7/12 *Snake Lake Tail*

[Skipper51]

No I have never had a front or rear locker before just a limited slip in the rear. It was the pump itself like when you turn it all the way to one side and you can hear it whine.

You know I did put it in 4x4 and never did turned on the front locker. But it was way more than just hard to turn. I mean it felt like the wheel was between two rocks and you cant turn it type of feeling. I really feel like the wheels were fighting each other or when it was turned full to one side I lost all leverage to turn it back without rolling a little. With a little roll it felt fine.

 

[GordoSmasho]

I don't see how an alignment would cause any such issues. If it drives down the road fine your alignment is done. Alignment issues don't cause issues when your crawling unless the tires are pointed in blatantly opposing directions.

Start checking things like the pump and steering box. Look at the fluid. Does it look metallic or frothy?

 

[Skipper51]

Well my pump is leaking a little so I know it is in line for replacement but why does it steer perfectly when the hub are not locked?

Free wheeling, so they can spin independently, no problem. When the hubs are locked, but the locker is not on, that is when the problem starts.

OK I am moving the steering pump up the line for replacement. I'll get one with a new reservoir and get a new pulley and have the shop press it on.

 

[GordoSmasho]

I think the locker might be engaged. Jack the front end up. Both tires. Put it in 4wd. Then lock the hubs and see if you can spin the tires by hand. If you can't. Then the locker is engaged. That's my guess though. I've never had a selectable.

If that's the case then you it won't unlock it would be very difficult to steer with a wounded steering system. You would essentially have a spool in the front.

Anyone else have any suddestions for Tim?

 

[831_xj]

Your leak is most likely allowing air into the system. I'd fix the leak and flush with good fluid. I never had good luck until I used royal purple. And I never believed in expensive fluids. Drill out the pump high pressure orifice 1/32 to 1/16 bigger.

 

[Skipper51]

I am taking it to a friends shop and put it on the lift this afternoon. I will let you know what I find out.

 

[Mike1331]

Re: Re: 7/12 *Snake Lake Tail*

Back from Gold Lake and there were five or six camping pots on the water that were open. A guy already had the pebble beach one but still nice one open for the taking.

Put the rig in four wheel drive on the trail and I could not steer from passage over to driver with out moving forward or backwards to do so. The power steering pump was screaming and trying to maneuver around corners was impossible with out backing up first to straighten up the wheels.

Took it out of four wheel drive an unlocked the hubs and it steered fine. At first I thought that the stabilizer bracket was hanging up on the front skid plate so I removed it. It still did not steer right so unlocking the hubs was the only way to free up the front end so I could steer.

I guess I need a front end alignment to keep the wheels from fighting each other. My driveway one is not goo enough I guess.

Easy fix, then try to get out up there in two Sundays, 7/27, for another run to see if everything is working correctly. So nice up there even if I didn't get to run the trail.

was the guy at the large beach we had in a blue dodge ram? And was he alone?

 

[blondejoncherokee]

driving with a locked front is way different than open. Also , a bad pump or box will do weird crap. my money is on the pump or the box being fubar, or somehow you are locking the front. locker? with only 31s it should turn pretty easily. DO you have any binding in your steering? like a stabilizer doing weird crap ?
Also, with a locked front it can suck to steer sometimes, and I mostly run with the front unlocked until I need it, and will even put it in 2wd for turns sometimes.

 

[Skipper51]

was the guy at the large beach we had in a blue dodge ram? And was he alone?

I was having so much trouble with the rig I never did make it all the way down that far but a guy did come up from that direction and asked if I needed help and said he just got a spot and was waiting for the rest of his group.

I guess he was concerned if we were going to take the camp site because he and his group have been camping there for the last twenty years and he wanted a few sites together. Really a nice guy.

Just as we were leaving two girls in a red toy drove up and he started talking with them. Then a guy my age came in a TJ. So it was starting to fill up.

 

[Skipper51]

Put the rig on the lift and the bolt that hold the track bar to the pitman arm was a little loose. It was a 1/2" bolt but I bet it needs to be 9/16" bolt or 5/8" maybe.

When I changed over from stock to the Iron Rock steering I could not use that tapered bolt that came out. Can I use just a grade 8 bolt or do I need a tapered sleeve to go with it?

