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Steering play. FIXED!

Stomis

Stomis

Professional Amateur
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Posts
10,331
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Location
Roseland VA/PtPleasant NJ
New balljoints

New tierod and ends and sleeve

New draglink ends and sleeve

New steering box

New pitman arm

New rag joint

Just checked wheelbearings = fine

Poly body mounts

I cant figure this out. Heres whats happening.

When I drive downt he road my steering wheel is perfectly straight. If I make a good left turn and the body rolls a little then drive straight again my steering wheel will now be off to the left while driving straight. Now if I make a right turn and roll the body to the right it will straighten back out.

Does the same thing turning right. I figured thats gotta be rag joint, but nope...

Whats left to check? Everything is tight... I figure theres gotta be a worn joint or something in my shaft, that or my shaft doesnt have enough slip in it or something.

Any ideas?
 
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Put your key in and unlock the steering wheel. Now grab the steering shaft with your right hand and your stering arm with your left. Turn the steering shaft left and right and feel if there is any play in the steering box. You will be able to feel it. if there is more than just a tad, loosen the nut on top of the steering box and turn the allen screw in till the play becomes very little, then tighten the nut back up. See if that helps.
Tarey
 
After making a turn so the wheel is off, have you stopped and inspected everything?

Made sure your leaf spring shackles are tight?
 
I said shackles, I meant u-bolts. Either way, those tight too?

My dad had a steering issue for a few drives (seemed like death wobble) ended up the leaf spring pin had sheared on one of the rear spring packs, and until the u-bolts finally moved around enough for the spring to fall off the perch, you would have sworn it was front end related. Luckily the u-bolts held the springs to the axle long enough that the problem occurred off road at low speed.
 
Are you sure the frame isn't cracked behind the steering box? Any chance the box bolts have come loose?

Also, any chance the truck just isn't leveling out after a turn? Do you have a swaybar?
 
Blue85 said:
Are you sure the frame isn't cracked behind the steering box? Any chance the box bolts have come loose?

Also, any chance the truck just isn't leveling out after a turn? Do you have a swaybar?
Click to expand...

No sway bar. I know for a fact the truck isnt leveling out but we're talking 1/3 of a turn the steering wheel is off. I was just talking to a nice guy at the dealer and he says it definately sound like the lash on my box was not set correctly from the company.

I went to try it and the stupid thing is some retarded half size.... anyone know what it is?

Btw everything under my front end is tight, shackles, u bolts, everything. There no death wobble at all and the steering feels tight otherwise.

O and the frame definately isnt cracked. It has a 1/4in weld in brace.
 
this was going to be my guess. When i had push pull steering my wheel would be in different positions while going straight all the time. If one tank had more fuel, if the bed wasnt loaded evenly, or if I had just gone around a sharp corner would leave me searching for center. X-over solved that in a large part.

That nut is probably metric like the fittings.
 
Idk its some weird size but I'm sorta iffy on adjusting after reading some horror stories... What is this I am hearing about an xj steering shaft swap to take up some play?
 
Wow was that steering box bolt loose! I dont think I'm ever entrusting my dad to torque something down again.... He used to be stronger than me but its just not so anymore. Anyways I got a good 6-8 turns on one bolt and 3 on another. Obviously this helped but believe it or not it did not solve the problem.

I'm looking for an xj steering shaft tomorrow because I believe my problem to be in the top joint of the steering shaft.
 
Ok I did the xj shaft. Man the junkyards are a rip around here. One guy wanted $75 and the other two wanted $50 so i just went with that since its 10mins away. I swapped that in and I like the design alot.

Guess what though. It didnt fix it. I'm beginning to think this is just from the body roll and the only way to stop it is with a sway bar setup.

Maybe its time to take the plunge and go crossover....
 
$50 thats ridiculous I think I paid $7 for mine. I put in crossover at the same time I put in the xj shaft and the whole swap stiffened up the steering an amazing amount, I highly recommend it
 
I'm deffinately leaning towards it especially since I am getting a whole flattop 44 for $1000. But beside that The last thing I can think to check tomorrow is the body mounts.

My dad said maybe since I put new ones in a few months ago they have settled and need to be tightened up a bit.
 
Stomis said:
I'm deffinately leaning towards it especially since I am getting a whole flattop 44 for $1000. But beside that The last thing I can think to check tomorrow is the body mounts.

My dad said maybe since I put new ones in a few months ago they have settled and need to be tightened up a bit.
Click to expand...

a flat top 44 for $1000 :eek1::eek1::eek1::eek1::eek1::eek1::eek1:
 
I have witnessed someone use the larger spline ragjoint cinched down tight on the small input steering box , and it slip splines . I know supersize did it in an emergency and never removed it .

Just a thought , I ****ed up and did it myself and Jasons like your steering is slipping dude :doah:
 
pauly383 said:
I have witnessed someone use the larger spline ragjoint cinched down tight on the small input steering box , and it slip splines . I know supersize did it in an emergency and never removed it .

Just a thought , I ****ed up and did it myself and Jasons like your steering is slipping dude :doah:
Click to expand...

I'm still using the stock, 30 year old rag joint with no issues (seriously :eek1:).

It doesn't create any play in the steering and hence I haven't replaced it ;)
 
It's probably not for the problem you describe, but you might check anyway, your steering shaft. Alot of times there is some play. They are collapsable 2-pieces shafts, and there can be play between the 2 pieces. I take 2 pairs of vice grips to check check (one on upper, on on lower, and wiggle). If you feel any play, any, you will fell it 10 times worse in the wheel while driving. But, from what your describe, it would have to be loose, but lock in certain positions, which is kinda unlikley. But not impossible. It's a quick check.
 
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