TJ not returning to center after turn
#71
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: TJ not returning to center after turn
97tjMike wrote:
> On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I checked
>>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod in
>>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
>>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I noticed
>>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
>>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires or
>>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or bottom a
>>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
>>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
>>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire and
>>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
>>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
>>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If worn,
>>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
>>> Mike
>>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
>>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
>>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>>> 97tjMike wrote:
>>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
>>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
>>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn. It
>>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
>>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
>>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
>>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking the
>>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
>>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
>>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
>>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
>>>> part. Here's what I know:
>>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
>>>> replacement)
>>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
>>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
>>>> anyways)
>>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few months
>>>> ago.
>>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
>>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
>>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
>> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
>> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
>> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>
> My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
> and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>
Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
They 'are' hard to spot though....
If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
Mike
> On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I checked
>>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod in
>>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
>>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I noticed
>>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
>>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires or
>>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or bottom a
>>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
>>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
>>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire and
>>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
>>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
>>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If worn,
>>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
>>> Mike
>>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
>>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
>>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>>> 97tjMike wrote:
>>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
>>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
>>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn. It
>>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
>>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
>>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
>>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking the
>>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
>>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
>>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
>>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
>>>> part. Here's what I know:
>>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
>>>> replacement)
>>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
>>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
>>>> anyways)
>>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few months
>>>> ago.
>>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
>>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
>>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
>> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
>> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
>> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>
> My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
> and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>
Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
They 'are' hard to spot though....
If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
Mike
#72
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: TJ not returning to center after turn
97tjMike wrote:
> On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I checked
>>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod in
>>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
>>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I noticed
>>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
>>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires or
>>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or bottom a
>>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
>>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
>>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire and
>>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
>>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
>>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If worn,
>>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
>>> Mike
>>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
>>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
>>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>>> 97tjMike wrote:
>>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
>>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
>>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn. It
>>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
>>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
>>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
>>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking the
>>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
>>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
>>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
>>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
>>>> part. Here's what I know:
>>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
>>>> replacement)
>>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
>>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
>>>> anyways)
>>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few months
>>>> ago.
>>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
>>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
>>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
>> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
>> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
>> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>
> My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
> and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>
Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
They 'are' hard to spot though....
If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
Mike
> On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I checked
>>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod in
>>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
>>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I noticed
>>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
>>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires or
>>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or bottom a
>>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
>>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
>>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire and
>>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
>>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
>>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If worn,
>>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
>>> Mike
>>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
>>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
>>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>>> 97tjMike wrote:
>>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
>>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
>>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn. It
>>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
>>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
>>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
>>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking the
>>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
>>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
>>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
>>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
>>>> part. Here's what I know:
>>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
>>>> replacement)
>>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
>>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
>>>> anyways)
>>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few months
>>>> ago.
>>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
>>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
>>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
>> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
>> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
>> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>
> My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
> and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>
Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
They 'are' hard to spot though....
If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
Mike
#73
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: TJ not returning to center after turn
97tjMike wrote:
> On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I checked
>>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod in
>>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
>>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I noticed
>>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
>>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires or
>>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or bottom a
>>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
>>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
>>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire and
>>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
>>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
>>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If worn,
>>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
>>> Mike
>>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
>>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
>>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>>> 97tjMike wrote:
>>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
>>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
>>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn. It
>>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
>>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
>>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
>>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking the
>>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
>>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
>>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
>>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
>>>> part. Here's what I know:
>>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
>>>> replacement)
>>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
>>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
>>>> anyways)
>>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few months
>>>> ago.
>>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
>>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
>>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
>> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
>> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
>> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>
> My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
> and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>
Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
They 'are' hard to spot though....
If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
Mike
> On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I checked
>>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod in
>>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
>>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I noticed
>>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
>>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires or
>>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or bottom a
>>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
>>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
>>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire and
>>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
>>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
>>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If worn,
>>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
>>> Mike
>>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
>>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
>>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>>> 97tjMike wrote:
>>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
>>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
>>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn. It
>>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
>>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
>>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
>>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking the
>>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
>>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
>>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
>>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
>>>> part. Here's what I know:
>>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
>>>> replacement)
>>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
>>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
>>>> anyways)
>>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few months
>>>> ago.
>>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
>>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
>>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
>> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
>> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
>> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>
> My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
> and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>
Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
They 'are' hard to spot though....
If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
Mike
#74
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: TJ not returning to center after turn
On Aug 25, 11:40 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> 97tjMike wrote:
> > On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
> >>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I checked
> >>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod in
> >>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
> >>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I noticed
> >>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
> >>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires or
> >>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or bottom a
> >>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
> >>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
> >>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire and
> >>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
> >>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
> >>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If worn,
> >>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
> >>> Mike
> >>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> >>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
> >>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> >>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
> >>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
> >>> 97tjMike wrote:
> >>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
> >>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
> >>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn. It
> >>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
> >>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
> >>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
> >>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking the
> >>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
> >>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
> >>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
> >>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
> >>>> part. Here's what I know:
> >>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
> >>>> replacement)
> >>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
> >>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
> >>>> anyways)
> >>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few months
> >>>> ago.
