FJ-80 High-pinion
some sort of crossover setup
Unknown components
stock steering box
Missing link front
YJ SPOA
Pipe over tie rod for added beef

Steering is loose feeling and it likes to try to change lanes when upshifting (I know this is somewhat normal with a rear locker)

I have the TT Powersteering kit in a bag that came with my rig, so I'm going to install that, and I want to get the steering feel to where it does not scare the crap out of me on the road. Help me figure out what to do. I have not had an allignment yet. Castor is supposedly about 6deg. I'm considering a panhard bar. The bushing on the pittman arm looks munched and the angle looks questionable??? What kind of tierod ends are these? Whos crossover arm? Steering stablizer thoughts.

http://home.houston.rr.com/shrake/images/Sammi/Passenger1.JPG

http://home.houston.rr.com/shrake/images/Sammi/Passenger2.JPG

http://home.houston.rr.com/shrake/images/Sammi/Passenger3.JPG

http://home.houston.rr.com/shrake/images/Sammi/Driver1.JPG

http://home.houston.rr.com/shrake/images/Sammi/Driver2.JPG

http://home.houston.rr.com/shrake/images/Sammi/Pittman1.jpg

http://home.houston.rr.com/shrake/images/Sammi/Pittman2.jpg

http://home.houston.rr.com/shrake/images/Sammi/Pittman3.jpg

Bash away...but try to be constructive! :flipoff2:

First and foremost, that is a home-made cross-over steering that has been welded together. If it wasn't welded by someone you trust then I would spend some money on a real crossover kit from all-pro, kong's, ott etc.... (and to me personally I wouldn't drive down a road with it.. doesn't look strong) As for the steering wheel play, is this maybe play in the box and it's shot??? It sounds like that maybe the only problem but it could be that mixed with shot TRE's (Tie rod ends). If your going to install the power steering kit you should go all the way and get a proper crossover steering set-up and that will definately solve all your problems and give you much more security driving down the road.

If you don't have that kind of money, you may want to try a steering stabalizer, or replace tre's if they are shot. That's all I can really say without seeing it. I don't have experience with missing links so I can't comment on those though I could see them as a source for problems?? Anybody else on those??

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/cross/arm4.jpg
Does that look familiar? The pic is from the Tech Department here at Pirate. I do not think that your steering problem has anything to do with the Missing Links. It sounds like it is related to weight transfer indicative of bump steer. I know you have crossover steering to fix that but maybe the riser is just not tall enough. What happens when you slam on the brakes? Does it try to switch to the opposite lane?
What does the angle of your drag link look like?
I think that a poorly fabricated crossover steering system and worn steering components are at fault. I do think that a panhard would help some too. Fix the worn stuff first and then wory about the power steering. A steering stabilizer is a bandaid so to speek so I would not use it to cover up a potentialy dangerous situation.

sweet jeezus! it looks like someone found a barrel full of pitman arms and had a wild and whacky time.......
while using pitman arms as just big hunks of weldable bracket material may* not be a punishable by death offense as they are very strong, i would be very very afraid of that leaning tower of Pisa concoction that is joining the uhh...draglink pitman arm joint to the uhh.......knuckle pitman arm riser bracket. (man that felt wierd typing that....:D )
*i dunno though, it very well might be quite hideous, i can't say i've ever really seen or heard of this being done......:eek:
yowza.:confused:


ps-EXCELLENT pictures, though! very good detail and great lighting, too often pics are so dark or blurry, it's hard to see what's really going on.:beer:

There is definitely some play in the steering box, and that is no doubt part of it. Forgot to mention that.

I agree on waiting on a steering stab until everything is sorted out. Do many of you even use one though?

Mike (mas2) PM'd me some info. I was going to call him tonight with a page full of questions, but looks like he beat me to this one. "The lower steering is a stock 84 pickup bar and tie rods. The upper is a lower sami lower steering bar that was extended. The arm is from (Jake)(4th place 2000 top truck challenge) It is off his Sami."

