75 jeep is all over the road, need help

So we bought this a month ago and i cant seem to get this thing to drive normal down the street.
the steering is all over the place, no return to center, seems to have twitchy behavior.

any ideas on what to look at next?

things i have done.

• wheel bearings are nice and tight
• rod ends are new
• brand new power steering box
• brand new power steering pump
• 1.5" wheel spacers (this helped a little)
• 6deg caster shims
• new 33" AT tires
• steering stabilizer

just had the alignment shop give me the numbers, however they couldn't align it as they said none of their guys knew how to do it (they only do newish cars)

 

ugh, I question how they can give you a accurate print out then......


what type of suspension are you running? lift, spring over etc
what does your drag link angle look like?
Twitchy behavior as it the jeep wonders? or as in it reacts too much when you turn the steering wheel.
Did you jack up the front of the jeep and check your ball joints?

 

Camber and caster are pretty much pre determined on a straight axle rig.. Toe is the only real adjustment you have.. That being said there are many questions here.. Is is just from slop in the your steering box maybe? Is it a lifted jeep, excessively long shackles? Your rear axle is a bit our of whack, that's as easy as loosening the spring u bolts a bit and a few whacks with a hammer to get that back in line. But that would not have much effect on what you describe..

Given the caster numbers it looks like your front axle is rolled forward, indicating really long shackles??

 

"they couldn't align it as they said none of their guys knew how to do it (they only do newish cars)"

*face-palm*
Just bad toe-in could cause those symptoms - the easiest adjustment of all.

But you don't mention anyone having done it.

Many other factors are possible, too. Such as king-pin/knuckle bearings etc. Get a good mechanic to inspect the front end.

 

Find another shop. I go to a shop that I know does old school alignment.. My 75 is all over the road after I do any kinda front end stuff, like replace the tie rod I bent. Took it in and all was good. FWIW I live in the sticks in Wyoming. There has to be someone in the San Diego area that can do this..

And yes I drive a 75. CJ......... . .

Oh and when ya get all that done put a steering stabilizer on

 

Are the shims in the front in backwards? You said 6 degree shims looks like about 6 off the wrong way

 

X2
Check your caster shims, the thick part goes towards the front of the Jeep.

 

Thanks for the ideas.
I have jacked the front up and tried to wiggle the wheels, thats when i found out that the wheel bearings were kinda loose. i fixed that and it helped a little. nothing else seems to be moving.

the alignment shop couldn't align it, but they did put it on the rack to get me those numbers.

I do have the shims in with the fat part towards the front. So is that number saying i need even more shim? as its currently at 6deg shims.

it has a 4" lift (i think the PO had no idea) and a little longer shackles. but nothing crazy.

here is a pic of the front.

 

Uhh, guys, the printout is showing 5.5* positive caster. That's a good thing. It's showing red because it's more than the spec range shown in their database. Between 5 and 7 degrees positive works well in these Jeeps.
Toe should be set but the little it's out should not cause a severe issue. Maybe just a little wandering. I'd be looking at the steering gear box, gear box mounting points, steering shaft joints, column bushing, etc.
Most likely have some play in those areas. The shop should have found any play before even putting it on the alignment machine and they certainly could set toe. Find the issue then when you want it aligned find another shop. They obviously don't understand how things work and are relying on their machine to tell them what to do.

 

The shackle angle looks odd id ditch the long shackles and go from there.

 

what shackle length do you recommend? i cant find much slop in the steering, it seems tight. but yea, we are looking at a few other shops that are more geared towards jeeps to have another one done.

 

"Should" being the operative word. I once had a full alignment done by a shop that ignored a completely worn out ball-joint. Money wasted.

 

i run a stock length greaseable set from omix have been happy with them.

 

Mine did the same thing took it to a local alignment shop got it back but wasn't any better finally took it to Baltimore to my friends alignment shop said the the 1st shop put to much toe in he recommends toe out this thing drives like a dream now

 

ok, so just got back from having it inspected at a local 4x4 shop. these are the things needed lol.
front shackle bushings
front pass spring hangers cracked
frame cracked on pass side
weld crossmember to frame and spring hangers to frame (not sure on this one)
steering shaft both ujoints have plan and steering column has play inside. (this one i knew but it didnt seem that bad)

so figure on ordering some new spring bushings (i noticed that this year doesnt have bushings with edges on them, just straight bushings, so the springs can rub on the shackles?)
pick up a telescoping steering shaft with new ujoints
maybe swap in a gm column also or just fix the slop.
and weld the crack.