suddenly steering is hard
 

Hi there,

It's been a looong time since I posted here. I'm having a problem with
my power steering. I just reinforced the frame on my 1981 CJ-7, by
welding 1/8" plates on the outer side of the frame (both sides).

The problem I have now is that my steering is suddenly hard sometimes
and it doesn't want to return by itself... Any ideas what would be
causing this? I checked the fluid level and it's ok. I also checked
the terminals and all seem fine. There is nothing on the way of the
steering shaft that may be causing binding either...

- Pablo

Re: suddenly steering is hard
 

When mine recently blew a ball joint it acted like you describe.

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)

pablorCJ7 wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> It's been a looong time since I posted here. I'm having a problem with
> my power steering. I just reinforced the frame on my 1981 CJ-7, by
> welding 1/8" plates on the outer side of the frame (both sides).
>
> The problem I have now is that my steering is suddenly hard sometimes
> and it doesn't want to return by itself... Any ideas what would be
> causing this? I checked the fluid level and it's ok. I also checked
> the terminals and all seem fine. There is nothing on the way of the
> steering shaft that may be causing binding either...
>
> - Pablo
>

Re: suddenly steering is hard
 

When mine recently blew a ball joint it acted like you describe.

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)

pablorCJ7 wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> It's been a looong time since I posted here. I'm having a problem with
> my power steering. I just reinforced the frame on my 1981 CJ-7, by
> welding 1/8" plates on the outer side of the frame (both sides).
>
> The problem I have now is that my steering is suddenly hard sometimes
> and it doesn't want to return by itself... Any ideas what would be
> causing this? I checked the fluid level and it's ok. I also checked
> the terminals and all seem fine. There is nothing on the way of the
> steering shaft that may be causing binding either...
>
> - Pablo
>

Re: suddenly steering is hard
 

When mine recently blew a ball joint it acted like you describe.

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)

pablorCJ7 wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> It's been a looong time since I posted here. I'm having a problem with
> my power steering. I just reinforced the frame on my 1981 CJ-7, by
> welding 1/8" plates on the outer side of the frame (both sides).
>
> The problem I have now is that my steering is suddenly hard sometimes
> and it doesn't want to return by itself... Any ideas what would be
> causing this? I checked the fluid level and it's ok. I also checked
> the terminals and all seem fine. There is nothing on the way of the
> steering shaft that may be causing binding either...
>
> - Pablo
>

Re: suddenly steering is hard
 

When mine recently blew a ball joint it acted like you describe.

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)

pablorCJ7 wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> It's been a looong time since I posted here. I'm having a problem with
> my power steering. I just reinforced the frame on my 1981 CJ-7, by
> welding 1/8" plates on the outer side of the frame (both sides).
>
> The problem I have now is that my steering is suddenly hard sometimes
> and it doesn't want to return by itself... Any ideas what would be
> causing this? I checked the fluid level and it's ok. I also checked
> the terminals and all seem fine. There is nothing on the way of the
> steering shaft that may be causing binding either...
>
> - Pablo
>

Re: suddenly steering is hard
 

On 19 Apr 2007 18:31:37 -0700, pablorCJ7 <pabloriofriog@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Hi there,
>
>It's been a looong time since I posted here. I'm having a problem with
>my power steering. I just reinforced the frame on my 1981 CJ-7, by
>welding 1/8" plates on the outer side of the frame (both sides).
>
>The problem I have now is that my steering is suddenly hard sometimes
>and it doesn't want to return by itself... Any ideas what would be
>causing this? I checked the fluid level and it's ok. I also checked
>the terminals and all seem fine. There is nothing on the way of the
>steering shaft that may be causing binding either...
>
>- Pablo


The fact that you had to reinforce the frame tell me that steering box
is under a lot of stress that it was never design to handle. Given its
age if it is the original box it is likely due replacement but for
some reason some seem to think that they never wear out nor that lifts
and big tires have no effect on their life span. .
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Re: suddenly steering is hard
 

On 19 Apr 2007 18:31:37 -0700, pablorCJ7 <pabloriofriog@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Hi there,
>
>It's been a looong time since I posted here. I'm having a problem with
>my power steering. I just reinforced the frame on my 1981 CJ-7, by
>welding 1/8" plates on the outer side of the frame (both sides).
>
>The problem I have now is that my steering is suddenly hard sometimes
>and it doesn't want to return by itself... Any ideas what would be
>causing this? I checked the fluid level and it's ok. I also checked
>the terminals and all seem fine. There is nothing on the way of the
>steering shaft that may be causing binding either...
>
>- Pablo


The fact that you had to reinforce the frame tell me that steering box
is under a lot of stress that it was never design to handle. Given its
age if it is the original box it is likely due replacement but for
some reason some seem to think that they never wear out nor that lifts
and big tires have no effect on their life span. .
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Re: suddenly steering is hard
 

On 19 Apr 2007 18:31:37 -0700, pablorCJ7 <pabloriofriog@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Hi there,
>
>It's been a looong time since I posted here. I'm having a problem with
>my power steering. I just reinforced the frame on my 1981 CJ-7, by
>welding 1/8" plates on the outer side of the frame (both sides).
>
>The problem I have now is that my steering is suddenly hard sometimes
>and it doesn't want to return by itself... Any ideas what would be
>causing this? I checked the fluid level and it's ok. I also checked
>the terminals and all seem fine. There is nothing on the way of the
>steering shaft that may be causing binding either...
>
>- Pablo


The fact that you had to reinforce the frame tell me that steering box
is under a lot of stress that it was never design to handle. Given its
age if it is the original box it is likely due replacement but for
some reason some seem to think that they never wear out nor that lifts
and big tires have no effect on their life span. .
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Re: suddenly steering is hard
 

On 19 Apr 2007 18:31:37 -0700, pablorCJ7 <pabloriofriog@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Hi there,
>
>It's been a looong time since I posted here. I'm having a problem with
>my power steering. I just reinforced the frame on my 1981 CJ-7, by
>welding 1/8" plates on the outer side of the frame (both sides).
>
>The problem I have now is that my steering is suddenly hard sometimes
>and it doesn't want to return by itself... Any ideas what would be
>causing this? I checked the fluid level and it's ok. I also checked
>the terminals and all seem fine. There is nothing on the way of the
>steering shaft that may be causing binding either...
>
>- Pablo


The fact that you had to reinforce the frame tell me that steering box
is under a lot of stress that it was never design to handle. Given its
age if it is the original box it is likely due replacement but for
some reason some seem to think that they never wear out nor that lifts
and big tires have no effect on their life span. .
-----------------
TheSnoMan.com

Re: suddenly steering is hard
 

On Apr 20, 9:05 am, SnoMan <a...@snoman.com> wrote:
>
> The fact that you had to reinforce the frame tell me that steering box
> is under a lot of stress that it was never design to handle. Given its
> age if it is the original box it is likely due replacement but for
> some reason some seem to think that they never wear out nor that lifts
> and big tires have no effect on their life span. .
> -----------------
> TheSnoMan.com

I replaced my steering box with an AGR SuperBox2 about 7 years ago...
I reinforced the frame for "peace of mind" because over the years I
have had to weld many small cracks. Our road infrastrcuture here in
South America is terrible, and the roads are full of holes.