Steering, too much play
 

I have a 94 YJ with manual steering that has about 6 inches of play in the
steering. I never really notice how much play I had until recently. The Jeep
just seems to wonder more than usual when on the road. Also sometimes after
a long sweeping curve the steering wheel almost feels like it is locked for
a moment or at least catches alittle when steering straight again.

I put it on a lift and could not find any loose joints. I did find a good
size nick in the seering stabilizer shock and replaced it. I looked for an
adjustment on the steering box but did not see one.

Seemed to be okay for the last 2-3 months. Until today I seemed to feel the
catch in the steering when steering straight after a long sweeping turn.

Do I need a new box or is there something else?

tia

Jim

Re: Steering, too much play
 

Could be several things, so check:
Steering box mounting brackets
Tie rod ends
Drag link ends
Steering wheel shaft joints
Have someone rock the steering wheel back and forth as you inspect these
items.

And lastly (after everything else is checked/fixed) you might try adjusting
the load bolt in the steering box. It has a lock nut on it and should be
visible on the top of the steering box through the bumper.

--
JimG
80' CJ-7 258 CID, HEI
4.56 Gears, Lock-Right F&R
35" BFG MT on 15x10 Centerlines
D44 Rear, D30 Front. SOA
Dana 300 w/4:1 & Currie twin sticks
Warn X8000i w/ dual batteries

00' TJ Sport 4.0L, 5sp
4.56 Gears, TrueTrac rear
33" BFG AT on 15x8 Eagle Alloys
D35 Rear, D30 Front. 3" Suspension Lift
Warn X8000i

"Marvin Oliver" wrote in message...
>I have a 94 YJ with manual steering that has about 6 inches of play in the
>steering. I never really notice how much play I had until recently. The
>Jeep just seems to wonder more than usual when on the road. Also sometimes
>after a long sweeping curve the steering wheel almost feels like it is
>locked for a moment or at least catches alittle when steering straight
>again.
>
> I put it on a lift and could not find any loose joints. I did find a good
> size nick in the seering stabilizer shock and replaced it. I looked for an
> adjustment on the steering box but did not see one.
>
> Seemed to be okay for the last 2-3 months. Until today I seemed to feel
> the catch in the steering when steering straight after a long sweeping
> turn.
>
> Do I need a new box or is there something else?
>
> tia
>
> Jim
>

Re: Steering, too much play
 

Could be several things, so check:
Steering box mounting brackets
Tie rod ends
Drag link ends
Steering wheel shaft joints
Have someone rock the steering wheel back and forth as you inspect these
items.

And lastly (after everything else is checked/fixed) you might try adjusting
the load bolt in the steering box. It has a lock nut on it and should be
visible on the top of the steering box through the bumper.

--
JimG
80' CJ-7 258 CID, HEI
4.56 Gears, Lock-Right F&R
35" BFG MT on 15x10 Centerlines
D44 Rear, D30 Front. SOA
Dana 300 w/4:1 & Currie twin sticks
Warn X8000i w/ dual batteries

00' TJ Sport 4.0L, 5sp
4.56 Gears, TrueTrac rear
33" BFG AT on 15x8 Eagle Alloys
D35 Rear, D30 Front. 3" Suspension Lift
Warn X8000i

"Marvin Oliver" wrote in message...
>I have a 94 YJ with manual steering that has about 6 inches of play in the
>steering. I never really notice how much play I had until recently. The
>Jeep just seems to wonder more than usual when on the road. Also sometimes
>after a long sweeping curve the steering wheel almost feels like it is
>locked for a moment or at least catches alittle when steering straight
>again.
>
> I put it on a lift and could not find any loose joints. I did find a good
> size nick in the seering stabilizer shock and replaced it. I looked for an
> adjustment on the steering box but did not see one.
>
> Seemed to be okay for the last 2-3 months. Until today I seemed to feel
> the catch in the steering when steering straight after a long sweeping
> turn.
>
> Do I need a new box or is there something else?
>
> tia
>
> Jim
>

Re: Steering, too much play
 

Could be several things, so check:
Steering box mounting brackets
Tie rod ends
Drag link ends
Steering wheel shaft joints
Have someone rock the steering wheel back and forth as you inspect these
items.