> >>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
> >>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
> >>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
> >> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
> >> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
> >> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>
> > My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
> > and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>
> Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
>
> They 'are' hard to spot though....
>
> If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
>
> Mike
so no really easy way to test it though other than replacement?
> 97tjMike wrote:
> > On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
> >>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I checked
> >>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod in
> >>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
> >>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I noticed
> >>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
> >>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires or
> >>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or bottom a
> >>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
> >>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
> >>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire and
> >>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
> >>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
> >>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If worn,
> >>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
> >>> Mike
> >>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> >>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
> >>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> >>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
> >>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
> >>> 97tjMike wrote:
> >>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
> >>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
> >>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn. It
> >>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
> >>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
> >>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
> >>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking the
> >>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
> >>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
> >>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
> >>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
> >>>> part. Here's what I know:
> >>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
> >>>> replacement)
> >>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
> >>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
> >>>> anyways)
> >>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few months
> >>>> ago.
> >>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
> >>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
> >>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
> >> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
> >> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
> >> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>
> > My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
> > and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>
> Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
>
> They 'are' hard to spot though....
>
> If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
>
> Mike
so no really easy way to test it though other than replacement?
#75
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: TJ not returning to center after turn
On Aug 25, 11:40 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> 97tjMike wrote:
> > On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
> >>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I checked
> >>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod in
> >>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
> >>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I noticed
> >>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
> >>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires or
> >>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or bottom a
> >>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
> >>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
> >>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire and
> >>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
> >>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
> >>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If worn,
> >>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
> >>> Mike
> >>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> >>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
> >>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> >>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
> >>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
> >>> 97tjMike wrote:
> >>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
> >>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
> >>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn. It
> >>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
> >>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
> >>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
> >>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking the
> >>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
> >>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
> >>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
> >>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
> >>>> part. Here's what I know:
> >>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
> >>>> replacement)
> >>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
> >>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
> >>>> anyways)
> >>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few months
> >>>> ago.
> >>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
> >>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
> >>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
> >> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
> >> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
> >> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>
> > My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
> > and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>
> Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
>
> They 'are' hard to spot though....
>
> If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
>
> Mike
so no really easy way to test it though other than replacement?
> 97tjMike wrote:
> > On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
> >>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I checked
> >>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod in
> >>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
> >>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I noticed
> >>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
> >>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires or
> >>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or bottom a
> >>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
> >>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
> >>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire and
> >>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
> >>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
> >>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If worn,
> >>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
> >>> Mike
> >>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> >>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
> >>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> >>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
> >>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
> >>> 97tjMike wrote:
> >>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
> >>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
> >>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn. It
> >>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
> >>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
> >>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
> >>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking the
> >>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
> >>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
> >>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
> >>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
> >>>> part. Here's what I know:
> >>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
> >>>> replacement)
> >>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
> >>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
> >>>> anyways)
> >>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few months
> >>>> ago.
> >>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
> >>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
> >>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
> >> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
> >> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
> >> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>
> > My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
> > and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>
> Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
>
> They 'are' hard to spot though....
>
> If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
>
> Mike
so no really easy way to test it though other than replacement?
#76
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: TJ not returning to center after turn
On Aug 25, 11:40 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> 97tjMike wrote:
> > On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
> >>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I checked
> >>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod in
> >>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
> >>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I noticed
> >>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
> >>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires or
> >>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or bottom a
> >>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
> >>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
> >>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire and
> >>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
> >>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
> >>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If worn,
> >>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
> >>> Mike
> >>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> >>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
> >>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> >>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
> >>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
> >>> 97tjMike wrote:
> >>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
> >>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
> >>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn. It
> >>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
> >>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
> >>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
> >>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking the
> >>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
> >>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
> >>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
> >>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
> >>>> part. Here's what I know:
> >>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
> >>>> replacement)
> >>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
> >>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
> >>>> anyways)
> >>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few months
> >>>> ago.
> >>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
> >>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
> >>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
> >> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
> >> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
> >> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>
> > My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
> > and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>
> Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
>
> They 'are' hard to spot though....
>
> If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
>
> Mike
so no really easy way to test it though other than replacement?
