Steering Question

Most steering problems on jeeps are easy to diagnose..just jack up the front end...both tires just off the ground and move one tire verticallay back and forth..up and down...shake it.....check out the ball joints...tie rod ends.....bearings....see whats moving....in theory..on a perfect rig...nothing should move when skaking your tites vertically. If its a tie rod end..you will see it give...as well as a ball joint. Get a friend to move it while you check it all out. If everything still seems ok...you could be getting some bad bump steer...and a clamp on steering stabilizer could be the ticket. Don't forget to check irregular tire wear...this is a HUGE indication of a bad bearing or mis-allignment.

I'm not afraid of dying...I'm scared of not living

chevy-Cj-7

Sounds like classic bump-steer to me. Do you have a lift without a dropped pitman arm?

The Scrambler is stock all the way around. The tires have been rotated every 1,000 miles and there are no signs of uneven wear. Thanx for the replies.

82 Scrambler

Completely stock, or have you got some deep offset wheels on it? If the center of the tire is too far from
the ball joints, it will pull in the direction of the tire that hits the bump. If both tires hit a bump, they will
counteract each other. Watch one of those low rider go down the highway, or more correctly try to go
down the highway.

Except for a few dings, rust and scratches, this Scrambler is as stock as the day it rolled off the assembly line. It does have new tires but they are the exact same size as the originals. Thanx.

82 Scrambler

One of the most overlooked causes of this is a bad steering shaft. Check the shaft that runs from the bottom of the column to the steering box. Grab it firmly at either end and shake it.(not that, the steering shaft...!) Got any side-to-side or up/down movement? Should be tight at both joints, no slop. Replace it if any movement (lower joint is rebuildable if pins aren't too badly worn). New stock shaft ~$125, new Flaming River or Borgeson~$240.
Watch how much the shaft moves when you turn the wheel. A slight amount of slop in the shaft can result in a considerable change in tire direction.

Lynn
'71/'48/'97

Ahh Lynn, I love it when you explain things....

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You think Lynn had a different profession in a previous life?????

Gary

Thank You......Thank You Verrrry Much.


Lynn
'71/'48/'97

It could be any one of those things (I doubt the shocks tho). The only way to tell is have it looked at by a professional. Probably, your ball joints are worn, tie rod ends worn, steering shaft worn, etc...(and each could be contributing to the problem). Inspect each item and replace if necessary. On my '83 Scrambler, I've just about replaced every moveable part on it. Take good care of her, she'll stay with you - I have 183,000 miles and going strong!

Keep on Jeepin'
Scott