Loose Steering?

[ShadowsPapa]

Have the service department document the recommendation to adjust it yourself in the service notes. I have adjusted dozens of sector shafts in the decades I have been restoring and servicing cars. Most people don’t realize that the box isn’t manufactured fully adjusted. It is assembled and then adjusted and marked. Believing that the factory adjusted them all perfectly is like believing the government can run healthcare. Once you adjust a few Saginaw style boxes, you can tell almost immediately if it is out of adjustment once you loosen the locknut.

Best of luck, but go with what your experience tells you.

Yup and adjusting will either improve, or resolve, or it won't. There are times it won't, then replacement is necessary. But if they document it like suggested, it's on them from there.
Things change once they are installed and used even for a few minutes. Things can settle into place, wear in, etc. - rough spots wear off, so all they can do is put it into their spec RANGE. Yup - it's in spec - but that spec has a range.
Don't sweat the worm gear preload - chances are that's not involved - and if it is, then that thing has real issues because going from PRELOAD to loose means it's WAY out.
Worry only about the lash at this point.
Adjust a little and test - going too far too fast isn't great either - might feel fine until you drive it then find oops - too far.
Sneak up on it.
And frankly, I'd mark the thing and document how far you change or turned it, too. Just for kicks. Will take only seconds.

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[BeeYoBe]

My second dealer trip has resulted in a track bar replacement. I will be picking it up this afternoon and will report back. Wonder if this goes along with the track bar bolt that has been previously mentioned as well as the housing that bolt would screw into. Hopefully once I drive it, there will be some more good news headed this way!

I mentioned to them on their test drive of my JT that I thought it might be the steering box. They definitely agreed that there was a lot of play in the steering. I then drove another one from their lot and it had much tighter steering. Not perfect, but much better than mine. They said that they could use that one to compare with mine. And the conclusion from them was the track bar needed to be replaced. Mine is the Overland and the other one that I drove was a Sport.

 

[erichsglad]

My second dealer trip has resulted in a track bar replacement. I will be picking it up this afternoon and will report back. Wonder if this goes along with the track bar bolt that has been previously mentioned as well as the housing that bolt would screw into. Hopefully once I drive it, there will be some more good news headed this way!

I mentioned to them on their test drive of my JT that I thought it might be the steering box. They definitely agreed that there was a lot of play in the steering. I then drove another one from their lot and it had much tighter steering. Not perfect, but much better than mine. They said that they could use that one to compare with mine. And the conclusion from them was the track bar needed to be replaced. Mine is the Overland and the other one that I drove was a Sport.

It will be good to hear if yours works to correct the problem. Mine did not. Thanks

 

[ShadowsPapa]

When looking, we drove a Sport S with max tow - steering was fine, it handled fine. Mine is Overland - it's fine.
At least they have a better one to compare to.
That track bar would have to flex a lot to feel like "loose steering" but if they are willing to swap parts, what the heck.

The track bar bolt that has been mentioned was a cross-threaded nut on the bolt if I recall. IF the thing was clamped tight enough in the bracket, cross-threaded or not, there would be little to no play. If they want to check things out and replace parts, let 'em. At least you'll know that those things have been looked at and crossed off the list.

 

[BeeYoBe]

So it seems the track bar fixed it to about 90 percent. It steers muuuuuuch better than before. They used a service bulletin for the wrangler. I am now pretty happy! It could be a little better, but like I said muuuuuuch better!

 

[Bhoag]

So it seems the track bar fixed it to about 90 percent. It steers muuuuuuch better than before. They used a service bulletin for the wrangler. I am now pretty happy! It could be a little better, but like I said muuuuuuch better!

Do you have the pre and post alignment sheet? I would be interested in those numbers, wandering if that also helped you issue. Glad you have a resolution!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Do you have the pre and post alignment sheet? I would be interested in those numbers, wandering if that also helped you issue. Glad you have a resolution!

Camber is set in stone and caster as well as caster difference between sides is also set in stone.
Toe is all that can be set.
Track bar changes won't impact any alignment other than toe.
That's required after any track bar changes. (because it may shift the axle to one side or the other from where it was impacting the steering linkage.)

 

[BeeYoBe]

Here is the sheet they gave me.

 

[BeeYoBe]

So after further review, and about 800 miles from Charlotte to South West Florida, the track bar has helped my situation, but not a total fix. I would like to change my 90 percent comment to about 60 percent. It seems to have defined my dead zone and reduced it to about 1/2 to 1 inch rather than 2 plus inches. It must have gotten broken in on my long trip so I didnt notice it at first. And what I mean by defined is it now feels like when I turn the steering wheel it feels like it hits a wall so to speak. Before it felt like turning the wheel and there was no resistance at all, but now there is at a certain point. Making me think again that it's the steering box as stated many times here before. I'll have to contact the dealer again and see what they say.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So after further review, and about 800 miles from Charlotte to South West Florida, the track bar has helped my situation, but not a total fix. I would like to change my 90 percent comment to about 60 percent. It seems to have defined my dead zone and reduced it to about 1/2 to 1 inch rather than 2 plus inches. It must have gotten broken in on my long trip so I didnt notice it at first. And what I mean by defined is it now feels like when I turn the steering wheel it feels like it hits a wall so to speak. Before it felt like turning the wheel and there was no resistance at all, but now there is at a certain point. Making me think again that it's the steering box as stated many times here before. I'll have to contact the dealer again and see what they say.

Theory - if they took the "wander" out then it would feel better because you'd not have to be correcting all the time. More wander, more correcting and the more the looseness in the steering will be apparent. No wander, little correction needed so you won't run into the loose wheel effect as much.
I had to wonder how much the track bar was going to do as it would take a bunch of flexing to cause wander - maybe the new one is better and aligning it helped - but it doesn't resolve the looseness or play in that steering - it just masks it because it will go straighter without your constant input.

 

[Factoid]

By the process of elimination...drum roll please...steering box.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

By the process of elimination...drum roll please...steering box.

Sorry, sold my drum stuff years ago, and my son took his with him to Florida when he moved. (that made the neighbors smile)

 

[Factoid]

Sorry, sold my drum stuff years ago, and my son took his with him to Florida when he moved. (that made the neighbors smile)

My wife gave her 4 year old nephew a drum set for Christmas. I thought she loved her sister, but apparently not.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

My wife gave her 4 year old nephew a drum set for Christmas. I thought she loved her sister, but apparently not.

Revenge of some sort?

 

[JimThe4th]

My steering box was replaced Dec. 23. As far as i can tell, She seems to drive better. The 2 inch dead spot in the steering is gone at least. I'll update if anything come up.

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