1974 CJ5 Steering Too Sensitive – Looking for Advice

[colojeepguy]

Summit racing has more then a dozen various Caster shims Steel and Aluminum from 1 to many degrees.

Cosmo shims were a round shim that went between the spindle and steering knuckle to adjust camber.

 

[JDawg]

I hope all of you front end alignment pros can help me with my 75 stock, no lift, CJ5. Every piece of the running gear is new or factory re-built. Springs, shocks, rods, steering box, steering shaft coupler. New steelie wheels and skinny military style tires. Original PS. SU axle configuration.
Had some small shops work on the Toe, but it still wanders-drifts over 25mph. Attached is the evaluation from the Goodyear shop I just visited and the lead guy knows all about shimming since he just did a 66 Bronco. I trust his doing the alignment work if shims are necessary. There are other classic cars in several of his bays.
My goal is to bring him recommendations from this forum and to acquire Caster shims if needed in advance. Attached is the evaluation from the tire shop. What advice do you have that I can share with him. Your help is greatly appreciated in this new territory for me. Thanks so much.

 

[nickmil]

Too low of positive caster to start. Ideally 5-7* positive. Can be a little less with skinny tires but 2.5 degrees is simply not enough. Total Toe in should 1/8” to 3/32” ideally.

 

[JDawg]

Too low of positive caster to start. Ideally 5-7* positive. Can be a little less with skinny tires but 2.5 degrees is simply not enough. Total Toe in should 1/8” to 3/32” ideally.

So I’m assuming if I’m at 2.5 by the shops machine, I need to start with a 3* shim to end up at 5.5. Again it’s new to me. Will the stock ubolts be long enough (I’ll look) for the amount of. expansion?

 

[Oldpappy]

5.5 gets you into the ball park, but I think you will get better results with 4* shims giving you 6.5*

I went through similar challenges with a lifted Jeep I have that came to me with 4* shims mounted wedge toward rear, I assume this was to improve pinion angle. Caster measured 3.5 positive. I first replaced the 4* shims with 2* which gave it 5.5 positive caster, and that did make an improvement, though still not optimum. I may try it without any shims which would put it at 7.5*.

 

[69Willys]

I would replace the 2.5° shims with 6° shims instead of stacking shims.

 

[Oldpappy]

I might have missed it, but don't think anyone mentioned "stacking shims".

 

[69Willys]

So I’m assuming if I’m at 2.5 by the shops machine, I need to start with a 3* shim to end up at 5.5. Again it’s new to me. Will the stock ubolts be long enough (I’ll look) for the amount of. expansion?

I might have missed it, but don't think anyone mentioned "stacking shims".

I may have misinterpreted this. Anyway, hopefully the caster is resolved.