Im at my whits end about this freaking steering! I have adjusted my UCA on my LA to 7* of caster. I have an OTK steering setup(heims not TRE's) and the TB is HD and also mounted above the axle. My steering link and TB angles are exact! I have replaced the lower ball joints in the last 3 months and I did the uppers last weekend. Am I missing something? What the hell else affects bumpsteer. Seriously I work nights and I have been stopped 3 times in the last month for suspected DUI due to the swerving all over the road!
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tired of chasing the steering wheel!
- Thread starter flexdout
- Start date
Oh and Im running Bilstien 5150's for shocks. I have a Rusty's steering box brace with the TNT steering box stiffener. The only thing I havent replaced is the steering stabilizer cause its only 4 months old. Other then that everything up front is less then 3 months old suspension included.
MoparManiac
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Amherst, NH
I have no personal experience with heims up front, but have read that you need to keep a real close eye on them cause if they loosen up they'll cause some pretty bad wobble.
igotanxj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Citrus heights
Make sure the drag link and the track bar are parallel or it will cause bump steer. Maybe moving the tie rod to over the knuckle changed the angle of the drag link.
FordGuy
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- San Clemente, CA
7* of caster is going to make your steering feel very light, almost squirrelly, I would back it down to 4.5-5, and make sure your toe is right on. Are you getting your readings off a alignment machine?
bcmaxx
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- The West Kootenays,B.C. Canada
flexdout said:
In the same boat, I learned to live with it, it kinda sucks though because the gf refuses to drive it on the highway
Achmed
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Southeast US
Too much caster, out of parallel TB and DL and lastly................heims. Front end no-no's. 5* caster, TRE's and correct steering geometry should solve your problem. Here is mine. I have since moved my TR to OTK, I run 37's with no steering stabilizer and can set my cruise at 90mph. It rides like a Cadillac adn I have no bumpsteer. Can you post a close up detailed pic of your steering setup for us to analyze?
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2001XJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Canton, MI
flexdout said:
Have you checked your steering box itself? Maybe internally it is shot?
MoparManiac
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Amherst, NH
Chris @ GATR said:Too much caster, out of parallel TB and DL and lastly................heims. Front end no-no's. 5* caster, TRE's and correct steering geometry should solve your problem. Here is mine. I have since moved my TR to OTK, I run 37's with no steering stabilizer and can set my cruise at 90mph. It rides like a Cadillac adn I have no bumpsteer. Can you post a close up detailed pic of your steering setup for us to analyze?
That D30 looks dwarfed by the 37s lol
Props to you for proving you can run 37s on em (with a real light foot and smart driving I'm sure)
Pharaoh XJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Cairo, EGYPT
Also check the steering column specially at the joint.
Off topic : What do you think of the 5150s ? which valving ?
Off topic : What do you think of the 5150s ? which valving ?
tbburg
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Scottsdale AZ
How is your toe adjustment? I think I read somewhere that the XJ is supposed to be toed in about 1 degree. Anyway, the book calls it like this:
Toe IN promotes understeer (front end pushes/skids in corners)
Toe OUT promotes oversteer (rear end kicks out in corners)
Too close to straight up(no toe in/out can make the car "twitchy" or oversensitive to steering inputs.
Also, have you changed your steering box? If so, check the ratio. A friend had a highly modified CJ that was oversensitive/twitchy. They spent a lot of time looking before they figured out that the new steering box had the wrong internals in it.
Toe IN promotes understeer (front end pushes/skids in corners)
Toe OUT promotes oversteer (rear end kicks out in corners)
Too close to straight up(no toe in/out can make the car "twitchy" or oversensitive to steering inputs.
Also, have you changed your steering box? If so, check the ratio. A friend had a highly modified CJ that was oversensitive/twitchy. They spent a lot of time looking before they figured out that the new steering box had the wrong internals in it.
Achmed
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Southeast US
It befoogles its way around pretty good.MoparManiac said:
2001XJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Canton, MI
Pharaoh XJ said:
5150s with 255/70 valving are awesome!
lancey3
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Columbus Ohio
Chris @ GATR said:Too much caster, out of parallel TB and DL and lastly................heims. Front end no-no's. 5* caster, TRE's and correct steering geometry should solve your problem. Here is mine. I have since moved my TR to OTK, I run 37's with no steering stabilizer and can set my cruise at 90mph. It rides like a Cadillac adn I have no bumpsteer. Can you post a close up detailed pic of your steering setup for us to analyze?
Looks like a frickin' portal axle.
RCP Phx
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Phoenix,Az
Sorry,its just a ARB diff cover!lancey3 said:
Had it aligned yesterday found out my tow was in 3*. We reset the caster to 5* and she rides better. I think my steering box is getting sloppy. Since I have braced the shit out of everything the box has become the weak link. I guess its time to go hydro assist.
Heres a front shot (on 37's)
Heres a front shot (on 37's)
Pharaoh XJ said:
They are the 255/70 and I freakin love them! They took alot of the slop/play out of the LA suspension setup and the body roll when your driving on the street. And they are really smooth on the trail when your flexing. Before the body would roll really fast and now its nice and smooth. Only downside to the heavy valving is up front you feel alot of the "mistakes" in pavement. But its a fair trade for the ride you get out of them.
Pharaoh XJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Cairo, EGYPT
Ever tried them in fast rough stuff ? how long do they hold before fading ?
Ya we have a spot here locally called "Rancho." Its a housing development that never made it in the early 80's. Its about 2 miles of whoopties! Ive ran thru it at about 35-40 and they do very well. I didnt start to notice any fading till I reached the back end of the property.