> 97tjMike wrote:
> > On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
> >>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I checked
> >>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod in
> >>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
> >>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I noticed
> >>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
> >>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires or
> >>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or bottom a
> >>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
> >>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
> >>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire and
> >>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
> >>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
> >>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If worn,
> >>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
> >>> Mike
> >>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> >>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
> >>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> >>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
> >>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
> >>> 97tjMike wrote:
> >>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
> >>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
> >>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn. It
> >>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
> >>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
> >>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
> >>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking the
> >>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
> >>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
> >>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
> >>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
> >>>> part. Here's what I know:
> >>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
> >>>> replacement)
> >>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
> >>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
> >>>> anyways)
> >>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few months
> >>>> ago.
> >>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
> >>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
> >>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
> >> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
> >> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
> >> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>
> > My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
> > and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>
> Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
>
> They 'are' hard to spot though....
>
> If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
>
> Mike
so no really easy way to test it though other than replacement?
#77
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: TJ not returning to center after turn
On Aug 25, 11:40 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
> 97tjMike wrote:
> > On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
> >>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I checked
> >>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod in
> >>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
> >>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I noticed
> >>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
> >>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires or
> >>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or bottom a
> >>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
> >>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
> >>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire and
> >>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
> >>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
> >>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If worn,
> >>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
> >>> Mike
> >>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> >>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
> >>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> >>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
> >>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
> >>> 97tjMike wrote:
> >>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
> >>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
> >>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn. It
> >>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
> >>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
> >>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
> >>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking the
> >>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
> >>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
> >>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
> >>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
> >>>> part. Here's what I know:
> >>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
> >>>> replacement)
> >>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
> >>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
> >>>> anyways)
> >>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few months
> >>>> ago.
> >>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
> >>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
> >>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
> >> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
> >> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
> >> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>
> > My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
> > and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>
> Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
>
> They 'are' hard to spot though....
>
> If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
>
> Mike
so no really easy way to test it though other than replacement?
> 97tjMike wrote:
> > On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
> >> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>
> >>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I checked
> >>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod in
> >>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
> >>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I noticed
> >>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
> >>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires or
> >>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or bottom a
> >>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
> >>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
> >>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire and
> >>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
> >>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
> >>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If worn,
> >>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
> >>> Mike
> >>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> >>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
> >>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> >>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
> >>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
> >>> 97tjMike wrote:
> >>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
> >>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
> >>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn. It
> >>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
> >>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
> >>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
> >>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking the
> >>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
> >>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
> >>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
> >>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
> >>>> part. Here's what I know:
> >>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
> >>>> replacement)
> >>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
> >>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
> >>>> anyways)
> >>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few months
> >>>> ago.
> >>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
> >>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
> >>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
> >> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
> >> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
> >> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>
> > My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
> > and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>
> Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
>
> They 'are' hard to spot though....
>
> If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
>
> Mike
so no really easy way to test it though other than replacement?
#78
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: TJ not returning to center after turn
"97tjMike" <MichaelJunior@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1188107319.175672.195720@y42g2000hsy.googlegr oups.com...
> On Aug 25, 11:40 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>> 97tjMike wrote:
>> > On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>
>> >>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I
>> >>> checked
>> >>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod
>> >>> in
>> >>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
>> >>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I
>> >>> noticed
>> >>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
>> >>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires
>> >>> or
>> >>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or
>> >>> bottom a
>> >>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
>> >>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
>> >>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire
>> >>> and
>> >>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
>> >>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
>> >>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If
>> >>> worn,
>> >>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
>> >>> Mike
>> >>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>> >>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
>> >>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>> >>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
>> >>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>> >>> 97tjMike wrote:
>> >>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
>> >>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
>> >>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn.
>> >>>> It
>> >>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
>> >>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
>> >>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
>> >>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking
>> >>>> the
>> >>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
>> >>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
>> >>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
>> >>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
>> >>>> part. Here's what I know:
>> >>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
>> >>>> replacement)
>> >>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
>> >>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
>> >>>> anyways)
>> >>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few
>> >>>> months
>> >>>> ago.
>> >>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
>> >>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
>> >>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
>> >> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
>> >> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
>> >> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>>
>> > My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
>> > and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>>
>> Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
>>
>> They 'are' hard to spot though....
>>
>> If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
>>
>> Mike
>
> so no really easy way to test it though other than replacement?
>
If it has a torn boot, replace it. Since the spindle will be off, replace
'em both.
Spdloader
#79
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: TJ not returning to center after turn
"97tjMike" <MichaelJunior@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1188107319.175672.195720@y42g2000hsy.googlegr oups.com...
> On Aug 25, 11:40 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>> 97tjMike wrote:
>> > On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>
>> >>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I
>> >>> checked
>> >>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod
>> >>> in
>> >>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
>> >>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I
>> >>> noticed
>> >>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
>> >>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires
>> >>> or
>> >>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or
>> >>> bottom a
>> >>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
>> >>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
>> >>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire
>> >>> and
>> >>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
>> >>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
>> >>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If
>> >>> worn,
>> >>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
>> >>> Mike
>> >>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>> >>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
>> >>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>> >>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
>> >>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>> >>> 97tjMike wrote:
>> >>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
>> >>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
>> >>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn.
