Hello all, I'm new here and I have an issue that I need some opinions on.
Last month took my '99 XJ in for several new parts:
-drag link
-tie rod & ends
-upper and lower ball joints
-steering damper/stabilizer
-track bar
I bought a kit with all the parts and had a local suspension shop replace them since they were all original to the Jeep and pretty much every bolt was seized up and we don't have the tools to fight bolts like that. (as we found out with the nightmare we experienced while replacing the upper and lower control arms)
The shop also did an alignment after all the parts were replaced.
My issue is that now the steering feels really tight. Not *stiff* like I cannot make turns, but tight enough that the minor adjustments I make as I'm driving straight at any speed feel like the wheel wants to just stick in that direction, it's not as easy to re-center the wheel. I'm having to straighten myself out from every little turn of the wheel.
The steering box has not been touched.
The power steering pump does not whine or make any noises and there is plenty of fluid in the reservoir.
It's hard to compare it to its previous steering because the steering was so loose from all the old worn out parts.
I called the shop about it and the mechanic told me that it was "memory steer" from all the brand new parts and to give it a month or 2.
Well, it's been a month now and it's just as tight.
This is a reputable shop, they've been in business for a very long time, and in a small town a bad reputation would be well known, so I do not feel like he is lying to me, but this just seems odd to be so tight for this long.
All the parts are sealed, so they would have been pre-greased, but I still went around to all the boots and tried to spray a little silicone grease into them.
Nothing has helped.
Is this completely normal?
I've read on other forums that some ball joints need some breaking in time, or that perhaps the caster is still actually off.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Last month took my '99 XJ in for several new parts:
-drag link
-tie rod & ends
-upper and lower ball joints
-steering damper/stabilizer
-track bar
I bought a kit with all the parts and had a local suspension shop replace them since they were all original to the Jeep and pretty much every bolt was seized up and we don't have the tools to fight bolts like that. (as we found out with the nightmare we experienced while replacing the upper and lower control arms)
The shop also did an alignment after all the parts were replaced.
My issue is that now the steering feels really tight. Not *stiff* like I cannot make turns, but tight enough that the minor adjustments I make as I'm driving straight at any speed feel like the wheel wants to just stick in that direction, it's not as easy to re-center the wheel. I'm having to straighten myself out from every little turn of the wheel.
The steering box has not been touched.
The power steering pump does not whine or make any noises and there is plenty of fluid in the reservoir.
It's hard to compare it to its previous steering because the steering was so loose from all the old worn out parts.
I called the shop about it and the mechanic told me that it was "memory steer" from all the brand new parts and to give it a month or 2.
Well, it's been a month now and it's just as tight.
This is a reputable shop, they've been in business for a very long time, and in a small town a bad reputation would be well known, so I do not feel like he is lying to me, but this just seems odd to be so tight for this long.
All the parts are sealed, so they would have been pre-greased, but I still went around to all the boots and tried to spray a little silicone grease into them.
Nothing has helped.
Is this completely normal?
I've read on other forums that some ball joints need some breaking in time, or that perhaps the caster is still actually off.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.