Can steering wheel play be reduced/eliminated?

[gearhead22]

Hello all. I have a 21’ JTR. I think the current most aggravating thing is the amount of play/dead space in the steering wheel. Is there a way to tighten it up? I’m aware of the steering box adjustment but that seems quite debated as to whether it should be touched or not. The tie rod/drag link are new. The steering box is the OEM steel.

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[Arisdocjk]

I have a 21 Mojave with the steel box. I replaced the trackbar, draglink, and tiered. Also added the sector shaft brace. Adjusting the steering box made the biggest difference. Just don’t over do it.

 

[g2020]

Hello all. I have a 21’ JTR. I think the current most aggravating thing is the amount of play/dead space in the steering wheel. Is there a way to tighten it up? I’m aware of the steering box adjustment but that seems quite debated as to whether it should be touched or not. The tie rod/drag link are new. The steering box is the OEM steel.

This is from a post I wrote three years after a very good Jeep service advisor resolved death wobble in a single visit. I'm keeping the warnings (such as: read first 3 three posts at the link below) for other readers. The OP has been banned, but the first 3 posts in the thread below helped me learn a little something about troubleshooting steering issues.

Thread Related to Steering Gear Adjustment

I am including this section on steering gear adjustment because before death wobble, my steering wheel had ZERO play/slack/slop, and after death wobble, it had some play (but not too much)

• For steering gear adjustment, there is risk of damaging the steering gear and/or voiding the warranty
• Read the first three posts (including the disclaimer in post #3) in the following thread before you begin: "This is a [job] for knowledgeable people"

Thread: https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...system-i-am-finally-happy-with-my-jeep.31671/

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This is from a post I wrote three years after a very good Jeep service advisor resolved death wobble in a single visit. I'm keeping the warnings (such as: read first 3 three posts at the link below) for other readers. The OP has been banned, but the first 3 posts in the thread below helped me learn a little something about troubleshooting steering issues.

Thread Related to Steering Gear Adjustment

I am including this section on steering gear adjustment because before death wobble, my steering wheel had ZERO play/slack/slop, and after death wobble, it had some play (but not too much)

• For steering gear adjustment, there is risk of damaging the steering gear and/or voiding the warranty
• Read the first three posts (including the disclaimer in post #3) in the following thread before you begin: "This is a [job] for knowledgeable people"

Thread: https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...system-i-am-finally-happy-with-my-jeep.31671/

Yeah, if people would learn, read the books on these things, understand what that "screw" is even for - but no, because a youtuber says "do this to FIX your steering!" it's a thing.

It's a preload adjustment. If you have PLAY, you have a problem.
The CORRECT way to adjust that is with it disconnected. It's the last thing checked and/or adjusted for preload. You set the input side, then set that side, and additive torque load.
If there's play, fix the reason.
Yes, as things wear, you lose that preload and develop play - play means wear.
You can adjust it again - but the way the sector gear works inside, you'd better sneak up on it or you'll have issues including accelerating the wear, or even finding the thing won't go past center when it's hot.

The normal course is leave the steering gear to last - check all over likely reasons first. Ball joints, drag link, tie rods, pitman arm, and so on.
Tysongladiator found his pitman arm loose on the pitman shaft!!

A brace is not going to fix loose steering on a stock Jeep. These just don't have the load with stock tires and stock height. I know people say "I put on the sector shaft brace and it fixed my steering" Yeah, ok.

 

[Vtur]

If the factory steering box delivered to Jeep out of adjustment from China then an adjustment is need it.

 

[ecidiego]

Tysongladiator found his pitman arm loose on the pitman shaft!!

My pitman nut was hand tight from the factory....crazy...

Video was made when I was new to pitman arm steering. My discovery here made me learn the entire system. After I made the video.... I grabbed the nut and there was 0 torque. Bought brand new with 9 miles... no one had touched the truck prior to me noticing this. Nice quality, Jeep.



Edit... thread I made then:

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/is-this-pitman-arm-slop-normal.79449/

 

[gearhead22]

Yeah, if people would learn, read the books on these things, understand what that "screw" is even for - but no, because a youtuber says "do this to FIX your steering!" it's a thing.

It's a preload adjustment. If you have PLAY, you have a problem.
The CORRECT way to adjust that is with it disconnected. It's the last thing checked and/or adjusted for preload. You set the input side, then set that side, and additive torque load.
If there's play, fix the reason.
Yes, as things wear, you lose that preload and develop play - play means wear.
You can adjust it again - but the way the sector gear works inside, you'd better sneak up on it or you'll have issues including accelerating the wear, or even finding the thing won't go past center when it's hot.

The normal course is leave the steering gear to last - check all over likely reasons first. Ball joints, drag link, tie rods, pitman arm, and so on.
Tysongladiator found his pitman arm loose on the pitman shaft!!

A brace is not going to fix loose steering on a stock Jeep. These just don't have the load with stock tires and stock height. I know people say "I put on the sector shaft brace and it fixed my steering" Yeah, ok.

