Krakker

Any ideas on what could be causing the wheel to wander?
Jeep already had the heavy duty steering upgrades when I got it and everything is new from end to end. New tires, fresh balance, everythings tight.
Steering wheel just needs 2 hands ALL the time.
Clues? opinions?
99 with just at 100K, but like I said, everything on the front is new.
3" lift, trac bar, drop arm, HD linkage ball joints, etc.

srb53150

steering gearbox worn out ? maybe.

andrewmp6

Steering box or the u joint in the steering shaft to the box is wore out.

Krakker

Aye Ca rumba..... I hope it's not the box.
Anyone know if the XJ box has an adjustment screw on the top to tighten it up at all?
(my girls at school and I can't check it right now) I'll have to check into the Ujoint on the shaft. Hopefully it's not the box......

Fred/N0AZZ

Be very careful when adj. the steering box a little goes a long ways and easy to screw up.

Jds12

Did it get an alignment, what's the caster at? Not enough caster will cause it to wander. (Constant input on steering wheel)

Does steering react quickly to changes or does it take a lot of steering wheel movement to change direction? (Probably worn component).

If it's just pulling to one side, it's likely alignment or tire pull.

Krakker

the feeling is somewhat slow but constant input from the wheel on corrections side to side. We did have an alignment done, there's no "pull" one way or the other. It's like a slow jitter, if that makes sense. Not as bas as when the GY mtr's were on it, but it's NOT what I want my girl driving full time and risking her or someone else get hit because she lost it, or wandered into someone.
I'm having her take it to our family shop to take a look at it and see what's up. (I don't have the time with work and prep'n for a family wedding). I'll have to report back and post up what exactly was wrong and what fixed it.
Maybe I didn't search the correct issue, but I didn't find anything here, so hopefully this thread will help someone else.


My thought was going to Hydro assist like the big *** YJ, but I shouldn't have to do that with only 33's, and AT's at that.

andrewmp6

Do you have a steering box brace ?

Larry's XJ

Could be loose box or frame cracking.

XJlimitedx99

Can't believe nobody has suggested checking the track bar yet. My trackbar bushings are shot and it has the same symptoms.

Krakker

All new trac bar and front end components with the lift. Everything on the suspension is solid. I haven't had time to check on the box or frame yet, but I do have frame stiffeners on it as well. I'm going to check it out with the girl on Friday when we run it by the shop. I'll report back with pics on what ever we find.

XJlimitedx99

I still think it's worth looking at while you're searching for other culprits. Sometimes the frame side mount will work its way loose or the axle side mount gets ovaled out.

Fred/N0AZZ

These are always a good idea.


My sons 98 XJ was doing the same thing and the frame was cracking between the bolts of the steering box and bolts were loose, had to have it welded by an experienced welder because of where it was.

Larry's XJ

Alignment out
Wheel bearing
Odd tire wear
Defective tire

Reble

Same problem here.
Put 1-ton OTK steering on and a new steering box.
The XJ "wandered" badly and had a slight pull to the right.
I replaced a brand new steering box with a Durango steering box.

Drives hands-free without switching lanes now.

6.5 inch lift on 33's.