couple fell off the steering wheel spline....
If this had happened anywhere else, it could have made for nasty accident....
God was looking out for me.....
Now I gota go out and check all my steering bolts and nuts....
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AKA DDawg16
84 CJ7, SOA, 5.7LTBI, 4L60E, 32"x11.5 (35's on order), 4.10 gears, F/Det, R/ARB, Full Roll Cage,
D44 Flat top in progress...
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10-18-2009, 07:46 PM
| | Way Outta Control | | Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: The Palouse
Posts: 13,158
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God is always looking out for you... it's just that today you noitced it.
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10-18-2009, 09:44 PM
|  | Enthusiast | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carlsbad, Ca
Posts: 204
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Good point Leve
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1986 stock CJ7 rebuilt 4.2L 258 more to come
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10-18-2009, 10:58 PM
|  | Addict | | Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: So.West Indiana
Posts: 435
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Good thing SOMEONE was 'Looking Out For You',
Because your mechanic is an IDIOT!
If the 'Mechanic' can't spot a bad coupler and replace a safety issue like that, or didn't weld the U joint in place he's a menace!
Take it someplace that knows what the heck they are doing!
I've got one here now,
Rear wheel seal or Wheel Cylinder leaking,
Took the drum off and there is NO EMERGENCY BRAKE ARM, NO ADJUSTER CABLE, and the adjuster had been replaced by hacked up spreader bar!
One frame shackle mount broken,
Rag joint at the steering box rotted away,
And enough slop in one ball stud that I didn't need to take the nut off to take the steering knuckle off!
These people just forked over $800 for a $49.95 an axle brake job and wheel rotation and the place kept the jeep for over a month!
Brought it to me when it didn't brake in a straight line to see what the problme might be!
(could be the right rear brake not working due to axle lube in the drum,
Might be the front steering knuckle moving around,
or it might be the left rear spring shackle that is flopping around against the frame!)
I wouldn't let them drive it home, but I did offer to trailer it home for them (for free) just to make sure they didn't crash into someone I know!
Some guys just shouldn't have access to tools!
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So Many Cats, So Few Recipes...
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10-19-2009, 02:00 AM
| | Can't Get Enough | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: S. CA
Posts: 1,333
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TeamRush  Good thing SOMEONE was 'Looking Out For You',
Because your mechanic is an IDIOT!
If the 'Mechanic' can't spot a bad coupler and replace a safety issue like that, or didn't weld the U joint in place he's a menace! | That mechanic would be me.
I found the problem...it was not a bad coupler....it was the wrong bolt in the upper coupler....I think it's the wrong diameter....
If you remember, there is a slot on the steering shaft that allows the bolt to pass through the clamp....which means the coupler can only go on one way....and once in position and the bolt is installed, it can't slid down. Well, mine can...barely....it took it about 3 years to work it's way down the shaft before it fell off.
And, yes, I did have a look at all of my other steering components and make sure they are all tight.
And, no Aaron, I don't take offense to your comments....you are right....
As they say, you learn by your mistakes.....one of the reasons I'm so bloody smart...almost...at least I'm still hear to learn from it.
__________________
AKA DDawg16
84 CJ7, SOA, 5.7LTBI, 4L60E, 32"x11.5 (35's on order), 4.10 gears, F/Det, R/ARB, Full Roll Cage,
D44 Flat top in progress...
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10-19-2009, 07:56 AM
| | Way Outta Control | | Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: The Palouse
Posts: 13,158
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Quote: |
at least I'm still hear to learn from it.
| As my ol' sainted Grandma used to say: "Only the good die young." She died at 87...
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10-19-2009, 09:54 AM
|  | I Might Just Know What I'm Talking About | | Join Date: May 2003 Location: Nebraska
Posts: 1,688
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Several years ago my friend had nearly the exact same thing happen on his "beater truck". It was a 64 Ford F100. He had just driven 15miles to work in snow and ice conditions. Slowed way down to turn into the icy drive at the factory. Made the turn, then the wheel just spun in his hands when he went to straighten it out. Luckily, the intersection was bare and he simply made a big slow loop and nosed it down into the ditch with no injury or damage.
At the time I also had an old Ford beater. Since that day I regularly check steering and brake hardware.
I can only imagine what "could have been" in your case or his.
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Is this the only hammer you've got?
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10-19-2009, 04:24 PM
|  | Keyboard Implanted | | Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 2,420
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Either you learn from your mistakes or it is Darwinism.
it is a win-win!
Good to hear you are OK John, seems like you made a karma withdrawal 
__________________
Scott
1985 CJ7 T.H.O.R
"He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm."
-Psalm 40:2
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10-19-2009, 05:20 PM
| | Can't Get Enough | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: S. CA
Posts: 1,333
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Karma withdrawal? No kidding Scott.....I think I'm in the hole for awhile..
So....anyone know where I can get one of those bolts? Already tried my usual sources....no luck.
Does Chrysler still sell jeep parts?
__________________
AKA DDawg16
84 CJ7, SOA, 5.7LTBI, 4L60E, 32"x11.5 (35's on order), 4.10 gears, F/Det, R/ARB, Full Roll Cage,
D44 Flat top in progress...
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10-19-2009, 06:00 PM
|  | Keyboard Implanted | | Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: southern new jersey
Posts: 2,764
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If you still have the stock stuff get rid of it. They were junk new and only get worse with time.
Either build one from old medium duty steering setups or buy one of those high dollar ones with the little joints in them. Somewhere on this board is my setup (i may have pics somewhere but not sure where)The joints are greasable and almost the size of pto joints. I think JimLou has basically the same deal I run.
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