I’ve replaced the tie rod, drag link and ball joints within the last 2-3 months. Nothing helped the play so far. The pitman arm nut is 100% tight, as I had it off when I installed a sector shaft brace (I have since removed the brace, red loctited and torqued it down). The only thing left in my case seems to be the steering box. But I wanted to see if anyone had opinions or experiences that would argue against touching the box.

 

[Scott0700]

My 2018 was terrible from the factory. Dual steering stabilizer helped. Much better after steering box adjustment. As others have said, sneak up on it with very fine adjustments.

 

[Badunit]

I've adjusted the steering gear preload on more than a few vehicles over the years. It helps sometimes but it has never, not once, solved the problem. I also tried a stronger steering stabilizer on my JT. It masks the problem by holding the wheels straight/steady for you but it is not a solution. If you have narrowed it down to the steering gear, get a new one. Mine was bad from the factory and I've had other new Mopar vehicles that also had poor steering gears. I am of the opinion that they don't care much about internal tolerances. You can try a new OEM steering gear, maybe I've just had bad luck in the past, or you can splurge on a better one. I feel like a shill for PSC because I mention them so often in discussions about steering but I have had very good luck with them. They are not cheap, though. I installed a PSC SG691R (just the box, not the hydro assist stuff) a few months ago and couldn't be happier with it. Road trips used to be tiring and annoying from the constant attention and corrections required to stay in my lane. Now I just drive. My smiles per miles increased dramatically.

 

[gearhead22]

I ended up deciding to try and move mine 1/8 turn. I’m a little worried as I’ve read that the nut is initially hard to break free due to the loctite. Not sure if someone has messed with it before or not. I also didn’t have any paint marks like I had seen in some videos. I put a breaker bar on mine and it really didn’t turn hard. It wasn’t finger tight by any means but wasn’t hard to get off as other have indicated. The horizontal red line is where I started and the vertical is what I estimated to be 1/4 turn. I’d say I’m half way so 1/8. Will report after driving if I notice any issues.

 

[Sandman 4x4]

I personally can’t be more satisfied with the alignment service performed at my dealer a couple months ago. See my Jeep developed the dreaded death wobble at only 14,000 miles? So I brought it in expecting a steering damper replaced only. But they also performed an alignment, that has made a world of difference, leaving absolutely no play and a steering wheel centered on all but the most obvious crown in the road or heavy side winds. Still not as precise as the rack & pinion in my last truck, a 2019 Colorado, but dam near. Now it’s a joy to drive at all speeds, especially over 70. I can flick the wheel left or right with an immediate return to center.

 

[gearhead22]

I personally can’t be more satisfied with the alignment service performed at my dealer a couple months ago. See my Jeep developed the dreaded death wobble at only 14,000 miles? So I brought it in expecting a steering damper replaced only. But they also performed an alignment, that has made a world of difference, leaving absolutely no play and a steering wheel centered on all but the most obvious crown in the road or heavy side winds. Still not as precise as the rack & pinion in my last truck, a 2019 Colorado, but dam near. Now it’s a joy to drive at all speeds, especially over 70. I can flick the wheel left or right with an immediate return to center.

Yeah winds and crown definitely throw my steering wheel off center. More than I would like. Not sure how much is normal as no other vehicle of driven was this bad. We have super duty fords and dodge 3/4 tons at work and they don’t have this much play.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Hello all. I have a 21’ JTR. I think the current most aggravating thing is the amount of play/dead space in the steering wheel. Is there a way to tighten it up? I’m aware of the steering box adjustment but that seems quite debated as to whether it should be touched or not. The tie rod/drag link are new. The steering box is the OEM steel.

Following. Identical situation. Oem steel, and new condition drag link, tie rod, knuckles, and ball joints. All aftermarket and upgraded.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Yeah, if people would learn, read the books on these things, understand what that "screw" is even for - but no, because a youtuber says "do this to FIX your steering!" it's a thing.

It's a preload adjustment. If you have PLAY, you have a problem.
The CORRECT way to adjust that is with it disconnected. It's the last thing checked and/or adjusted for preload. You set the input side, then set that side, and additive torque load.
If there's play, fix the reason.
Yes, as things wear, you lose that preload and develop play - play means wear.
You can adjust it again - but the way the sector gear works inside, you'd better sneak up on it or you'll have issues including accelerating the wear, or even finding the thing won't go past center when it's hot.

The normal course is leave the steering gear to last - check all over likely reasons first. Ball joints, drag link, tie rods, pitman arm, and so on.
Tysongladiator found his pitman arm loose on the pitman shaft!!

A brace is not going to fix loose steering on a stock Jeep. These just don't have the load with stock tires and stock height. I know people say "I put on the sector shaft brace and it fixed my steering" Yeah, ok.

All true in my opinion. And yes, I’ve had a brace since 12k miles.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Mine stays centered and nothing happens with bumps or wind. It just has the dead spot. My gearbox is likely just worn out after lots of miles on big tires.

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