Just finished installing electric power steering EZ in my 1982 fj40. I feel like it went really good. everything fit perfect! Now a back story just bought the fj 40 in January and from wisconsin so never drove it so I can't tell you what it felt like going 55 mph. But I feel its all over the road now, it has a potentiometer and I turn it back and forth and can tell the difference, am reading about a speed sensor for the EZ steering motor? or am I looking in the wrong area? any ideas I would love to hear them.. pete
Power steering fj40
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Check shackle hardware for proper tightness & bushing condition, same on the fixed end of spring. Check u-bolts, check wheel bearings & trunions, check the steering rod ends for loosness, lastly verify you have positive caster, like 4 deg. All of those will effect steering & wheel feel. All those need to be correct before you start analyzing the new power set up for adjustment.
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Caster is the angle of your upper and lower pivot points of the knuckle. Not adjustable without cutting and turning the ends. You would have to have it on an alignment rack to check it. Do the due diligence of making sure everything else is right and tight before paying for an alignment check/adjustment
Negative castor feels twitchy, wandering, white knuckle driving, a slight steering correction seems like an over correction. The ruts in road effect handling. Positive caster is more stable, handles better, goes where you point it.
Castor can be adjusted by placing a wedge type steel shim between the front axle and the leaf springs to rotate the axle. For positive caster the fat end gors toward the front. You can measure your castor angle with a cheap angle finder, and parking your vehicle on level ground and equalize your tire pressures. Place the angle finder on the bottom of the trunion bearing cap. Don't use the nuts or studs. Pretend the level in the pic is an angle finder. Make sure all your steering components are in good order 1st.
I forgot about the shims…
It’s been a while since I thought about this. On a solid axle, changing the caster also affects the drive shaft angle.
Yes, rotating the axle for positive will rotate the pinion down. It's usually not a problem. You can check it by putting the suspension at full droop and see if the driveshaft spins freely. You want to check the U joint straps for clearance. When in 4WD you are usually not going very fast. The rear angles are more critical.
So when I install a lift kit on my '40, will my caster angle be thrown off? I think I have the original springs, which are just about flat with aftermarket 5.25" shackles. It drives/steers ok for a 40, as the front wheel tracks back to straight after a turn.
I believe a shackle lift will indeed negatively affect your caster. Not sure how much
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Large shackle lifts will flatten springs out over time. When you get new lift springs use caster shims between top of springs and bottom plates of axle.
2 degree to 4 degree shims typically work with most going to 4 degree out of the gate.
2 degree to 4 degree shims typically work with most going to 4 degree out of the gate.