James

Several months ago, I reported about my 2000 JGC overheating at very high
speeds or when climbing a long hill. Many good ideas and advice was
offered, but I think the concensus was that I needed to replace the
radiator. I have now done this, and it indeed fully cured the problem !!
Thanks for all the help on this one.


Further back, I also reported a problem with this same Jeep with what I
thought was front-end problems and looseness of some sort when going down
gravel roads or other rough road surfaces. As some here suggested, my
mechanic checked all sorts of front-end items such as tie-rod ends, ball
joints, and the like.


At first, I thought that some oscillation was set up in my front end, that
was then transmitted into my steering column and made it rattle and jerk
like crazy when I go over rough roads. However, after studying and
watching this steering reaction more closely, I can now better describe this
rattling/clunking as actually being right in my steering column itself. In
other words, and I actually hear this clunking and rattling (quite loud and
severe) right in my steering column. I repeat, that this is a very
pronounced looseness and jerking, it is strong enough that it feels like my
steering wheel might fall off !!

As a non-mechanic, I wonder if the gears in my steering box have worn down,
allowing the oscillation to take place in the steering column ? I am told
that it is a sealed unit, so if that is the case, I don't know how one would
check for it. By the way, at the suggestion of someone here, my mechanic
checked the bolts that hold the steering box to the frame were tight and
secure, and they are.

Any ideas on this malady ???

Thanks again for the good advice here !!!


James

Mike Romain

I haven't inspects a JGC so don't know for sure, but the other Jeeps use
a universal joint or two in the steering column shaft. These are not
serviceable and do go bad in time.

Other than that I have always been able to find the slop by watching the
movement carefully. It takes two people, one to wiggle the steering
wheel and one to watch or touch. The sense of touch can feel a part
like the pitman arm on the bottom of the steering box start to move
while the eyes watch the shaft going into it to see if there is slop, etc...

The joint in a tilt steering can get sloppy to. Same deal watch and
rock the steering.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

James wrote:
> Several months ago, I reported about my 2000 JGC overheating at very high
> speeds or when climbing a long hill. Many good ideas and advice was
> offered, but I think the concensus was that I needed to replace the
> radiator. I have now done this, and it indeed fully cured the problem !!
> Thanks for all the help on this one.
>
>
> Further back, I also reported a problem with this same Jeep with what I
> thought was front-end problems and looseness of some sort when going down
> gravel roads or other rough road surfaces. As some here suggested, my
> mechanic checked all sorts of front-end items such as tie-rod ends, ball
> joints, and the like.
>
>
> At first, I thought that some oscillation was set up in my front end, that
> was then transmitted into my steering column and made it rattle and jerk
> like crazy when I go over rough roads. However, after studying and
> watching this steering reaction more closely, I can now better describe this
> rattling/clunking as actually being right in my steering column itself. In
> other words, and I actually hear this clunking and rattling (quite loud and
> severe) right in my steering column. I repeat, that this is a very
> pronounced looseness and jerking, it is strong enough that it feels like my
> steering wheel might fall off !!
>
> As a non-mechanic, I wonder if the gears in my steering box have worn down,
> allowing the oscillation to take place in the steering column ? I am told
> that it is a sealed unit, so if that is the case, I don't know how one would
> check for it. By the way, at the suggestion of someone here, my mechanic
> checked the bolts that hold the steering box to the frame were tight and
> secure, and they are.
>
> Any ideas on this malady ???
>
> Thanks again for the good advice here !!!
>
>
> James
>
>
>

Mike Romain

I haven't inspects a JGC so don't know for sure, but the other Jeeps use
a universal joint or two in the steering column shaft. These are not
serviceable and do go bad in time.

Other than that I have always been able to find the slop by watching the
movement carefully. It takes two people, one to wiggle the steering
wheel and one to watch or touch. The sense of touch can feel a part
like the pitman arm on the bottom of the steering box start to move
while the eyes watch the shaft going into it to see if there is slop, etc...

