Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: JackstandJohnny on February 12, 2009, 09:39:00 PM

Title: YJ steering ideas
Post by: JackstandJohnny on February 12, 2009, 09:39:00 PM
just wondering what others have done to tighten up the steering on their YJs. mines fine for what it is, but driving it to work today (just cause)  i realized how sloppy the steering is on it.  its 4.5" lift RE lift springs, and to my knowledge, a dropped pitman arm on it.  bias ply iroks on it too (which i know cause some of the problems)  just seems when driving through town it grabs all the ruts in the road and pulls.
also, it doestn' have the front trac bar on it. i'm just fishing for ideas on how to make the steering on it tighter for street driving!

thanks guys
Title: Re: YJ steering ideas
Post by: Immortal on February 12, 2009, 10:05:39 PM
My tires (33x12.5x15) love to grab any ruts that there are on the road. My wife even commented that the black Jeep wanders alot more than the other Jeeps.
Title: Re: YJ steering ideas
Post by: JackstandJohnny on February 13, 2009, 10:49:14 AM
thats an Xj thing ;)  i was thinkin of some sort of histeer setup, and if anyones done it, info on it etc....
Title: Re: YJ steering ideas
Post by: hps4evr on February 14, 2009, 05:18:59 PM
if the thing is grabbing all the ruts then its more a tire thing. if you have the time and place borrow some smaller radial tires, maybe even stock ones and put them on and road test it. if the steering works perfect you know its tires. kinda a pain to do but its a simple way of doing it. ive got a yj with 33" radials, 3" lift with dropped pitman arm. no track bars or sway bars. it drive straight as an arrow. and handles pretty darn good too.
Title: Re: YJ steering ideas
Post by: slowclimb on February 14, 2009, 07:38:26 PM
Have you looked at this one.

http://www.rocky-road.com/yjott.html
Title: Re: YJ steering ideas
Post by: BlackYJ on February 16, 2009, 08:11:52 PM
I noticed once I remove my front trackbar on my YJ that the steering got sloppy, so I purchased a JKS telescoping trackbar for the street

What are the condition of all the joints?
Title: Re: YJ steering ideas
Post by: mike s on March 09, 2009, 12:15:12 AM
Good old trick is dial a bit of toe out into it. It'll tend to track truer but it's all a comprormise of lift vs handling. Can't have both, be preparred to start destroying tires.
Title: Re: YJ steering ideas
Post by: dubbleJs on March 09, 2009, 07:44:41 PM
Were you at waiporous on saturday JohnnyC? Pretty sure we crossed paths on the way in and YES it did look like you need some steering work!!  :P
Title: Re: YJ steering ideas
Post by: JackstandJohnny on March 09, 2009, 08:51:14 PM
lol yup i was there, hills were icy, but thers only one i couldn't get up!  the hills that were just snow were great, the ones with ice on em were a little tougher to get up!
steerings not bad; its just a lifted YJ on big bias ply tires, just want it to handle like my Grand ;)
think in the future i'm gonna go with a hydro assist........
Title: Re: YJ steering ideas
Post by: AMCJeep on March 09, 2009, 09:51:15 PM
Don't forget when you lift these leaf sprung vehicles the caster changes and this can cause loose steering and wandering. I Know the spec for a CJ is +6° and mine is about zero. One of these days I'm going to get a 4° steel shim and correct it so the handling goes back close to stock. They can handle good if the specs stay close to stock. Correct caster keeps them going good in a straight line.
Title: Re: YJ steering ideas
Post by: JackstandJohnny on March 10, 2009, 10:54:13 AM
Don't forget when you lift these leaf sprung vehicles the caster changes and this can cause loose steering and wandering. I Know the spec for a CJ is +6° and mine is about zero. One of these days I'm going to get a 4° steel shim and correct it so the handling goes back close to stock. They can handle good if the specs stay close to stock. Correct caster keeps them going good in a straight line.

i've never played with castor before Pete, should i bring it in for an alignment? or what am i looking for to do it myself?  i would assume CJ?YJ would be similar....

the hydro won't be for a long while..............
Title: Re: YJ steering ideas
Post by: AV.NINE on March 10, 2009, 11:31:03 AM
i've never played with castor before Pete, should i bring it in for an alignment? or what am i looking for to do it myself?  i would assume CJ?YJ would be similar....

the hydro won't be for a long while..............

Johnny what psi are your running? If you lower it it wont grab every rut in the pavement.

The kid at the alignment shop filled mine to 35 and it was hard to keep straight. I usually run 26-28 now. Made  a hell of a difference.
Title: Re: YJ steering ideas
Post by: JackstandJohnny on March 10, 2009, 11:41:13 AM
15 psi on the street.  runs ok, just on our good ole' Alberta side roads, she grabs everything
Title: Re: YJ steering ideas
Post by: AV.NINE on March 10, 2009, 11:43:48 AM
Wow! MPG must just suck! lol thought I may have had it ;)
Title: Re: YJ steering ideas
Post by: JackstandJohnny on March 10, 2009, 12:25:45 PM
bias ply iroks. they don't bulge much at all. i was at 8psi this weekend and they looked like 25...... its just a jeep thing or soemting haha