wonder why it wanders

I have a 72 cj-5 chassis with a 3A fiberglass body. 231 odd fire, 44 rear 30 front with lockers and warn lock-o-matics. Great Jeep to off road! My problem is I spend a lot of time on the road getting to where I can get off the road. On a good road it's pretty stable, on a bad road it darts around quite a bit. Strange thing is this, when I'm driving around 60 and let off the throttle it almost always darts to the left. I have cut the spring pads off and adjusted the caster, replaced every peice of the front axle, suspension and steering. Looking at a shakle reversal or a sway bar, but mainly looking for ideas. Anybody into a good brainstorm? John.

 

Is it SOA or SUA and you do have a sway bar, don't you?




Welcome from middle Tennessee too.

 

Being a cj5 I'd say when you lifted your foot off the throttle your right leg hits the steering wheel.

 

R) R) R) That's a good one.R)

 

if you fixed you caster i guess you have had it on alignment rack so what's your camber and thust angle? camber differences will cause this as will a bad thrust angle.

oh yeah, waas sappienning from nc.

 

It's an old jeep?

 

I only checked the caster because of the shackles I used. Didn't think to check the camber or thrust? I built this from a 72 cj5 chassis and just sort of pieced it together.

 

Welcome from GA!!!

 

What type of tires are you running and what size?

 

Second the rear locker. Mine does the same thing when getting on and off the throttle suddenly. Detroit in the rear. I just accept it as a fact of life and move on.

 

The rear locker isn't really a locker. Stock Dana limited slip that does work well. Tires are 31x10.50 Dunlop radials on 8" alum slots. Spring under set up with 1 inch longer shackles. One thing I'm concerned with is the spring packs. They seem pretty soft. If I stand on the step and pull the roll cage to compress the suspension it doesn't go back level. It will stay rolled about an inch. I don't detect any binding. Thats why I keep thinking about a sway bar. Not sure that would help with the wander. Thats for all the Re: and the welcomes. John

 

I am running a 1/4 inch of toe in, 5 degree positive caster. No noticable play in any of the steering, all new springs, shocks and bushings. Shocks are stock AC/Delco gas filled, springs are new but stock. New front U-joints and wheel bearings. Do all street driving with the hubs unlocked. Power steering box is tight. Would I be better off with a EZ-locker or something similar than the limited slip?

 

My jeep does the same thing but has a detroit locker in the rear, they are terrrriiibbbllee on the street as they drive the inside tire around the corners. Also maybe your transfer case is still in four wheel drive, with the lock-o-matic hubs they will lock and unlock as you drive when they are in the auto position. It is hard to tell if your t-case is unlocked because if you turn the front drive line the hubs will lock, have to jack up the front of the jeep to see if the t-case is still locked in, I replace mine with normal warn hubs.

 

I thought of one more thing, you say your springs are very soft, when a leaf spring is compressed it gets flatter which makes it longer, jeeps when leaning to one side will make those springs longer and actually steer your jeep because the shackles are on opposite ends of the jeep. I always have wanted to do a front axle shackle reversal kit because of this. Anyway, might be the torque of the engine making your soft susp. jeep lean causing it to turn.

 

get up under it and have someone turn the steering wheel side-to-side. The frame rail at the steering box was flexing slightly on mine (cut up frame) and causing wander. A couple of braces, and all was well.

Also had bad wore-out bushings cause similar, but I see you have already replaced.

 

Hey guys thanks for the ideas. I have verified the transfer case is in 2 wheel. The cracked frame is something I will check. As for the rear posi unit I'm going to try this. I plan to remove my rear drive shaft and drive it using the front axle. I'm hoping that will show something. I do run a Detroit trutrack in the front so I don't know what to expect. I'll post my results. The funny thing is my dad raced a 41 MB back in the 60's and 70's. Won one of the baddest off road races in the midwest a couple of times. The Brush Run 101 in Wis. He built the chassis for his out of 2x3 box tubing and ran a screaming little 327 chevy with Crane fireball heads. Pretty trick piece back in the day. With a Ford top loader and Warn overdrive this thing would really $#it and git. Anyhow, he drives my Jeep on occation and just laughs. He always tells me if I wanted to drive a Vette than I should have built a Vette! Of course he is right but I still think mine could be better. Later.