TO MUCH PLAY IN MY STEERING

[BIG.XJ.FLAMES]

I have a problem with the steering in my 2001 XJ.

I have replaced the steering box, completely rebuilt the steering and track-bar. The steering has no bends in it or room for play. It is a cross over steering setup in hopes of getting rid of any play in the wheel.

I really don't know what to do now . Anyone have any suggestions of how to eliminate steering play.

Thanks,
Aaron

 

[djblade311]

turn the wheel back and forth and have someone else look at where the play is...if play only happens during high speeds, you need an alignment. But there are SOO many places in the steering that can be loose. each component that has play, all adds up to very sloopy steering. How many miles are on the tie rod ends?

 

[BIG.XJ.FLAMES]

I just built a new tierod last night. All the steering himes are brand new.
I have looked under the rig and it just doesn't look like their is any slop anywhere.

 

[rag]

check track bar bushings, control arm bushings, check the steering box is properly bolted to the frame rail (happened to me), hubs, steering shaft joint

check every single bushing and joint in the front end and replace as nessisary. even if it doesnt pertain to steering

 

[thumpin_xj]

the heims probly have play in them im runnign heims in my front control arms an u can hear then click when u hit bumps so theres probly a small amount of play in all of ur heims

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Aaron,

IIRC, you have a tall lift - 8" or so? And 35's? Right? The white rig with flames?

Is anything you've done to the XJ a "big" change from when you first got the rig? I have a full heim front steering system too - but it's tight as it gets, better than TRE's in my opinion. But I too felt like there's some play in my setup. I've ensured that the steering box isn't loose and the frame isn't cracked around the box bolts.

Then it donned on me... tire pressure. I hardly drive the rig on the streets and when I do, the tires usually aren't above 25 psi because I'm always airing down anyway. I tried airing them up to 35... solved the problem. 35" tires have a lot of sidewall and lower pressures allow quite a bit of flexing between the wheel and the tread.

 

[Kittrell]

I have a problem with the steering in my 2001 XJ.

I have replaced the steering box, completely rebuilt the steering and track-bar. The steering has no bends in it or room for play. It is a cross over steering setup in hopes of getting rid of any play in the wheel.

I really don't know what to do now . Anyone have any suggestions of how to eliminate steering play.

Thanks,
Aaron

I don't know, but when you figure it out, let me know, I have the same issue. I find myself constantly correcting on the highway. My steering is very new, so I am kind of at the same point as you. I aligned it myself, and it's to spec. I tried to get it on the rack, but the clamps wouldn't bite my wheels, so I had to do it myself. It's almost like bumpsteer, but my angles are perfect. The only thing in my steering that isn't new in the last 3 months (even the Ball Joints) is the SF joint on my Trac Bar. But it's nice and tight as far as I can tell. Didn't mean to jack your thread Aaron, but it looks like we might have the same issue.

 

[djblade311]

Man DJ, those are some clean coils, swaybar discos, and bumpstops!

When I went 1ton (JCR), it was much tighter but at highway speeds, it is sensitive. most ppl with the WJ setup say the same thing.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Aaron, DJ,

Maybe we need to clarify what you guys are "feeling" in the steering.

DJ's issue sounds more consistant with tall tires and high center of gravity, and the ruts in the road. "Constantly correcting" is typical with tall vehicles and tall tires - it's the nature of the beast. You're not gonna get handling like the typical car or even stock SUV's. Big tires grab the ruts.

Aaron, we need to know if you have any "dead spots" in the right/left movement of your steering wheel. Dead spots are when the steering wheel moves, but there's NO movement of the tires right or left. Dead spots are easy to diagnose - you start at the tires and work back thru the components, the steering box and then the steering shaft and the little u-joints, and finally the steering column.

I still get the feeling from what you both describe, it's just having recently gone to tall tires and big lift and having little experience with driving vehicles that tall / big tires. Especially where DJ's rig is concerned - other than the axle, that front end is completely new with top end aftermarket stuff.

I say it's C.O.G. and tires boys......

 

[Kittrell]

Aaron, DJ,

Maybe we need to clarify what you guys are "feeling" in the steering.

DJ's issue sounds more consistant with tall tires and high center of gravity, and the ruts in the road. "Constantly correcting" is typical with tall vehicles and tall tires - it's the nature of the beast. You're not gonna get handling like the typical car or even stock SUV's. Big tires grab the ruts.

Aaron, we need to know if you have any "dead spots" in the right/left movement of your steering wheel. Dead spots are when the steering wheel moves, but there's NO movement of the tires right or left. Dead spots are easy to diagnose - you start at the tires and work back thru the components, the steering box and then the steering shaft and the little u-joints, and finally the steering column.

