firefighterjed
SILVER Star
I need some help understanding my steering behavior and what adjustments I can make to improve it. Thanks in advance for your help. Here's my story:
My 76 fj40 was restored/refurbished at some point in previous ownership and is in very good mechanical and cosmetic condition. I drive it most days and it does great. 2F, headers, DUI, Weber 36/32, Mini truck PS, H42 4 speed trans, don't know what the diff gearing is, 31X10.5r15 BFG AT KO2 on stock spoked wheels. Suspension appears stock except for shackles, which are maybe 2" longer than stock. Tie rod ends are newer and tight.
It can go 75 if it needs to, and runs straight without wandering or feeling loose.
My issue:
When turning. Small steering wheel inputs deliver small adjustments in course, which is feels correct, but then there is a delay of sorts before the rig turns more, then it wants to turn all at once. This is also the point where body roll is initiated and is more pronounced than I would like. On paved mountain roads it is not very fun to drive because of this parabolic feeling of the turn radius.
Related info:
In the near to medium future I would like to up-size to 33x21.5r15 on 15x10 wheels. 2" front lift and 4" rear lift accomplished with new springs or re-arching the OEM.
I've done a little reading on the topic and I feel like I have a combination of both understeer and over steer. It is certainly understeer in the first phase of turning the steering wheel, but then it seems to all catch up and might feel like over steer once the body has begun to roll and the front end in really coming around.
What are my likely problems and how do I assess them to rule them in or out as the issue?
I
My 76 fj40 was restored/refurbished at some point in previous ownership and is in very good mechanical and cosmetic condition. I drive it most days and it does great. 2F, headers, DUI, Weber 36/32, Mini truck PS, H42 4 speed trans, don't know what the diff gearing is, 31X10.5r15 BFG AT KO2 on stock spoked wheels. Suspension appears stock except for shackles, which are maybe 2" longer than stock. Tie rod ends are newer and tight.
It can go 75 if it needs to, and runs straight without wandering or feeling loose.
My issue:
When turning. Small steering wheel inputs deliver small adjustments in course, which is feels correct, but then there is a delay of sorts before the rig turns more, then it wants to turn all at once. This is also the point where body roll is initiated and is more pronounced than I would like. On paved mountain roads it is not very fun to drive because of this parabolic feeling of the turn radius.
Related info:
In the near to medium future I would like to up-size to 33x21.5r15 on 15x10 wheels. 2" front lift and 4" rear lift accomplished with new springs or re-arching the OEM.
I've done a little reading on the topic and I feel like I have a combination of both understeer and over steer. It is certainly understeer in the first phase of turning the steering wheel, but then it seems to all catch up and might feel like over steer once the body has begun to roll and the front end in really coming around.
What are my likely problems and how do I assess them to rule them in or out as the issue?
I