And lastly (after everything else is checked/fixed) you might try adjusting
the load bolt in the steering box. It has a lock nut on it and should be
visible on the top of the steering box through the bumper.

--
JimG
80' CJ-7 258 CID, HEI
4.56 Gears, Lock-Right F&R
35" BFG MT on 15x10 Centerlines
D44 Rear, D30 Front. SOA
Dana 300 w/4:1 & Currie twin sticks
Warn X8000i w/ dual batteries

00' TJ Sport 4.0L, 5sp
4.56 Gears, TrueTrac rear
33" BFG AT on 15x8 Eagle Alloys
D35 Rear, D30 Front. 3" Suspension Lift
Warn X8000i

"Marvin Oliver" wrote in message...
>I have a 94 YJ with manual steering that has about 6 inches of play in the
>steering. I never really notice how much play I had until recently. The
>Jeep just seems to wonder more than usual when on the road. Also sometimes
>after a long sweeping curve the steering wheel almost feels like it is
>locked for a moment or at least catches alittle when steering straight
>again.
>
> I put it on a lift and could not find any loose joints. I did find a good
> size nick in the seering stabilizer shock and replaced it. I looked for an
> adjustment on the steering box but did not see one.
>
> Seemed to be okay for the last 2-3 months. Until today I seemed to feel
> the catch in the steering when steering straight after a long sweeping
> turn.
>
> Do I need a new box or is there something else?
>
> tia
>
> Jim
>

Re: Steering, too much play
 

A 94 with manual steering is an odd ball.

The grabbing you feel could be a ball joint about to fail and let the
wheel fall off.....

Normally you can see this before the wheel actually does fall off. If
you look close at the wheels from the front you can see if they are
pointing straight up and down. You can even use a level on them if the
eye doesn't pick it up.

If you have a failed ball joint, that wheel usually will lean in or out
at the top. It is usually pretty obvious.

You also can get under when someone cranks the steering from pin to pin
and watch the moving parts. Usually you can see play in any of the tie
rod ends when doing this. Pay close attention to the track bar bushing
too. That is the rod that goes from the passenger side axle to the
drivers side frame.

There also is a u-joint on the steering column just below the brake MC
near the firewall. These get sloppy.

Steering boxes have also been known to crack or break loose from the
frame.

You cannot adjust the steering box while it is on the Jeep so if the
slop is in the box, you will need to remove it to set it back up. There
is a bearing preload bolt in the top of the box. Folks mistakenly play
with this to 'tighten' up the box. This normally causes total box
failure in short order. The adjustment plug for side to side play in
the steering wheel is the plug where the steering column goes in. I
have the box setup directions if that turns out to be it.

My steering wheel had about 8" of play when I got my CJ7. No one part
was 'bad', they all just were sloppy. The affect of all of them a
little loose was bad.

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)

Marvin Oliver wrote:
>
> I have a 94 YJ with manual steering that has about 6 inches of play in the
> steering. I never really notice how much play I had until recently. The Jeep
> just seems to wonder more than usual when on the road. Also sometimes after
> a long sweeping curve the steering wheel almost feels like it is locked for
> a moment or at least catches alittle when steering straight again.
>
> I put it on a lift and could not find any loose joints. I did find a good
> size nick in the seering stabilizer shock and replaced it. I looked for an
> adjustment on the steering box but did not see one.
>
> Seemed to be okay for the last 2-3 months. Until today I seemed to feel the
> catch in the steering when steering straight after a long sweeping turn.
>
> Do I need a new box or is there something else?
>
> tia
>
> Jim

Re: Steering, too much play
 

A 94 with manual steering is an odd ball.

The grabbing you feel could be a ball joint about to fail and let the
wheel fall off.....