I still get the feeling from what you both describe, it's just having recently gone to tall tires and big lift and having little experience with driving vehicles that tall / big tires. Especially where DJ's rig is concerned - other than the axle, that front end is completely new with top end aftermarket stuff.

I say it's C.O.G. and tires boys......

Screw you and your logic, I want to be able to fix it! It was fairly similar when I had the stock setup on it. Got a little better with the new steering, but not much. Now it feels the same as it was, but maybe I just don't remember what it felt like before anymore. Will have the alloys and joint's in, in a bit here when I get some new unit bearings and get the gears/tt in. At that point, nothing but the housing will be more then 5 months old.

 

[BIG.XJ.FLAMES]

Troy,

I'll try to air upthe tires all the way. I think I am running 29 lbs of pressure in them. The wheel is turning along with the tires. They are all turning at the same time. The tires maybe just not as quickly.

The whole steering is brand new. Matt helped me finish it up the other night. Tierod, Trackbar, and draglink all have fresh heimes. The steering is literally brand new. I have had this steering problem before I built it, I just thought that by building it, all my steering problems would be solved.

I also have the C-Rock steering box brace in between the box and frame. Flex there shouldn't be an issue, you would think. ??

I have the 8" lift with thirty fives but I have always had that and the steering box wasn't this bad when I first bought the jeep. I mean I drive it all the way back from Tuscon Arizona and it drove like a benz. haha! I guess not quite that good but it did drive nicely.

 

[formatt]

Aaron... lets check that steering shaft. I have a brand new one for an XJ sitting on my shelf. Don brought up a point about the u-joints in that thing, that we didn't go over. That and your ball joints are the only two items we haven't been through or replaced..

Troy, I really think part of your problem is the Procomp tires. seriously. They have super mushy sidewalls. Any chance you can swap wheels/tires with someone and take it for a drive? You sit pretty low so IMO, I don't think your's is a COG issue at all. Maybe DJ or JohnJohn? (thinking of people on the south end)
__________________
matthew - 96 xj
formatt fabrications
www.formattfab.com

 

[caglezxj]

Have you checked your knuckles. I had some play in my steering and I jacked it up and pushed in and out on thew tires. The driver side had come loose due to the pin not holding the nut tight.

Lift the front end off the ground and push pull on everything you can get your hands on. Get someone to steer it while you watch.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

How do you adjust that steering box bolt and where is it. The only bolt I can see is on the top front and you have to take the fan out and disconnect the radiator just to access it.

You need an allen wrench for the center and a wrench for the nut around it. Loosen the nut and turn the allen wrench to move the stud down into the box, bottom it out, and back it out a quarter-turn. Tighten the nut while holding the stud with the allen wrench. Just remove the radiator shroud and top radiator bracket, then have a friend hold it up out of the way or prop it up with some cut-to-fit 2x4 between the bottom of the radiator and the lower radiator support. No need to drain it.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Troy, I really think part of your problem is the Procomp tires. seriously. They have super mushy sidewalls. Any chance you can swap wheels/tires with someone and take it for a drive? You sit pretty low so IMO, I don't think your's is a COG issue at all. Maybe DJ or JohnJohn? (thinking of people on the south end)

Matt,

Oh I'm totally aware the Pro Comps are soft tires - that's why I've REALLY enjoyed them off road. I was simply stating that things improved drastically when I aired them up firm. But it really isn't that big an issue, my rig is a trailer queen anyway.... And......

I'll have some nice new BFG's soon..... Remember?????

 

[bigwhitey]

Did you check the steering shaft yet?

I just replaced mine and it feels good now. It was moving in the slip joint at the top of the steering shaft.

I run OTK inverted Y and OAB with 6.5" and 35's.
It tracks straight down the road.

 

[xsubarudude]

have you considered upgrading the Steering box to a "Grand"

check out this thread
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=43625

 

[BIG.XJ.FLAMES]

You need an allen wrench for the center and a wrench for the nut around it. Loosen the nut and turn the allen wrench to move the stud down into the box, bottom it out, and back it out a quarter-turn. Tighten the nut while holding the stud with the allen wrench. Just remove the radiator shroud and top radiator bracket, then have a friend hold it up out of the way or prop it up with some cut-to-fit 2x4 between the bottom of the radiator and the lower radiator support. No need to drain it.

Thanks Troy,

I'll try that first thing when I get to work tomorrow. I left the jeep down at the warehouse to avoid driving it on the roads.

If that doesn't help the situation then I will check the top side of the steering shaft.