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steering issue...please help?!?

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87 sammi

steering issue...please help?!?
« on: August 06, 2007, 04:09:35 PM »
I just bought a 87 samurai and it has 33s on it. the wheels will turn all the way to the right but only about 50% to the left. any ideas?
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Offline ROSS

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Re: steering issue...please help?!?
« Reply #1 on: August 06, 2007, 04:25:09 PM »
remove the pitman arm.  turn the stearing wheel back and forth to find dead center.  make sure the wheels are pionted staight ahead.  re-attach the pitman arm.  problem solved.
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87 SAMI 1600 FUEL INJ. , TORQUER CAM, 6.5 TO 1T-CASE, 5"SPRINGS SHACKLE REVERSE ,2 BODY LIFT, LOCK-RITES FRONT W/ HEAVY-DUTY AXLES & ARB'S REAR  BFG 31 X10.50 X 16",  EXO SKELLETON,
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Offline museboy07

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Re: steering issue...please help?!?
« Reply #2 on: August 06, 2007, 04:31:43 PM »
what he said  ;D
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Offline beercheck

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Re: steering issue...please help?!?
« Reply #3 on: August 06, 2007, 07:18:37 PM »
Well, assuming you aren't bumping into a messed up steering stop.
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Offline mrfuelish

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Re: steering issue...please help?!?
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2007, 11:59:31 PM »
or have a Z bar.
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Offline ack

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Re: steering issue...please help?!?
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2007, 05:16:00 AM »
Quote from: mrfuelish on August 06, 2007, 11:59:31 PM
or have a Z bar.

Z-bars - especially home-made ones - are notorious for collapsing under heavy loading.  A quick inspection of the Z-bar draglink, which connects between the pittman arm and the tierod,  would reveal the damage, though.

MY bet is with mrfuelish's diagnosis except that it might be easier to

1. remove the draglink at the adjustable end,
2. center the pittman arm so that it faces directly forward and the steering wheel is correctly positioned (so the turn signals work!)
3. point wheels directly forward (align the tires with the flares/body)
4. adjust the length of the draglink until it fits onto the tie rod or pittman arm (whichever end that you disconnected)
5 bolt it back up.

Hope that this helps!
« Last Edit: August 07, 2007, 08:37:02 AM by ack »
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Ack

'88 Samurai, '88.5 Samurai TT, '11 Ford Transit Connect XLT
Ack's FAQ  http://www.acksfaq.com
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87 sammi

Re: steering issue...please help?!?
« Reply #6 on: August 07, 2007, 09:30:41 AM »
I have the OTT steering system not the Z link... any ideas on that?
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Offline ack

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Re: steering issue...please help?!?
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2007, 10:08:14 AM »
Quote from: 87 sammi on August 07, 2007, 09:30:41 AM
I have the OTT steering system not the Z link... any ideas on that?

Same deal. I have a RRO Stage 2 OTT - the version with the high mounted tierod.  I still have to do some minor adjusting because the steering wheel isn't exactly positioned and keeping the left turn going is a bit of a pain.

Either the draglink is bent, it isn't adjusted for length OR the tierod and the draglink are not attached at the proper points on the steering arm...  That situation would be obvious as the mounting points on the steering arms for the tierod should in the the same location on each arm.  This assumes that you have the high tierod setup...
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Ack

'88 Samurai, '88.5 Samurai TT, '11 Ford Transit Connect XLT
Ack's FAQ  http://www.acksfaq.com
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87 sammi

Re: steering issue...please help?!?
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2007, 12:10:26 PM »
Thanks for all your help. ill give it a try and see what happens. thanks again!!
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87 sammi

Re: steering issue...please help?!?
« Reply #9 on: August 07, 2007, 05:58:52 PM »
So i took a closer look at the steering and everything lines up, the pitman arm is straight when the wheels and steering wheel are straight. could it be the steering box itself?
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Offline ack

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Re: steering issue...please help?!?
« Reply #10 on: August 08, 2007, 08:15:43 AM »
Yup.  If everything else is okay, then you have a gimped steering box.

I just happen to have 2 of them.  If you are interested, PM or email me
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Ack

'88 Samurai, '88.5 Samurai TT, '11 Ford Transit Connect XLT
Ack's FAQ  http://www.acksfaq.com
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Offline beercheck

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Re: steering issue...please help?!?
« Reply #11 on: August 08, 2007, 08:25:33 AM »
You're sure you're not hitting a steering stop, right?
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'03 ZR2 2dr Tracker, '02 XL-7 drivetrain and electrcs
XL-7 front coils
1.5" rear coil spacers
Monroe 32316 shocks w/2" extenders
235/70-16 Bridgestone Destination A/Ts on stock XL-7 Alloys RRO Rock Rails (Presently removed, as they rusted to all hell; all the bolts were rusted to dust.  Real nice, RRO...) http://www.trivia-nights.com
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87 sammi

Re: steering issue...please help?!?
« Reply #12 on: August 08, 2007, 09:20:37 AM »
this is probably a really stupid question, but i am really new to the samurai, where would the steering stop be?
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Offline ack

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Re: steering issue...please help?!?
« Reply #13 on: August 08, 2007, 05:36:48 PM »
Hey, 87 sammy!

Your mailbox is full!
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Ack

'88 Samurai, '88.5 Samurai TT, '11 Ford Transit Connect XLT
Ack's FAQ  http://www.acksfaq.com
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Offline Rhinoman

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Re: steering issue...please help?!?
« Reply #14 on: August 09, 2007, 04:57:35 AM »
Quote from: 87 sammi on August 08, 2007, 09:20:37 AM
this is probably a really stupid question, but i am really new to the samurai, where would the steering stop be?

There aren't any  ???  Unless you count the back of the bolt heads on the hub. Something must be bent or not properly aligned. Can you see what actually stops the wheels from turning to the left? is the sterring linkage fouling on something.
On Helen's Jimny we had a problem when we fitted Track/Kick alloy wheels. Turning left the steering linkage fouled on the back of the wheel rim - too much backspacing!
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