BTW Mike it did not mean to imply it was a ghetto setup just anticipating the usual tough crowd response. :beer:

The draglink looks pretty stout to me. It doesnt look like it is mating up real well with the pitman arm though, but then again I dont know a hell of a lot about this which is why I'm asking. I think that is a stock pitman arm right? Should I be using a drop Pitman

Regarding bumpsteer, I cant really say that I know how much is normal, but I dont really notice any on the road, on trails it has ripped the wheel out of my hand a couple times, so you tell me....

It is stable when braking, no issues there

Here is an overview pic showing the drag link angle:


http://home.houston.rr.com/shrake/images/Sammi/Overview.jpg

PS: Thanks for the pic comps. Dual 300W Halogen lights are providing the lighting. :D

That drag link angle looks fine, I'd change all the tie rod ends, esp the pitman arm one.

Does your steering shaft have worn U joints or worn rubber coupler?

The drag link angle does not look fine to me. Closer to parallel would be better. I believe you said you have a Toy ps gearbox to install - that arm will be lower.

Driver's side tie rod looks bent, but if it isn't sloppy it shouldn't participate in your steering problems.

I removed my steering dampner when I went to power steering, and haven't put one back on - the ps really helps a lot.

Did you get the bolt on kit into the frame for the steering box??
If you did, dont use it! Weld on a piece of 1/4" plate and drill your own holes for the new box.

I learned my lesson with that last weekend.....Ive been running calmini's kit for years now.....and it gave up on me this weekend....Bolt busted, box swung towards the engine and poked a whole in my oil filter.

The bad part about doing the kick power steering conversion is that the kick pitman arm is flat.....Making the drag link angle even worse.
I had a custom drop pitman arm made 4", and this took care of all of my bump steer.

Originally posted by RudeZuk

The bad part about doing the kick power steering conversion is that the kick pitman arm is flat.....Making the drag link angle even worse.
I had a custom drop pitman arm made 4", and this took care of all of my bump steer.


Ooops - for some reason I thought he had a truck ps box.:rasta:
Drop pitman arm for you:D

Have your local machine shop take out the center on your kick arm......get a 4"yj arm, take out the center of that one, place your kick center in the new YJ arm and weld it in there.......With this and power steering......night and day difference

I'm going to try to avoid shelling out $550 for a turnkey toy xover steering setup. Here is the plan so far based on your helpful suggestions:

1. Install Kick PS with a good steering box.
2. Install drop pitman arm and new TR end at Pitman. Need to figure out what arm to use.
3. Check for play in steering shaft and wheel bearings.
4. Alignment

If that doesn't yield acceptable results:
1. Panhard bar
2.

Rude, How much lift do you have? I think you said you are running 1.5" Rancho YJ's right? Guess I can measure and see if 4" looks about right for my setup. How much space do I need b/t the drag link and the top of the passenger leaf spring to keep the two from hitting when flexing.

Does someone make a drop pitman for the kick box??

Sure the shop here that i deal with will make you one custom....but no there isnt an aftermarket one out there.
PM me if you want info.

Originally posted by 0ILBURNER
The drag link angle does not look fine to me. Closer to parallel would be better.

Well, obvioulsy perfectly parallel is best, but to have that, or get closer what do you risk, having the springs smash into a drop pitman arm. Its fine for the most part and with power steering its even less to worry about. Whats its current degree of angle? Ramp it and see how much space is left under the pitman arm, then take away another inch or so and use that for how much of a drop pitman arm you would want.

Oh yeah, whats up with the blocks under the springs?

I've been meaning to ask Mike about the reason for the blocks. It looks to be like the sammi spring location is somewhat inboard of the factory Toy FJ80 spring perches. I think this is the purpose, to relocate the springs somewhat inboard. The "blocks" are two pieces of 1/2 plate tacked together and to the factory spring perches.