Squirrely feeling (1 Viewer)

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S

stickfighter

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Aug 18, 2011
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I post this in my thread but did not get much response so I am making it a separate topic. My FJ40 is essentially done and I have driven it around a couple of times. This vehicle has HSF 4" lift, 32" tires and when you are driving it on the street it feels like the back end is a little squirrely. It is very obvious around 60-70 mph. I spoke to a friend who has a 2002 Jeep short wheel base and it said his vehicle has that same feeling like the back tires are going to come off, squirrely feeling.
So my question is: Is this typical of this type of vehicles? Also, can a sway bar help fix this problem?
Thanks!
 
How wide are your tires?? I guess I dont feel the rear end wanting to move but the front end wants to steer itself. A short wheel base has a tendencey to grab flaws in the road because of the shorter distance between the tires.
 
If it feels like it wanders from side to side while you're driving it, then you will need to add a 4° shim on top of the front springs (assuming you have a spring under setup), with the fat end to the front. Buy steel shims, not aluminum. Your steering will then return to center after taking a turn.

Check your soft brake lines for length, as you may have to lengthen them (I did), and also check your driveshafts, as you may have to lengthen them (I did).
 
If you turn the wheel a little and let go does it straighten back up on its own while driving, if not then the above shims for the caster would help. You can get a cheap angle finder from lowes and verify your caster to help know what size shim to get or if you need them at all. It is a short wheel base and will act this way at higher speeds, so just driving a short wheel base box like these takes a little getting used to. Hard to say if what you are feeling as squirely is just a short wheel base or a problem. If you know someone who has driven a few of fj40's or Cj7's they might be able to test and help give you an idea if it is a problem or normal.
 
cjgoode said:
It is a short wheel base and will act this way at higher speeds, so just driving a short wheel base box like these takes a little getting used to.
Click to expand...

Neither of my rigs exhibit this problem. One is stock, one is SOA, so attributing it to short wheel base is a bit of an oversimiplification.

Measure the caster angle.
 
He does not say his experience, if this is the first time driving a short wheelbase vehicle and you are use to driving a long pickup truck and can feel squirrely when it is not, or it could have a problem causing to actually be squirrely and dangerous .

Check that you do not have any free play in your steering linkage or any looseness in your front wheel bearings. I had bought a 1976 fj40 that once we got on the highway felt like a death trap, and I had owned nothing but fj40's of cj7's at that time. Tightened up the front wheel bearings and it drove like a dream for the many years.
 
cjgoode said:
Tightened up the front wheel bearings and it drove like a dream for the many years.
Click to expand...

HOW? i'd like to know. mine feels like i'm driving an 8N tractor. I usually cruise 45 (not sure how fast it actually is) and its pretty manageable
 
Im concerned ...I know I had somewhat major death wobble for a while over 40mph but that was associated to my cr**py front Saginaw box...The person seems to referance his Rear end(no pun here) being squirly...Would a front end cause the rear to act as if its all over the road.

Yes I agree that the original tires on my ride had a tendancy to track when it was on 31x15x9, now its riding a 2-1/2" lift with 35x15x12.5 and with RPMfab here in PHX (tempe) completeing the steering box proper. No wobble on the freeway at 50..NO I dont do more cause the engine just wants to go more and I got no overdrive.

So after my babbling.
the above referance to back end squirly...Would the front end have anything to do with that?
 
I just spoke to David the mechanic and he is going to bring the 40 to an alignment shop that has some kind of laser device. They will tell us about the caster, camber and tow.
 
hey gotta interesting question...again...Should Fj's be doing 60mph...LOL
 
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I'd check everything in the suspension-front and rear.
Alignment is a good place to start, but I'd check that all wheels are seated properly, all lug nuts are tight, all u-bolt nuts are tight, all spring bolts are tight.
I can drive my vehicle at 60+ with my hands off the wheel going over bumps and it's not the least bit squirrely.
 
I can say this.... I daily commuted 90 miles in a short wheel base rig (jeep TJ) for about five years. Then I switched to a four door long bed full size truck. When I jump back into the TJ or my FJ40 it feels quite interesting with similar rear end "squirrellyness", then I get I used to it again and all is normal. Though, no matter what I would check alignment and front end parts to make sure everything is in good order for peace of mind.
 
Caster, tie rods, center arm, ets.

Not normal, from what you describe.

Too high tire pressure. What pressure you run?

W/ 33x 12.50s I ran 21
W/ 31x 10.50s 22
W/ 33x 10.50s I am running 25... Which is slightly overinflated to improve economy.
 
squirrely is not normal

uneven tire balance and air pressure can contribute
 
The FJ40 is made for off road driving. They are not going to handle like a passenger car. That is why we love driving them.
 
Question with the HFS 4" lift does the caster stay the same as factory? Or is more caster recommended because factory is at 1 degree?
 
With 11.50s consensus seems to be 3-5deg castor because of the tires. At 1deg the driveshaft flange should be perpendicular to the road.
 
bikersmurf said:
Caster, tie rods, center arm, ets.

Not normal, from what you describe.

Too high tire pressure. What pressure you run?

W/ 33x 12.50s I ran 21
W/ 31x 10.50s 22
W/ 33x 10.50s I am running 25... Which is slightly overinflated to improve economy.
Click to expand...

Really? That seems low.

I run 35-36 psi on my 31x10.50s.

I have been DD'ing an extended cab pickup and then an AC Tundra for 10 years, and I don't feel like my FJ40 is squirrely. Bouncy, yes. That is attributable to the short wheelbase, stiff springs, and (probably) improperly valved shocks. But I don't feel like the rear end is going to go anywhere unexpectedly.

To the OP, are you driving on concrete slab roads? If so then you may get to bouncing front-to-back on certain sections of slab transitions, but if you are concerned about the wheels coming off then I would check the rear end alignment (like it sounds you plan to do), wheel/tire balance and lug nuts/studs. Then you might check your rear spring bushings, spring pins, ubolts and shackles to make sure they're in good shape and snugged properly.

oops just skimmed back and saw that edwjmcgrath suggested all of this already. Good stuff.
 
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