unstable driving... all over the place! scarry

Replaced all leaf spring bushings, added a stabilizer bar from front axial to frame.. great improvement... BUT still by no means safe... can some one help?
feels like a small boat on a big open ocean.

 

How much lift and what type?

 

There is much more info needed here. Got any pics of the current setup, any lift, any work done by you or previous owner to the steering/suspension? What size tires, etc etc....
Also please feel free to fill out your rpofile so others know where you are from, you never know if someone is right in your backyard. Also welcome to the board!!

 

ok... went back and edited my profile.... but here it is... a 2" lift rancho suspension with rancho shocks, all new.... New poly bushings. 304 v-8, 12.5 15lt tires, I am the original owner. gave it to my brother and he had it for about 5 years and beat the s@^t out of it... got it back from him and have been doing a complete restore to give it to my youngest son... Andhere we are...

 

Have you checked the frame for cracks? When is it getting out of control, when you are on the gas on the freeway at random or just completely at random?

 

Did they give you any caster shims with the lift kit? Sometimes a lift will change the suspension geometry and it will have to be corrected with shims. You can adjust the toe-in (by changing the tie rod length) and caster (with shims) fairly easily.

Otherwise, it should drive straight and stable without any heroic efforts. Check that there is no play in the steering - look at all the components from top to bottom. Have someone sit in the Jeep and slowly turn the wheel back and forth while you watch for looseness.

 

Mb82- No cracks today... had some in the past but plated them,,, will check again. "When is it getting out of control, when you are on the gas on the freeway at random or just completely at random?" everywhere... its as if the jeep was mounted to a water bed.

Tmgr--Did they give you any caster shims with the lift kit? Sometimes a lift will change the suspension geometry and it will have to be corrected with shims. You can adjust the toe-in (by changing the tie rod length) and caster (with shims) fairly easily. What??? this jeep has 4 leaf-springs... Does it have these shims?
Check that there is no play in the steering - The Box is loose and bolts seem to be very tight... I know this is a problem and I am not sure how to linch it down tight...

look at all the components from top to bottom. Have someone sit in the Jeep and slowly turn the wheel back and forth while you watch for looseness. Done this... it seems to me more than anything that the wheels seem to be loose, they can move 1/8 to 1/4" how do I get this play out?

Also, the tires are 15 years old but have full tread... week side-walls possibly?

 

The shims aren't a factory thing. The factory springs are designed so that the caster is proper with the factory springs installed. When you install lift springs or lengthened shackles, the geometry of the suspension can change. The shims are used to correct the geometry (caster) back to factory specs.

You're going to have to figure it out. The steering box is not supposed to be loose. If the steering box bracket is broken, that will allow the steering gear to move, even though the bolts are tight.

You'll have to be more specific. If the wheels move in and out, it could be the ball joints or the spindle nuts could be loose or ...

No. Maybe out of balance, but not weak.

 

"it could be the ball joints or the spindle nuts could be loose" ball joints look good... how hard is it to tighten the spindle nuts?

Where do these shims go?

 

With those wide tires, deep ruts in the road will cause the Jeep to suddenly steer out if them. This could feel like a boat ride.

 

WAAAAYYYY more than that!!!

 

What year is this Jeep? Do you have the factory manual? The spindle nuts are behind the locking hubs, if you have them.

Caster shims go between the spring and the axle pad. Caster is the angle of the knuckle pivot with vertical.

 

jack up the front end and wiggle the tire. top to bottom that would check the wheel bearings .side to side would check the links. anybody got a quick pic of the caster shims he needs . I don't have a camera handy.

 

You need 6-7 deg of caster on a Jeep to make it stable at any speed. The caster is changed by putting shims between the axle and spring. put the thick part of the shim twards the front of the jeep. (if the spring is under the axle) Loose wheelbearings, tierod ends, steering box mount, worn out steering box, etc will all make the jeep wander.

 

The thick part of the shim faces forward? are you talking about the front or rear axle? I had the rear axel taken off and the feet re-welded to match the lift. nothing done to the front.

 

I agree, messing with the rear has nothing to do with it,I think it's all in the front end, really could be ALOT.... all of the above,and shocks, align

 

i would suggest you blew up a tie rod end, did these get replaced?

 

On my 78 Cj we cut the knuckles off of the ends of axle tubes, then rotated the knuckles back to their factory location. if you shim your axle to compensate for a lift, the tires are pointing into thr ground instead of in front of you, this is why you would rotate the steering back after you have rotated the axle to get a better pinion angle. this is a step most people skip due to cost or laziness, or negligence. my 6" lifted jeep on 35's drives like a caddy

 

i should add that the shims between the axle and the springs are to re-align your pinion angle with the t-case, and do not as part of their design give a hoot about your steering angles. i suggest having yur spring perches knocked off the tubes and rotated back as apposed to using spacesr shims.

 

You can put shims in the front to correct caster.