Wandering SII

7

77SSII

Member
Hey all!
77 Scout II w/new ball joints, tie rod ends, wheel bearings, hubs, bushings, 3k miles on an alignment, new balanced, properly inflated 33" mtrs.
5" shackle lift, not sure how much leaf spring and shimmed to 0-1 degree negative caster. Very old but very low mileage drag link.
Straight steer, bourgeson u-joint on the steering shaft.
The only original thing left on the truck is the saginaw steering box. I also have the front shackles welded together via a square tube. The truck plowed for a living for a car dealership and was sold w/12k then I got it with about 17k.
Going down the road it is like steering a boat up stream in a no wake zone. Steering corrections all the time.
There is no bump steer. On the highway where the road has tractor trailer ruts, the thing goes on it's own serpentine journey that is pretty un-nerving at 65mph.
Any thoughts????
I want to do a cut-n-turn but I don't have any money or time for a reverse shackle kit or new leafs. I want to get new stuff before turning the knuckles.
Can this be a steering box issue? IH parts said adjusting the lash will only change the amount of pressure from the pump (which is a reman'd unit w/new hoses).
Thanks!
 
Shimmed to 0-1 degrees? Sounds like caster to me, assuming you already checked for excessive play in the steering box - although if the trucks milage is really that low the box should be tight. I'd try some 2 or 4 degree caster shims under the front axle perches, made mine much better (make sure the thicker part of the wedges are in the front). Jeff has them. If the shackle lifts raised the back more than the front it will aggravate the caster problem.
 
Sounds like you're stuck between a rock and a hard spot. Shackle reversal will help out greatly with the wondering issue. Personal experience. Doing a cut n turn will also help greatly. Your best bet is to save up your cash and do them both at the same time.
 
Thanks guys,
can a steering box cause "wandering"?
How do you evaluate it to see if it is worn?
Do I put the truck up on a lift w/the motor running and try to turn the wheels by the tire????
 
Only if there's excessive play in the output shaft of the steering gear box and/or the oem rag joint is worn out. Rebuilding that gear box May not solve all your wondering issues.

But I suspect, as others have mentioned, that it's bad caster angle.
 
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