The joint in a tilt steering can get sloppy to. Same deal watch and
rock the steering.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

James wrote:
> Several months ago, I reported about my 2000 JGC overheating at very high
> speeds or when climbing a long hill. Many good ideas and advice was
> offered, but I think the concensus was that I needed to replace the
> radiator. I have now done this, and it indeed fully cured the problem !!
> Thanks for all the help on this one.
>
>
> Further back, I also reported a problem with this same Jeep with what I
> thought was front-end problems and looseness of some sort when going down
> gravel roads or other rough road surfaces. As some here suggested, my
> mechanic checked all sorts of front-end items such as tie-rod ends, ball
> joints, and the like.
>
>
> At first, I thought that some oscillation was set up in my front end, that
> was then transmitted into my steering column and made it rattle and jerk
> like crazy when I go over rough roads. However, after studying and
> watching this steering reaction more closely, I can now better describe this
> rattling/clunking as actually being right in my steering column itself. In
> other words, and I actually hear this clunking and rattling (quite loud and
> severe) right in my steering column. I repeat, that this is a very
> pronounced looseness and jerking, it is strong enough that it feels like my
> steering wheel might fall off !!
>
> As a non-mechanic, I wonder if the gears in my steering box have worn down,
> allowing the oscillation to take place in the steering column ? I am told
> that it is a sealed unit, so if that is the case, I don't know how one would
> check for it. By the way, at the suggestion of someone here, my mechanic
> checked the bolts that hold the steering box to the frame were tight and
> secure, and they are.
>
> Any ideas on this malady ???
>
> Thanks again for the good advice here !!!
>
>
> James
>
>
>

Mike Romain

I haven't inspects a JGC so don't know for sure, but the other Jeeps use
a universal joint or two in the steering column shaft. These are not
serviceable and do go bad in time.

Other than that I have always been able to find the slop by watching the
movement carefully. It takes two people, one to wiggle the steering
wheel and one to watch or touch. The sense of touch can feel a part
like the pitman arm on the bottom of the steering box start to move
while the eyes watch the shaft going into it to see if there is slop, etc...

The joint in a tilt steering can get sloppy to. Same deal watch and
rock the steering.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

James wrote:
> Several months ago, I reported about my 2000 JGC overheating at very high
> speeds or when climbing a long hill. Many good ideas and advice was
> offered, but I think the concensus was that I needed to replace the
> radiator. I have now done this, and it indeed fully cured the problem !!
> Thanks for all the help on this one.
>
>
> Further back, I also reported a problem with this same Jeep with what I
> thought was front-end problems and looseness of some sort when going down
> gravel roads or other rough road surfaces. As some here suggested, my
> mechanic checked all sorts of front-end items such as tie-rod ends, ball
> joints, and the like.
>
>
> At first, I thought that some oscillation was set up in my front end, that
> was then transmitted into my steering column and made it rattle and jerk
> like crazy when I go over rough roads. However, after studying and
> watching this steering reaction more closely, I can now better describe this
> rattling/clunking as actually being right in my steering column itself. In
> other words, and I actually hear this clunking and rattling (quite loud and
> severe) right in my steering column. I repeat, that this is a very
> pronounced looseness and jerking, it is strong enough that it feels like my
> steering wheel might fall off !!
>
> As a non-mechanic, I wonder if the gears in my steering box have worn down,
> allowing the oscillation to take place in the steering column ? I am told
> that it is a sealed unit, so if that is the case, I don't know how one would
> check for it. By the way, at the suggestion of someone here, my mechanic
> checked the bolts that hold the steering box to the frame were tight and
> secure, and they are.
>
> Any ideas on this malady ???
>
> Thanks again for the good advice here !!!
>
>
> James
>
>
>

Mike Romain

I haven't inspects a JGC so don't know for sure, but the other Jeeps use
a universal joint or two in the steering column shaft. These are not
serviceable and do go bad in time.