Normally you can see this before the wheel actually does fall off. If
you look close at the wheels from the front you can see if they are
pointing straight up and down. You can even use a level on them if the
eye doesn't pick it up.

If you have a failed ball joint, that wheel usually will lean in or out
at the top. It is usually pretty obvious.

You also can get under when someone cranks the steering from pin to pin
and watch the moving parts. Usually you can see play in any of the tie
rod ends when doing this. Pay close attention to the track bar bushing
too. That is the rod that goes from the passenger side axle to the
drivers side frame.

There also is a u-joint on the steering column just below the brake MC
near the firewall. These get sloppy.

Steering boxes have also been known to crack or break loose from the
frame.

You cannot adjust the steering box while it is on the Jeep so if the
slop is in the box, you will need to remove it to set it back up. There
is a bearing preload bolt in the top of the box. Folks mistakenly play
with this to 'tighten' up the box. This normally causes total box
failure in short order. The adjustment plug for side to side play in
the steering wheel is the plug where the steering column goes in. I
have the box setup directions if that turns out to be it.

My steering wheel had about 8" of play when I got my CJ7. No one part
was 'bad', they all just were sloppy. The affect of all of them a
little loose was bad.

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)

Marvin Oliver wrote:
>
> I have a 94 YJ with manual steering that has about 6 inches of play in the
> steering. I never really notice how much play I had until recently. The Jeep
> just seems to wonder more than usual when on the road. Also sometimes after
> a long sweeping curve the steering wheel almost feels like it is locked for
> a moment or at least catches alittle when steering straight again.
>
> I put it on a lift and could not find any loose joints. I did find a good
> size nick in the seering stabilizer shock and replaced it. I looked for an
> adjustment on the steering box but did not see one.
>
> Seemed to be okay for the last 2-3 months. Until today I seemed to feel the
> catch in the steering when steering straight after a long sweeping turn.
>
> Do I need a new box or is there something else?
>
> tia
>
> Jim

Re: Steering, too much play
 

A 94 with manual steering is an odd ball.

The grabbing you feel could be a ball joint about to fail and let the
wheel fall off.....

Normally you can see this before the wheel actually does fall off. If
you look close at the wheels from the front you can see if they are
pointing straight up and down. You can even use a level on them if the
eye doesn't pick it up.

If you have a failed ball joint, that wheel usually will lean in or out
at the top. It is usually pretty obvious.

You also can get under when someone cranks the steering from pin to pin
and watch the moving parts. Usually you can see play in any of the tie
rod ends when doing this. Pay close attention to the track bar bushing
too. That is the rod that goes from the passenger side axle to the
drivers side frame.

There also is a u-joint on the steering column just below the brake MC
near the firewall. These get sloppy.

Steering boxes have also been known to crack or break loose from the
frame.

You cannot adjust the steering box while it is on the Jeep so if the
slop is in the box, you will need to remove it to set it back up. There
is a bearing preload bolt in the top of the box. Folks mistakenly play
with this to 'tighten' up the box. This normally causes total box
failure in short order. The adjustment plug for side to side play in
the steering wheel is the plug where the steering column goes in. I
have the box setup directions if that turns out to be it.

My steering wheel had about 8" of play when I got my CJ7. No one part
was 'bad', they all just were sloppy. The affect of all of them a
little loose was bad.

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)

Marvin Oliver wrote:
>
> I have a 94 YJ with manual steering that has about 6 inches of play in the
> steering. I never really notice how much play I had until recently. The Jeep
> just seems to wonder more than usual when on the road. Also sometimes after
> a long sweeping curve the steering wheel almost feels like it is locked for
> a moment or at least catches alittle when steering straight again.
>
> I put it on a lift and could not find any loose joints. I did find a good
> size nick in the seering stabilizer shock and replaced it. I looked for an
> adjustment on the steering box but did not see one.
>
> Seemed to be okay for the last 2-3 months. Until today I seemed to feel the
> catch in the steering when steering straight after a long sweeping turn.
>
> Do I need a new box or is there something else?
>
> tia
>
> Jim