billyonemate

have you replaced the steering damper ?

Nester

Yes, I have replaced the steering damper.

billyonemate

hmmm...maybe i am wasting my money with the steering damper i have bought then too.

The symptoms you describe are what i am experiencing too and it is not normal ... this is my second XJ, both 1999 trucks, but on the previous one the steering did not feel loose at all.

Nester

My intention is to keep this XJ. I'm not giving up on this problem. I have let other people drive this and some said it felt OK and others thought it was drifty or felt loose. The only thing I can think of is that maybe one or some of the components I replaced on the XJ front suspension are defective.

xjheep92

I have the same problem. I'm thinking its the steering box

Midwest

The problem could actually be in the rear suspension. I replaced pretty much everything but my steering box, and it still bump steers and wanders. My steering box is shot, but its the back end that does it in mine. May be a place to start.

Radi

Drifty or loose is how I'd describe XJ steering when it's working properly, lol.
It's an old design with recirculating ball steering and front end suited for truck duty, lots of sidewall flex due to the tire profile and the lack of a rear locating bar doesn't help either.
I've owned two and driven quite a few more, all have had a certain wander to them when compared to modern passenger cars.
It should never be to the point where you question your ability to control the jeep, but occasional minor corrections aren't unusual.
If nothing is loose or worn, the alignment is and stays dead on and the rear end isn't wagging, I'm not sure where else to look?

Nester

Good input Radi. Thanks. This is my first XJ and I never drove one before this one. I have virually replaced all the suspension components front and rear. It's not unrulely to control. Just old technology, perhaps.

chipmaker

Yup. On my second XJ now and it wonders just as bad as my old one. All in all it's a jeep, its going to be noisy, wabbly, and leaky but it will seldom let you down.

cazador

my first xj, a 96 with 220k, the steering was fine. second xj, also 96 with 130k has loose steering. a jeep will never be as tight as a sports car, but I don't think loose steering is normal. common, maybe. Have you tried adjusting your steering box? Several guys on here have fixed loose steering by doing that if all other joints look fine when someone rocks the steering from side to side. someone said that even new steering boxes sometimes need adjustments.

Nester

Yes. I tryed adjusting the steering box even though it was new. Did't work.

billyonemate

Well, tried tightening my track bar to axle nut today and went to hard and the bolt snapped

Here's a video of the track bar before the snapping incident ... does this look like to much play on the Track Rod End side?

billyonemate

One last question Nester, have you replaced the shocks and springs, front and rear?

xj_maniac_newb

What is your caster angle set at? Sometimes "in the green" isnt always whats best for your jeep.

Nester

Yes.