XJ's slopping steering,...

11709 Views 11 Replies 8 Participants Last post by JENSSEN, Aug 11, 2005

JENSSEN

Discussion Starter · Aug 10, 2005

What are common areas to check on a XJ for very loose steering? On the hiway with the 33 Swampers I have 1/4 turn in the wheel before I get any kind of reaction from the wheels,.. I'd like to solve the issue before the Jeep Jamboree

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Jeepkid8037

· #2 · Aug 10, 2005

1. Your steering box may be loose and might need to be rebuilt/replaced

2. Check your trac bar mount, steering linkages etc. in the front end to insure that everything is nice and tight. Also check the 3 bolts that hold the steering box to the unibody.

3. Check for cracks/breaks in the unibody where the steering box bolts on.

I replaced my steering box with a used one and i still had too much play in the steering wheel. So i went through the front end and noticed that the trac bar mount was loose. After tightening that up my steering is great and i havent had any problems since.

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heepr

· #3 · Aug 10, 2005

If you dont have any luck, look into the C-rok steering box brace or a similar design, it can bring back that proper steering stiffness sometimes.

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GiS

· #4 · Aug 10, 2005

Jen, have a buddy turn the steering wheel while you watch the sector shaft, follow it down until you see the dead spot, whether it be the box, deflection in the pitman arm...I had the same problem once with a loose pitman arm nut, the arm was almost twisting / before it would move. Torqued it to spec and wala!

Hope that helps,

-Joe

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NothernAZxj

· #5 · Aug 11, 2005

Jeepkid8037 said:
1. Your steering box may be loose and might need to be rebuilt/replaced

2. Check your trac bar mount, steering linkages etc. in the front end to insure that everything is nice and tight. Also check the 3 bolts that hold the steering box to the unibody.

3. Check for cracks/breaks in the unibody where the steering box bolts on.

I replaced my steering box with a used one and i still had too much play in the steering wheel. So i went through the front end and noticed that the trac bar mount was loose. After tightening that up my steering is great and i havent had any problems since.

what he said...to check the Trackbar for good joint stand beside the rig and look down at the tire.. if the body moves first the trackbar is toast, replace it

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bnine

· #6 · Aug 11, 2005

Last time mine did that it was the trackbar at the frame. Huge flatspot. Lil red locktight and a 4ft bar cured it.

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JENSSEN

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 11, 2005

Thanks guys, had a buddy come over and work the wheel as I viewed, Track bar bushing is shot w/ a loose bolt. Didn't notice it before "testing" with a pry bar,... took two to diagnose,....

Much appreciated!

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BlackSkies7

· #8 · Aug 11, 2005

Since youl now be rebuilding or replacing your trac bar setup...

If you choose to just replace the bushing, or pickup another OEM tracbar.. Drill the axle and tracbar (where they meet) to 1/2" and replace that POS factory bolt with some gr8 hardware.

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JENSSEN

Discussion Starter · #9 · Aug 11, 2005

BlackSkies7 said:
Since youl now be rebuilding or replacing your trac bar setup...

If you choose to just replace the bushing, or pickup another OEM tracbar.. Drill the axle and tracbar (where they meet) to 1/2" and replace that POS factory bolt with some gr8 hardware.

Good call, I was also going to move the track bar over a bit to halp correct some of mf suspension lift changes to the piece

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BlackSkies7

· #10 · Aug 11, 2005

move over the trac bar?.. you got any pics of your setup, if your not getting bumpsteer now, screwing with the trac bar can lead to problems unless your going with a well thoughtout setup.
Hey which jamboree you going to?

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getstucksome

· #11 · Aug 11, 2005

I had to move my trackbar over 3/8" after my 3.5" lift, that is normal. just drill a hole over 3/8 of an inch and bolt on a grade 8 bolt. pretty easy

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JENSSEN

Discussion Starter · #12 · Aug 11, 2005

BlackSkies7 said:
move over the trac bar?.. you got any pics of your setup, if your not getting bumpsteer now, screwing with the trac bar can lead to problems unless your going with a well thoughtout setup.
Hey which jamboree you going to?

I need to do a fair bit of adjustment to the front end in general,... I am headed to the Jeep Jamboree in Rocky Mountain house, Alberta next weekend

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