Topic: Jeep swerves when shifting

[lqdtrance]

So, has anyone had this happen? I know I need a new steering box. I am going to upgrade to power steering here in the next week or so. I just put in a new rough country steering stabilizer as well. Not sure what could be causing this other than the bad steering box.

[sharpxmen]

steer bump maybe?

[Dylan]

steer bump maybe?

Sounds like bump steer to me too.

Is the swerving less noticable if you accelerate slowly?

[lqdtrance]

Yes, it is less noticeable. It acts funny when I accelerate or decelerate around corners too.

[Bounty Hunter]

Sounds like bumpsteer, caused by the front trackbar and draglink not being parallel and a soft front suspension.  As you shift or accelerate/decelerate around corners the front suspension compresses or droops.  If the trackbar and draglink are not parallel, this suspension movement will push your steering to the side.

[Jeffy]

Yup, bumpsteer.

[lqdtrance]

Good to know. So, Do I buy a new one or is there a way to adjust it?
You said soft front suspension. Everything seems like it's rough. I can feel every little bump. I was going to replace my shocks. I'm sure I could use new ones no matter what.

[Bounty Hunter]

Can you post a pic of your front end, close up between the tires?

[sharpxmen]

Good to know. So, Do I buy a new one or is there a way to adjust it?

post a pic like Bounty suggested

most likely you need a drop pitman arm or a trackbar relocation bracket or both

[lqdtrance]

I have tried to upload the pic over 5 times. I re-sized it down to a tiny 256k and now it has been saying that the uploader if full.

[sharpxmen]

host it on photobucket

[lqdtrance]

[sharpxmen]

looks like you need to raise the trackbar at the axle end a bit or lower it at the frame end if you can. You can also use a combination of drop pitman arm and trackbar relocation bracket on the axle (doesn't look like you can do it just by itself without the pitman arm since you don't have to raise it that much without the drop pitman arm) - that way you'll have a lower angle as well to compensate for the lift.
but to be honest is not that much off so maybe that's not what you're experiencing, we'll see what others think.

[Torch_Ind]

do you have a locker? mine does that sometimes cause of my lunch box locker made it noticeable!! whatever way the axle is when you load it up it will push me strait "may not be the way I want to go" until I shift and then it straitens and doesn't do it again till I turn or push it hard!!

[lqdtrance]

I think it may be a little bit of the lockers and steering as well. So, a drop pitman arm and trackbar relocation bracket? I'll check around for some good prices. I plan on getting a new lift here soon. This one is tweaked a bit. The driver side front shackle is leaning to the driver side. The shackle isn't bent and the bearings are good. So I think some how I warped a spring.