Other than that I have always been able to find the slop by watching the
movement carefully. It takes two people, one to wiggle the steering
wheel and one to watch or touch. The sense of touch can feel a part
like the pitman arm on the bottom of the steering box start to move
while the eyes watch the shaft going into it to see if there is slop, etc...

The joint in a tilt steering can get sloppy to. Same deal watch and
rock the steering.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

James wrote:
> Several months ago, I reported about my 2000 JGC overheating at very high
> speeds or when climbing a long hill. Many good ideas and advice was
> offered, but I think the concensus was that I needed to replace the
> radiator. I have now done this, and it indeed fully cured the problem !!
> Thanks for all the help on this one.
>
>
> Further back, I also reported a problem with this same Jeep with what I
> thought was front-end problems and looseness of some sort when going down
> gravel roads or other rough road surfaces. As some here suggested, my
> mechanic checked all sorts of front-end items such as tie-rod ends, ball
> joints, and the like.
>
>
> At first, I thought that some oscillation was set up in my front end, that
> was then transmitted into my steering column and made it rattle and jerk
> like crazy when I go over rough roads. However, after studying and
> watching this steering reaction more closely, I can now better describe this
> rattling/clunking as actually being right in my steering column itself. In
> other words, and I actually hear this clunking and rattling (quite loud and
> severe) right in my steering column. I repeat, that this is a very
> pronounced looseness and jerking, it is strong enough that it feels like my
> steering wheel might fall off !!
>
> As a non-mechanic, I wonder if the gears in my steering box have worn down,
> allowing the oscillation to take place in the steering column ? I am told
> that it is a sealed unit, so if that is the case, I don't know how one would
> check for it. By the way, at the suggestion of someone here, my mechanic
> checked the bolts that hold the steering box to the frame were tight and
> secure, and they are.
>
> Any ideas on this malady ???
>
> Thanks again for the good advice here !!!
>
>
> James
>
>
>

James

Thanks Mike !! Yes, this is a tilt steering wheel. I think that I need to
find someone with experience in working on the steering column, and I also
know the importance of the mechanic being totally familiar with the air bag
in the steering wheel.

I will look out for further comments on this problem....... I do wish that
I could find a cure.

James

James

Thanks Mike !! Yes, this is a tilt steering wheel. I think that I need to
find someone with experience in working on the steering column, and I also
know the importance of the mechanic being totally familiar with the air bag
in the steering wheel.

I will look out for further comments on this problem....... I do wish that
I could find a cure.

James

James

Thanks Mike !! Yes, this is a tilt steering wheel. I think that I need to
find someone with experience in working on the steering column, and I also
know the importance of the mechanic being totally familiar with the air bag
in the steering wheel.

I will look out for further comments on this problem....... I do wish that
I could find a cure.

James

James

Thanks Mike !! Yes, this is a tilt steering wheel. I think that I need to
find someone with experience in working on the steering column, and I also
know the importance of the mechanic being totally familiar with the air bag
in the steering wheel.

I will look out for further comments on this problem....... I do wish that
I could find a cure.

James

Mike Romain

James wrote:
> Thanks Mike !! Yes, this is a tilt steering wheel. I think that I need to
> find someone with experience in working on the steering column, and I also
> know the importance of the mechanic being totally familiar with the air bag
> in the steering wheel.
>
> I will look out for further comments on this problem....... I do wish that
> I could find a cure.
>
> James
>
>

If your track bar bushing has gone bad, it can cause a bad odd shake in
the steering.

To check that, you sit in the drivers seat very still and line your eye
up with the hood crease and a spot on the ground or a tree or something.
You then have the engine running and turn the steering wheel side to
side. If the spot on the ground moves with the steering, check the
bushing. The steering is only supposed to move the wheels, not the nose
of the Jeep.

The bushing is on the passenger side where a big bar hooks up that goes
to the frame on the drivers side.

If bad, you will see movement in this connection when someone turns the
steering back and forth while you go under and look. It's other end on
the frame has a ball joint which can go bad too, but the bushing is
first usually.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)