Test ride in the ROCKS !

[rocmoc]

Took a test ride in the rocks today. We have rocks where I live that are as bad as anywhere I have been. The NEW power steering was GREAT!

BUT, that ever but ! I came back home and centered the steering wheel. Pulled the steering wheel with the upper short shaft out of the connector U-joint and rotated. Should not have changed anything. Put a little more tow-in in the front geometry, should not have changed anything. Turned the key and the wheel pulled to the right. Test drove up to the local gas station and back home, still pulled to the right.

SO, not I have to correct the right pull and the master cylinder is still sticking.

Will leave on the positive, the steering was SO NICE in the banging of the rocks. My hands did not take the usual beating when going thu the rocks. Also with the power steering I aired downed the tires some more, 7 1/2 lbs in the front and 10 lbs in the rear. I believe I can go down more. This soften the ride so much more. The trails are horribly rough as the Border Patrol has abuse the trails. The monsoons washed away the lose soil and not rougher than H*LL. Bad for them because some are impassible for them now but the Trooper crawled thu with NO PROBLEM. Getting there in making this thing, my Trooper, a GREAT machine!

rocmoc n AZ

[Guest Lenny]

  On 10/23/2011 at 7:52 PM, rocmoc said:

Took a test ride in the rocks today. We have rocks where I live that are as bad as anywhere I have been. The NEW power steering was GREAT!

BUT, that ever but ! I came back home and centered the steering wheel. Pulled the steering wheel with the upper short shaft out of the connector U-joint and rotated. Should not have changed anything. Put a little more tow-in in the front geometry, should not have changed anything. Turned the key and the wheel pulled to the right. Test drove up to the local gas station and back home, still pulled to the right.

SO, not I have to correct the right pull and the master cylinder is still sticking.

Will leave on the positive, the steering was SO NICE in the banging of the rocks. My hands did not take the usual beating when going thu the rocks. Also with the power steering I aired downed the tires some more, 7 1/2 lbs in the front and 10 lbs in the rear. I believe I can go down more. This soften the ride so much more. The trails are horribly rough as the Border Patrol has abuse the trails. The monsoons washed away the lose soil and not rougher than H*LL. Bad for them because some are impassible for them now but the Trooper crawled thu with NO PROBLEM. Getting there in making this thing, my Trooper, a GREAT machine!

rocmoc n AZ

That is the pressure I run and like it. Great traction and good in sand too. I centered my power steering by removing the motor and centering it while I watched the motor turn. No resistance on the motor making it easy to get it exact. Just adjust it so it doesn't turn the motor one way or the other. Not a speck of trouble since.

Lenny

[rocmoc]

Thanks Lenny. Adjustment made, a couple of test runs since and still good. I think I can soften the tires a little more. Sure becoming a delight to drive. The additional tow-in made the steering a little more stable. I just need to address the looseness out of the long steering shaft, a bolt thu the two pieces, and a new rack & pinion. Gotta fit the brakes first, my toe is getting SORE, LOL!

rocmoc n AZ

[Guest Lenny]

  On 10/25/2011 at 1:28 AM, rocmoc said:

Thanks Lenny. Adjustment made, a couple of test runs since and still good. I think I can soften the tires a little more. Sure becoming a delight to drive. The additional tow-in made the steering a little more stable. I just need to address the looseness out of the long steering shaft, a bolt thu the two pieces, and a new rack & pinion. Gotta fit the brakes first, my toe is getting SORE, LOL!

rocmoc n AZ

Another thing the lower pressure does is to lower the gearing a bit. When I measure from the wheel center to the ground, I get 14-1/2" reflecting a 29" dia tire. You will notice a bit of tire loosness at speed on ashphalt with the softer tires. Sort of feels like it's floating a bit but I don't drive over about 40 mph in the trails and no bother there. Don't drive but rarely on ashphalt.

Lenny