>> >>>> It
>> >>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
>> >>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
>> >>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
>> >>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking
>> >>>> the
>> >>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
>> >>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
>> >>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
>> >>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
>> >>>> part. Here's what I know:
>> >>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
>> >>>> replacement)
>> >>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
>> >>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
>> >>>> anyways)
>> >>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few
>> >>>> months
>> >>>> ago.
>> >>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
>> >>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
>> >>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
>> >> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
>> >> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
>> >> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>>
>> > My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
>> > and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>>
>> Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
>>
>> They 'are' hard to spot though....
>>
>> If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
>>
>> Mike
>
> so no really easy way to test it though other than replacement?
>
If it has a torn boot, replace it. Since the spindle will be off, replace
'em both.
Spdloader
#80
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: TJ not returning to center after turn
"97tjMike" <MichaelJunior@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1188107319.175672.195720@y42g2000hsy.googlegr oups.com...
> On Aug 25, 11:40 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>> 97tjMike wrote:
>> > On Aug 25, 7:35 pm, 97tjMike <MichaelJun...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> On Aug 25, 12:12 pm, Mike Romain <roma...@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>
>> >>> I had a grabbing and not returning issue on my CJ7 a bit ago. I
>> >>> checked
>> >>> the steering shock first and found out it wasn't a shock, only a rod
>> >>> in
>> >>> an empty tube so that wasn't the cause.
>> >>> I then found a lower ball joint bad during a grease job when I
>> >>> noticed
>> >>> the torn boot. Replaced that and all is well again.
>> >>> You can sometimes pick off a bad ball joint by looking at the tires
>> >>> or
>> >>> using a level even. If one tire seems to sit out at the top or
>> >>> bottom a
>> >>> bit more than the other side, suspect a bad ball joint. You need a
>> >>> 'big' pry bar to get movement in them with the solid axle setup.
>> >>> Sometimes if you are a big person, you can grab the top of the tire
>> >>> and
>> >>> rock it in and out hard enough to get the Jeep just a bouncing, you
>> >>> might feel a click or thunk or shift as the joint flexes.
>> >>> On a TJ, you also might want to check the track bar bushings. If
>> >>> worn,
>> >>> they can cause it to 'hang' before centering too.
>> >>> Mike
>> >>> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
>> >>> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's - Gone to the rust pile...
>> >>> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
>> >>> Jan/06http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2115147590
>> >>> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>> >>> 97tjMike wrote:
>> >>>> I have a 1997 TJ Sport with power steering. I posted this question a
>> >>>> while ago but never really got an answer. The problem is that the
>> >>>> steering wheel does not *completely* return to center after a turn.
>> >>>> It
>> >>>> attempts to, but never completely bounces back. Also, when driving
>> >>>> straight down the road, the steering wheel does not "bounce back" to
>> >>>> center if it is turned or flicked a little bit. It's kind've like
>> >>>> something is binding. I asked a mechanic and he suggested checking
>> >>>> the
>> >>>> U-Joints, which I did and they are both OK. I suggested an alignment
>> >>>> due to a bad castor angler but he said the castor cannot go off
>> >>>> enought to do what it's doing. The dealer I called also said an
>> >>>> alignment wouldn't fix the problem, and it was probably a worn out
>> >>>> part. Here's what I know:
>> >>>> Recent new Steering Box (problem happened before and after
>> >>>> replacement)
>> >>>> Good Front U-Joints (not binding up anyways)
>> >>>> New sway bars (don't think that's related but I'll put it up here
>> >>>> anyways)
>> >>>> Recent lube of all zerk fittings when I did my oil change a few
>> >>>> months
>> >>>> ago.
>> >>>> I haven't had it aligned since I bought it, however I have put a 2
>> >>>> inch spacer coil lift on it and when I did that I did a self-
>> >>>> adjustment of the toe-in and the steering wheel centering.
>> >> Hmm, I think I possibally may have found the problem. I do remember
>> >> when I last lubed the chassis, the lower ball joint on the drives side
>> >> had a rip in the boot. I wonder if this is it.
>>
>> > My only concern is that I had it inspected last month by the dealer,
>> > and wouldn't a ball joint be grounds for failure in NY?
>>
>> Well, they don't get the name $tealership for nothing....
>>
>> They 'are' hard to spot though....
>>
>> If the boot is torn, suspect joint movement as the cause.
>>
>> Mike
>
> so no really easy way to test it though other than replacement?
>
If it has a torn boot, replace it. Since the spindle will be off, replace
'em both.
Spdloader