Steering box access

[apchief]

Seen several posts about the steering box, but I just want to confirm how I get access to it. DO i have to remove my gas tank?

My steering wheel is shaking like crazy when i reach 55mph and i went to get tires balanced and they told me it could be the steering box.

I appreciate any suggestions on how to tackle and narrow down the source of this issue.

[mondshine]

There is an access cover that can be removed to adjust the steering box, however, removing the fuel tank is not difficult, and will give you a good, unobstructed view of all of the steering components.
If the history of these parts is unknown to you, I strongly recommend a thorough inspection.
Good luck, Mondshine

[mr white]

Your complaint is a very old one affecting many bug owners as well. Check your steering dampner and grommet,check your tie rods for play. Have your tires balaced like you mention.I sure others will pipe in with more suggestions. Good luck!

[hobie16]

I picked up a Thing about four months ago. The steering was very sloppy. Turned out one end on each tie rod was worn. The steering wheel would also jerk out of my hands when going over the transition from the gutter into the driveway.

Rather than swap out the two worn ends I replaced both tie rods and put in a new dampener for good measure. All the problems were solved.
_________________
Don't be fooled by appearances. In Hawaii, some of the most powerful people look like bums and stuntmen.
--- Matt King

If anything’s going to happen, it’s going to happen out there.
---Captain Ron

[MRJEL]

Tie rods, steering damper, wheel bearing pre-load, and proper toe-in.

First thing to do is check tire pressures! If you are new to Things, you probably have to much air in there!

[hobie16]

What pressure is recommended?
_________________
Don't be fooled by appearances. In Hawaii, some of the most powerful people look like bums and stuntmen.
--- Matt King

If anything’s going to happen, it’s going to happen out there.
---Captain Ron

[apchief]

thanks for suggestions so far, I'm still not clear on where exactly the steering box is. Is it under the spare tire? under the gas tank?

[BNMike]

[apchief]

sweet, i saw those today and wondered about those! thanks!

I've just been reading several posts about "the thing shimmy" and many are attributing it to the steering damper.

So now i am kind of wondering in which order I should try to figure out what is causing the steering wheel to shake so bad around 50 mph.

any suggestions?

thanks!

[BNMike]

apchief.......

I'm not much more "up" on this than you are, yet. My car, "Hermann" was lowered while in Kalifornia, and I'm bringing him back up to standard height. I bought a used "thing" front beam to replace the "beetle" beam they used to lower the front.

So, I'm reading and replacing all the "consumables" in the front beam, from the brake drums in, before I change out the beams. In your case, with the car all together, I think the easiest first step would be to get the wheels balanced. It probably needs done anyway, so it's one less thing to eliminate.

You can jack up the front end and try to "wiggle" the front wheels. If there is much tie rod wear, it should show up that way. If the steering wheel isn't "sloppy" when you steer, it probably isn't the steering box. The next most likely thing would be the steering damper. It's a one thing at a time operation to check this stuff out, but you'll get there eventually. Good luck,

BNMike

[MRJEL]

[GI Joe]

[apchief]

I have offset rims, w/ the front tires suggesting 32 psi and back 44psi. DO you guys suggest letting some air out even though they are not the stock rims/tires?

[MRJEL]

[apchief]

ok, i jacked up the front end to see if the tie rod ends are worn. honestly i'm not too good w/ what part is what, but i saw a youtube video saying that if you can get play from moving one wheel and it doesnt move the other tan you need new tie rods. the good thing is when i move my wheel the other one moves as well. so im going to assume the tie rods are fine even though everything looks kinda worn down there. I did notice one thing that was different on one side than the other

The part that im pointing at (seems like a pentagon shape) can easily be shifted around with my hand. the rod that it has coming out of the left side goes around the front end and connects to the same part on the other end. On that end its tight and cannot move. I notice that the rod goes in through the pentagon shaped part and comes out on the other end, but on the part that is loose it does not.

any ideas?

[hobie16]

That's the anti sway bar. The rubber may be shot. You can replace the rubber pieces with a synthetic material. As long as you're pulling everything off put a ¾" bar on. Less than $100. Use stainless clamps too. They're much easier to put on.

If yo do go with stainless take a narrow grinder wheel and split the old clamps on the bottom. A half hour job takes about ten seconds.
_________________
Don't be fooled by appearances. In Hawaii, some of the most powerful people look like bums and stuntmen.
--- Matt King

If anything’s going to happen, it’s going to happen out there.
---Captain Ron

[GI Joe]

[Banker]

apchief: Is this it? The Thing Shop $39.00

_________________
Brian

07 Charger Sublime
03 Goldwing
74 Thing

[citroen]

I think he was talking about the stainless clamps like these. These are the only ones the domeck brothers use unless it is on a original thing that we build for show. They are soo much easier to use, and gi joe is right on about the tire pressure

[apchief]

thanks for the input. Question, so could that worn out part on the sway bar be the cause of the shimmy, or its just another thing i have to fix?