[MuddDawg]

Forgive the length....

I bought an 85 CJ7 back in March that had 8 inch lift shackles and 35x14.5x15 boggers on it. The steering was horrible and anything over 45MPH would leave me white knuckled. The wheel seemed unresponsive and I could turn it left and right while driving about a quarter of the way before the jeep reacted. I thought it was because of the monster shackles and tires but I was wrong. I recently installed a 4 inch BDS lift with stock length shackles and 33x12.5x15 BFG A/T and have the same issues. It has a drop pitman arm and the tie rods are fine and there is no play when it is jacked up and I tug on the wheels. I have re-centered the steering wheel, adjusted the nut on the steering box, and I am out of ideas. When the jeep is parked and someone is turning the steering wheel from side to side, from the front you can see the body/springs/sway bar move quite a bit before the wheels start to. Could it be sway bar bushings or is it possibly the castor angle. I have also checked to make sure the steering box is tight and doesn't move. Any help would be appreciated, right now it sits because it is not safe to drive.

[Mike Romain]

Well, the nut on top of the Saginaw steering box is just the overcenter torque nut and only makes it 'tighter' to turn until the box dies from being too tight, it doesn't take any side to side slop out. The adjuster plug in the end where the column goes in takes the side to side slop out. You loosen off the big lock nut and tighten the plug up all the way, then back it off slightly until the steering just gets a little slop. like 1/4" at the steering wheel.

A fast visual will tell you if the box is sloppy, just have someone wobble the steering side to side while you watch the input and output of the box.

If that doesn't help, then you will need to look at the spring bushings for that side to side play you have.

Are there any strange looking shims under the spring plates? Do the axle plates where the springs go on look welded? Maybe someone put the caster right for the 8" shackles and now it is way off?

Will the steering center after a turn? That is one big test for the right caster, although if you have that steering box cranked down tight it may affect this too....

The steering column itself can get 'real' sloppy. It has 2 U-joints on it, one up near the firewall and one at the bottom. I blew the bottom one and wow was it sloppy...

[MuddDawg]

I have checked out the steering box and it doesn't appear to have any issues.

I replaced all of the spring bushings when I did my lift last week.

The front axle is not shimmed at all, I was wondering if this could be the problem.

It will recenter itself after a turn, it just turns quite a bit before the tires start to, like the body is rolling. From the front, you can watch the body sway left to right before the wheels start to move .

I have not checked the steering column u-joints. It is a column shifter also and is very difficult to get into gear. You have to give it a good tug before it moves into N. Once it passes that, it goes through the gears easy but I don't know if the problem is related. I looked for it making contact on something, but it doesn't.

[Mike Romain]

I have heard of folks needing track bars like the YJ's have to keep the spring side to side flex down to a dull roar.

They all have some side to side flex like that, but it doesn't affect things when you are moving.

What does it do on the road? Does it wander all over? How is the toe in? if not slightly toed in, it will track every which way but straight...

That can be done in the driveway with a tape measure, been doing mine for 10 years with perfect tire wear. I use the seam in the tire as a measuring point and measure up as high as I can in front from tire to tire and across the back and then adjust it so I have about 3/16" 'less' measurement across the front with 33's.

[MuddDawg]

i am willing to try anything. thanks