What is considered normal, or acceptable

Deadguy · Post by **Deadguy** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:53 pm

play in the steering wheel? I have a nos steering gear box courtesy of Midwest Military (it arrived in a wooden crate stamped 1972). My old one was super sloppy. Even with the new one installed, the steering wheel has quite a bit of play. No to mention, I have to constantly juggle it back and forth (slightly) at higher speeds. I have to juggle it a bit more aggressively when breaking hard from a higher speed.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 9:29 pm

Normal steering play measured at the steering wheel is 1" to 3" of wheel free travel. No shimmy or death wobble to happen.

You should search for the dozens of posts like this one. The simple answer is read up on the steering parts and geometry then either perform a thorough inspection of all steering components including wheel bearings and knuckle pivot bearings or drop it at a front end shop and have it done professionally. This evaluation is a subjective one and requires a clear understanding of the steering system and some practical experience with troubleshooting it.

Taking shotgun advice here on what each individual thinks is the proper amount of slop in each steering component will not solve your problem.

My advice is take her to the front end shop and pay for 30 minute evaluation and then fix what they find.

Deadguy · Post by **Deadguy** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 9:56 pm

I would Wes if there was one around here. Everyone in Philadelphia that I have talked to says the system is too old for them to know the tolerances. There is no death wobble any more. Wheel and kingpin bearings, tie rod ends, steering gear box, and bell crank have all been replaced. It is way better than when I first got it. The vehicle wonders a bit at higher speeds on the road, and have have to continually do minor corrections, but I'm thinking that might be normal with the uneven roads and this old of a system.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Oct 21, 2013 10:12 pm

Carry your TM 9-8015-2 and TM 9-8014 to the shop and any licensed front end shop can check the integrity of your steering. Has nothing to do with age. Whoever told you that just did not wish to work on your jeep. Contact the East Coast Willys MVPA club and they'll get you the help you need.

oilleaker1 · Post by **oilleaker1** » Tue Oct 22, 2013 7:25 am

A Jeep will wander too much if you do not have the toe in set correctly. Any alignment shop can check that in 5 minutes. You could also check the sector adjustment nut on the side of the steering box. If it allows the sector to shift side to side, you will wander also. John

wilfreeman · Post by **wilfreeman** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:11 pm

You didnt mention the drag link. Did you throw in a rebuild kit and adjust to specs? Mine wasn't adjusted tightened sufficiently (by me) - caused excess play AND the death wobble. Just something to check, or like Wes said, take it to a competant alignment shop. I also have no one locally that knows how to work on "old cars", or even wants to!

Post by **wesk** » Wed Oct 23, 2013 9:56 pm

Matt,
Have you discussed local resources with your local MVPA chapter or old car clubs? Also you should try truck shops. Most trucks still utilize the parallel steering geometry we use.

wilfreeman · Post by **wilfreeman** » Thu Oct 24, 2013 6:34 am

You know, I never even thought about talking to the local car club guys - duh! We don't have a local MVPA (closest one is about 60 miles away). There are a couple of truck repair places fairly close though. Most of the older guys' repair shops have either closed down or been passed on to their kids who only work on newer stuff. I guess the bright side is that I get to learn how to repair my own stuff - and help teach others the art of working on the older stuff too!

BullRun · Post by **BullRun** » Wed Oct 30, 2013 6:28 pm

Another option for repairs are Land Rover repair shops that work on Series I,II,III vehicles 1950-1974 for USA vehicles.

The vehicles mechanically are very similar with Willys really being more sophisticated.

Just like Cuba there are plenty of people still driving their old Land Rovers like it is still 1962.

whydahdvr · Post by **whydahdvr** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 9:47 am

Morning all.
I was searching through to find the settings for my M38 for the front end alignment. I have not been able to find that but am still looking. In the meantime, would someone direct me to the info? I want to run my jeep into a local tire and alignment shop before I take it over to Martha's Vineyard for a few weeks - ID any issues before I travel.
Thanks!

UPDATE:
I think I found what I needed on p. 268 of TM 9-8012.
Thanks.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 10:24 am

That's the data you need. Carry both the TM 9-8012 and TM 9-1804B with you to the shop. I doubt any modern shop today has these alignment specs loaded in their computerized equipment but that should be able to move right along with your jeep when you bring those manuals to them to find the needed data in.

whydahdvr · Post by **whydahdvr** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 10:39 am

Thanks! What area in TM9-1804?

Post by **wesk** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 11:04 am

1804B covers the overhaul of the steering components and clearances/dimensions on repairing parts. Together with my Civilian Ross steering gear manual is everything needed to keep the steering in good, safe shape.

whydahdvr · Post by **whydahdvr** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 12:21 pm

Hmm... I get an error message when trying to download your Ross Steering Gear manual. It says that your bandwidth has been exceeded for the day and for me to come back another day to try again. It doesn't sound right and I thought those manuals were loaded on this site rather than another site you manage, but I could be wrong.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Aug 11, 2014 2:36 pm

I've never mastered the Filezilla loading system for our web site so I link them to my Dropbox account and in the past to that Keep & Share account.

I loaded it to drop box and sent you a copy link from there.