Also my frame is cracked, just ordered a C-Rock brace for it, so that needs to be welded too.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

Put the rig on the lift and the bolt that hold the track bar to the pitman arm was a little loose. It was a 1/2" bolt but I bet it needs to be 9/16" bolt or 5/8" maybe.

When I changed over from stock to the Iron Rock steering I could not use that tapered bolt that came out. Can I use just a grade 8 bolt or do I need a tapered sleeve to go with it?

Also my frame is cracked, just ordered a C-Rock brace for it, so that needs to be welded too.

do you mean the drag link to the pitman arm ? I've never heard of a tapered bolt, but if you drilled out your pitman arm, you can run say a 5/8 bolt and misalignments if you are running heims now.

can you post pics of what you are talking about ?

 

[Skipper51]

do you mean the drag link to the pitman arm ? I've never heard of a tapered bolt, but if you drilled out your pitman arm, you can run say a 5/8 bolt and misalignments if you are running heims now.

can you post pics of what you are talking about ?

The jeep is down at my friends shop right now awaiting the repair so I cant get a picture right away.

Sorry Jon, drag link at the pitman arm. The Iron Rock Offroad instructions say to use a 1/2" bolt but the 1/2" bolt is a little wobbly and I am wondering if anyone has used 9/16" bolts to take the wobble out. The OME has a tapered bolt so I did not know if I was suppose to get a sleeve or something that is tapered to use in the pitman arm.

Wait a minute. I am assuming that it is the pitman that is tapered but is it the EMO drag link?

Any way now that I think about it the 9/16" bolt wont go through the spherical rod end anyway.

Is this what they call grasping at straws?

 

[XJensen]

Sounds like it would need to be drilled out or use a tapered insert

 

[GordoSmasho]

Did you drill out the taper when you installed your iron rock steering? If not there's your problem right there. You can't run a straight fastener through a tapered hole and expect it to stay tight. At least not in single sheer.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

If you are running a heim at the pitman arm the pitman arm and the misalignments should have the same ID. Never heard of a tapered bolt for such an application. You can drill out the pitman to 9/16 or 5/8 then get new misalignments and a new bolt.
That wi surely take out any slop. I prefer 3/4" personally over the 9/16 or 5/8. You can probably call ruffstuff wth your heim id and they can help you out. Or parts mike. Heck parts mike is right there in auburn.


You can also chock em both up in a press and drill out the pitman arm to a true 9/16 or 5/8 and consider drilling out the misalignments if there exists a safe amount of material to leave after drilling. Worst case as a temporary solution.

 

[Mike1331]

Re: Re: 7/12 *Snake Lake Tail*

I was having so much trouble with the rig I never did make it all the way down that far but a guy did come up from that direction and asked if I needed help and said he just got a spot and was waiting for the rest of his group.

I guess he was concerned if we were going to take the camp site because he and his group have been camping there for the last twenty years and he wanted a few sites together. Really a nice guy.

Just as we were leaving two girls in a red toy drove up and he started talking with them. Then a guy my age came in a TJ. So it was starting to fill up.

Yeah that was Stan. He's overtook the money beach spot from us as we were leaving both years in a row. He was there the week before we got there and said his "group" was coming in the day we were leaving, both years, and stays for 3-4 weeks each time. Some of us think he tells everybody that to get the big spot without worrying about any neighbors as nobody has ever seen his "group". Regardless he's super nice and made us blody mary's most mornings and margarritas during most days. Dude Brings 750$ in booze each year so hes a great neighbor to have and consequantly knows how to make a lot of friends. Good times....

Sorry to hear you could'nt get through the 4x4 campground before yoyr issues.
Shuttling stuff in n out with my stiffy 3/4 ton sucked with full sway bars and 60psi
Frame flex for days is all i got.

Got all the toys there though....

 

[Skipper51]

Did you drill out the taper when you installed your iron rock steering? If not there's your problem right there. You can't run a straight fastener through a tapered hole and expect it to stay tight. At least not in single sheer.

The steering is a double sheer steering set up and there was no mention of drilling out the pitman arm in the instructions so this is what Iron Rock said to do but I cant see a 1/16" movement where the pitman are attaches to the drag link is good in the long run. :nono:

Anyway, Jon has a good idea but a road I always try to avoid, that is to drill out the pitman arm and get a 9/16" bolt. Modding is not my strong point. With the top tire size being 33's the 9/16"bolt should be enough I think.