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Another frontend question

greetings all. i'm driving an '85 cj7, 2" lift, nothing radical. pretty much stock except for the fuel injection kit installed a few yrs ago, with much help from folks on this bbs. when i brake hard the cj gets *real* squirrely. i mean *real*. checked the front end, tierods all are tight enough, wheel bearings are fine, steering box is still pretty tight. a friend showed me how much the front end on a cj flexes and said that is part of the prob. would a steering box brace, i think that's what it's called, help out any? another buddy has an early model wrangler that drives nice, an 87-89ish. was there a big difference between the suspension of the late model cj's and early model wranglers.

thanks for ya'lls input. i'd like to let my girlfriend drive the cj from time to time, i travel a lot and wanna keep it on the road, but as wicked as this thing can get i don't want to let take it out.

p.s. she's a country girl from arkansas who learned how to drive in a 4x4, she wears shoes, has all her teeth and never dated her dad, she o.k.

jc

Reply to
JC
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Does the steering wheel move back and forth as you drive over bumps or dips in the road?

Jerry

Reply to
Jerry Bransford

Reply to
L.W.(ßill) Hughes III

Normally when I see something like that and the front end parts are tight, then I suspect the rear brakes as the trouble.

The rear self adjusters can get jammed up easy with mud and rust so the rear shoes are out of adjustment. The rear shoes on a CJ7 also wear out almost twice as fast as the front disk pads, unlike 'most' older cars that work the other way.

So if the rear shoes show little wear or are almost down to the rivets, they likely aren't grabbing.

This will make the Jeep really twitchy when stopping hard.

I use that silver colored anti seize compound on mine and they usually work perfect until worn out.

When the rear shoes get worn out or ar out of adjustment, the emergency brake will be really low and/or not work.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

JC wrote:

Reply to
Mike Romain

hey guys, thanks to all for your replies. now to answer 'em.

jerry, going over bumps the steering wheel doesn't move and the jeep will 'jump' a bit left or right, i don't remember right off the top of my head which way.

bill, by brake flex hoses is that the soft hose going from the caliper to the hard line on the frame? and when i put the lift on i put in new bushings. if i tightened the bolts through the shackles to much would that have an adverse effect on handling?

and mike, i'll check the brakes, interesting about the rear brakes, never would've thought about that. just ran out and checking the e-brake and it's pretty 'high', not a lot of travel in the pedal when i set it. and the anti-seize, are you putting it on the little star wheel thing that is supposed to keep the brakes tight? i'm hoping you don't mean putting it on the brake shoes themselves, wouldn't that make 'em a bit slick??? : )

thanks guys, jch

Reply to
JC

The goop goes on the star wheel threads and the cable slider.

Mike

JC wrote:

Reply to
Mike Romain

yeah, i was 99.9999999% sure. but ya' never know when someone might come up with an idea for a better mousetrap.

thanks

Reply to
JC

It is sure worth asking....

Mike

JC wrote:

Reply to
Mike Romain

Reply to
Jim West

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