87 YJ Steering problem
 

I have an 87 YJ with power steering. It has stock
size rims and tires (225/75-15 tires).

[258 I6+TF727 3Speed+NP207+3.07 gears].

Lately the steering has become super hard to turn.
Its worse than any non-power steering vehicle I have
driven. The steering effort really doesn't get better
with speed, or course you don't have as much to do...

The peculiar thing is that the steering effort isn't really
constant or even constantly increasing as you get
toward the lock. Turning from lock to lock there are
easy bits and very hard bits. I don't know if its the
right way to explain it, but it is almost like turning
against a cam. This is true standing still or going slow
in a parking lot. Engine speed doesn't seem to matter.

I have checked the power steering fluid and belt. The
pump turns. It squeals a little at the locks. One
suspicious thing is a slight mechanical moaning sound
that can be heard at low speed (crawling up to a stop
light), kind of u-joint like, but I am not sure.

How do you go about diagnosing this one?

Thanks

Re: 87 YJ Steering problem
 

On Fri, 07 May 2004 03:13:46 GMT, "Charlie Dellacona"
<cdellacona@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I have an 87 YJ with power steering. It has stock
>size rims and tires (225/75-15 tires).
>
>[258 I6+TF727 3Speed+NP207+3.07 gears].
>
>Lately the steering has become super hard to turn.
>Its worse than any non-power steering vehicle I have
>driven. The steering effort really doesn't get better
>with speed, or course you don't have as much to do...
>
>The peculiar thing is that the steering effort isn't really
>constant or even constantly increasing as you get
>toward the lock. Turning from lock to lock there are
>easy bits and very hard bits. I don't know if its the
>right way to explain it, but it is almost like turning
>against a cam. This is true standing still or going slow
>in a parking lot. Engine speed doesn't seem to matter.
>
>I have checked the power steering fluid and belt. The
>pump turns. It squeals a little at the locks. One
>suspicious thing is a slight mechanical moaning sound
>that can be heard at low speed (crawling up to a stop
>light), kind of u-joint like, but I am not sure.
>
>How do you go about diagnosing this one?
>
>Thanks
>

A few things I can think of are:
- steering box is failing
- bent or failing steering stabilizer
- steering shaft u-joints are failing
- a ball joint is tight or seized
- steering shaft bearing ???

Maybe disconnect/remove the stablizer and do a slow drive around the
block and rule that out first.

Re: 87 YJ Steering problem
 

On Fri, 07 May 2004 03:13:46 GMT, "Charlie Dellacona"
<cdellacona@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I have an 87 YJ with power steering. It has stock
>size rims and tires (225/75-15 tires).
>
>[258 I6+TF727 3Speed+NP207+3.07 gears].
>
>Lately the steering has become super hard to turn.
>Its worse than any non-power steering vehicle I have
>driven. The steering effort really doesn't get better
>with speed, or course you don't have as much to do...
>
>The peculiar thing is that the steering effort isn't really
>constant or even constantly increasing as you get
>toward the lock. Turning from lock to lock there are
>easy bits and very hard bits. I don't know if its the
>right way to explain it, but it is almost like turning
>against a cam. This is true standing still or going slow
>in a parking lot. Engine speed doesn't seem to matter.
>
>I have checked the power steering fluid and belt. The
>pump turns. It squeals a little at the locks. One
>suspicious thing is a slight mechanical moaning sound
>that can be heard at low speed (crawling up to a stop
>light), kind of u-joint like, but I am not sure.
>
>How do you go about diagnosing this one?
>
>Thanks
>

A few things I can think of are:
- steering box is failing
- bent or failing steering stabilizer
- steering shaft u-joints are failing
- a ball joint is tight or seized
- steering shaft bearing ???

Maybe disconnect/remove the stablizer and do a slow drive around the
block and rule that out first.

Re: 87 YJ Steering problem
 

On Fri, 07 May 2004 03:13:46 GMT, "Charlie Dellacona"
<cdellacona@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I have an 87 YJ with power steering. It has stock
>size rims and tires (225/75-15 tires).
>
>[258 I6+TF727 3Speed+NP207+3.07 gears].
>
>Lately the steering has become super hard to turn.
>Its worse than any non-power steering vehicle I have
>driven. The steering effort really doesn't get better
>with speed, or course you don't have as much to do...
>
>The peculiar thing is that the steering effort isn't really
>constant or even constantly increasing as you get
>toward the lock. Turning from lock to lock there are
>easy bits and very hard bits. I don't know if its the
>right way to explain it, but it is almost like turning
>against a cam. This is true standing still or going slow
>in a parking lot. Engine speed doesn't seem to matter.
>
>I have checked the power steering fluid and belt. The
>pump turns. It squeals a little at the locks. One
>suspicious thing is a slight mechanical moaning sound
>that can be heard at low speed (crawling up to a stop
>light), kind of u-joint like, but I am not sure.
>
>How do you go about diagnosing this one?
>
>Thanks
>

A few things I can think of are:
- steering box is failing
- bent or failing steering stabilizer
- steering shaft u-joints are failing
- a ball joint is tight or seized
- steering shaft bearing ???

