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Very rough ride and sloppy steering problems

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Offline zuki1018

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Very rough ride and sloppy steering problems
« on: June 13, 2011, 12:06:51 PM »
87 Sami with the following mods related to driving/steering:

3" Calmini lift springs
6" shackles (3" of lift rear; 2" front)
1" rear driveshaft spacer
RRO shocks
Drop pitman + Stage 1 and 2 high steer (pretty close to level)
All new wheel seals/bearings, rebuilt whole front axle/knuckles
31" TSL.  Fronts are like new

This truck will knock your teeth out if you have any that are loose.  The other issue is pretty hard bump steer and a lot of higher speed swaying.  If i touch the center line with a tire, it really pulls it hard.  Now this is the only sami I have drivin so I dont have a comparison.  Upgrading the shock up front should fix bump steer.  Anyone else with a similliar setup?

One thing I did notice is the "U" shape stablizer bar up front is missing via previous owner.  This could be a major factor I suppose.  The other is I realize TSL's are not the most comfy street tires. 

Anything else I can check besides alignment? 
How about the knock your teeth out ride over tiny bumps? TIA

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Offline Zukipilot

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Re: Very rough ride and sloppy steering problems
« Reply #1 on: June 13, 2011, 12:35:40 PM »
I had the same symptoms in a Heep I had. The previous owner put shackles that were way to long on it messing up the geometry.

Zig
Zukipilot
'92 Liberty Overland Sidekick

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Offline zuki1018

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Re: Very rough ride and sloppy steering problems
« Reply #2 on: June 13, 2011, 12:40:20 PM »
Thx. I could easily lower them back to "close to stock" and see if there is a noticable diff.  I have read mixed reviews on Calmini 3". Some say its too rough, others liked it.  I just wonder how this compares to SPOA with stock springs.  We dont do any hard off-roading... mostly woods riding.

I realize its not IFS ride quality but I thought my brothers older CJ was bad years ago!!!

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Offline Zukipilot

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Re: Very rough ride and sloppy steering problems
« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2011, 12:47:54 PM »
Definately check back on the thread. There are a lot of people here that have built mank Sami's and will have some good insight on the kit.

Zig
Zukipilot
'92 Liberty Overland Sidekick

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Offline Drone637

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Re: Very rough ride and sloppy steering problems
« Reply #4 on: June 13, 2011, 12:52:13 PM »
Quick thing to check is your tire pressure.  It is probably in the 30 range, should be in the mid-to-low 20's.
96 Geo Tracker, x-SJ-410,  x-White Rabbit, x-Project Trouble
Crawlers NorthWest
x-Trouble Racing

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Offline zuki1018

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Re: Very rough ride and sloppy steering problems
« Reply #5 on: June 13, 2011, 02:42:28 PM »
Quick thing to check is your tire pressure.  It is probably in the 30 range, should be in the mid-to-low 20's.

def.  All the simple checks in order. tire tread/pressure, new bushings on leafs... already replaced the bearings and tie-rods (upgraded actually).

Thx.

I did shorten front shackles back to smallest/factory. Waiting a test drive on the shaking front end still.  Any ideas on rough ride?

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Offline zuki1018

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Re: Very rough ride and sloppy steering problems
« Reply #6 on: June 13, 2011, 03:25:48 PM »
Okay so a test run didnt change anything.

The truck just has like slop in the steering. Like constanly micro-steering left to right.  This left/right action is very responsive is the main issue. Its like I am drunk driving and swerving.  Hard to explain it exactly.

There is 'some' play in the steering box and the steering U-Joint.  This would fix the play but its still gonna leave it VERY sensitive to where i correct to stay in my lane and it literally pulls me that way.

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Offline Drone637

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Re: Very rough ride and sloppy steering problems
« Reply #7 on: June 13, 2011, 04:01:47 PM »
Go with Zukipilots suggestion, get those shackles down to a decent size.  :)
96 Geo Tracker, x-SJ-410,  x-White Rabbit, x-Project Trouble
Crawlers NorthWest
x-Trouble Racing

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Offline mrfuelish

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Re: Very rough ride and sloppy steering problems
« Reply #8 on: June 13, 2011, 10:47:28 PM »
And put bolts that fit real snug in the bushings, All of them! I run mine at under twenty pounds on hwy and about four off hwy. get a good steering stabilizer that hooks from your tie rod to the front diff tube along with the stock steering stabilizer also.
« Last Edit: June 20, 2011, 10:50:21 PM by mrfuelish »
1987,1988,1988,1990 samurai's,  1953 m38a1,  1996 x-90,blue.1996 x-90 red.1994 2 door tracker.   only Dead Fish go with the flow.                No Hairy Nosed Wombats were ran over on the trail today.       My ZUK is Xenophobic.

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Offline Jluck

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Re: Very rough ride and sloppy steering problems
« Reply #9 on: June 13, 2011, 11:35:21 PM »
Ditch the swampers. Try a quality radial
life is 10% what happens to you and 90% what you do about it!

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Offline Zukipilot

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Re: Very rough ride and sloppy steering problems
« Reply #10 on: June 14, 2011, 04:36:20 AM »
Get under the front of your rig and have someone steer the vehicle left and right. Look for any worn parts.

Zig
Zukipilot
'92 Liberty Overland Sidekick

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Offline zuki1018

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Re: Very rough ride and sloppy steering problems
« Reply #11 on: June 14, 2011, 05:34:34 AM »
Thx for all the ideas. Shackles are at stock with no change.

All parts up front are new bushings, new grade 8 harware, and snug.

I will replace drag link shock next and steering shaft u joint near firewall. Rag joint looks okay.
I going to try finding some diff front tires to test drive before buying new.

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Offline zuki1018

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Re: Very rough ride and sloppy steering problems
« Reply #12 on: June 15, 2011, 10:52:32 AM »
More research lead me to tightening up the screw on the steering box.  This fixed about 85% of the scary steering.

The other 15% of play is coming from the steering shaft right where it leaves the firewall (upside of the u-joint).  I assume there is a bearing or bushing of some sort that is replaceable?

Lowered shackles seemed to help the bumpy ride 'some'.

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Offline mrfuelish

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Re: Very rough ride and sloppy steering problems
« Reply #13 on: June 15, 2011, 09:38:56 PM »
not sure that you could buy that bushing ! you might have to buy another shaft and try to rob it, or smash the upper tube a little with the bottom one pulled out and get it tight, I could not imagine anyone hearing a noise from it. Who needs plastic?
1987,1988,1988,1990 samurai's,  1953 m38a1,  1996 x-90,blue.1996 x-90 red.1994 2 door tracker.   only Dead Fish go with the flow.                No Hairy Nosed Wombats were ran over on the trail today.       My ZUK is Xenophobic.

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Offline Capt

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Re: Very rough ride and sloppy steering problems
« Reply #14 on: June 16, 2011, 08:50:35 AM »
My 2 Bits;

Also check your front wheel bearings, You will need a Torque Wrench,
  the correct way to "set" them  is in the FSM.
You can use a 2" socket if you don't have the metric equivilant.

Second, as a thought, make sure your back suspension is "All Tight" too!!
A broken center bolt, loose spring bolts, cracked spring in the rear can make it feel like a steering problem.

CAPT