Maybe disconnect/remove the stablizer and do a slow drive around the
block and rule that out first.

Re: 87 YJ Steering problem
 

On Fri, 07 May 2004 03:13:46 GMT, "Charlie Dellacona"
<cdellacona@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I have an 87 YJ with power steering. It has stock
>size rims and tires (225/75-15 tires).
>
>[258 I6+TF727 3Speed+NP207+3.07 gears].
>
>Lately the steering has become super hard to turn.
>Its worse than any non-power steering vehicle I have
>driven. The steering effort really doesn't get better
>with speed, or course you don't have as much to do...
>
>The peculiar thing is that the steering effort isn't really
>constant or even constantly increasing as you get
>toward the lock. Turning from lock to lock there are
>easy bits and very hard bits. I don't know if its the
>right way to explain it, but it is almost like turning
>against a cam. This is true standing still or going slow
>in a parking lot. Engine speed doesn't seem to matter.
>
>I have checked the power steering fluid and belt. The
>pump turns. It squeals a little at the locks. One
>suspicious thing is a slight mechanical moaning sound
>that can be heard at low speed (crawling up to a stop
>light), kind of u-joint like, but I am not sure.
>
>How do you go about diagnosing this one?
>
>Thanks
>

A few things I can think of are:
- steering box is failing
- bent or failing steering stabilizer
- steering shaft u-joints are failing
- a ball joint is tight or seized
- steering shaft bearing ???

Maybe disconnect/remove the stablizer and do a slow drive around the
block and rule that out first.

Re: 87 YJ Steering problem
 

sounds like it could be 2 things if the problem is in both directions its the
pump. If it only does it in one direction its the box. with the pump there are
2 valves in it and they could not be functioning properly. If it is the box it
sounds like the worm drive and the recirculating bearing are worn out. Hope
this helps

Re: 87 YJ Steering problem
 

sounds like it could be 2 things if the problem is in both directions its the
pump. If it only does it in one direction its the box. with the pump there are
2 valves in it and they could not be functioning properly. If it is the box it
sounds like the worm drive and the recirculating bearing are worn out. Hope
this helps

Re: 87 YJ Steering problem
 

sounds like it could be 2 things if the problem is in both directions its the
pump. If it only does it in one direction its the box. with the pump there are
2 valves in it and they could not be functioning properly. If it is the box it
sounds like the worm drive and the recirculating bearing are worn out. Hope
this helps

Re: 87 YJ Steering problem
 

sounds like it could be 2 things if the problem is in both directions its the
pump. If it only does it in one direction its the box. with the pump there are
2 valves in it and they could not be functioning properly. If it is the box it
sounds like the worm drive and the recirculating bearing are worn out. Hope
this helps

Re: 87 YJ Steering problem
 

Jeepster wrote:
>
> On Fri, 07 May 2004 03:13:46 GMT, "Charlie Dellacona"
> <cdellacona@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >I have an 87 YJ with power steering. It has stock
> >size rims and tires (225/75-15 tires).
> >
> >[258 I6+TF727 3Speed+NP207+3.07 gears].
> >
> >Lately the steering has become super hard to turn.
> >Its worse than any non-power steering vehicle I have
> >driven. The steering effort really doesn't get better
> >with speed, or course you don't have as much to do...
> >
> >The peculiar thing is that the steering effort isn't really
> >constant or even constantly increasing as you get
> >toward the lock. Turning from lock to lock there are
> >easy bits and very hard bits. I don't know if its the
> >right way to explain it, but it is almost like turning
> >against a cam. This is true standing still or going slow
> >in a parking lot. Engine speed doesn't seem to matter.
> >
> >I have checked the power steering fluid and belt. The
> >pump turns. It squeals a little at the locks. One
> >suspicious thing is a slight mechanical moaning sound
> >that can be heard at low speed (crawling up to a stop
> >light), kind of u-joint like, but I am not sure.
> >
> >How do you go about diagnosing this one?
> >
> >Thanks
> >
>
> A few things I can think of are:
> - steering box is failing
> - bent or failing steering stabilizer
> - steering shaft u-joints are failing
> - a ball joint is tight or seized
> - steering shaft bearing ???
>
> Maybe disconnect/remove the stablizer and do a slow drive around the
> block and rule that out first.

I agree.

One more thing is a cooked front axle u-joint. They can bind the
steering up like that when they seize.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's