hey there guys im runnnig after market wheels and tires and i have really bad bump steer when ever the roads uneven the steering wonders all over the place.And thats not all, the steering is really soft and loose my two year old son could probably move the steering wheel with his pinky finger lol thats how soft and loose it is.I already had it balanced and aligned it seemed to help a little but not much any suggestions or ideas where i should look next? thanks in advance

 

Bumps steer isn't caused by tires. It's caused by an improperly tuned steering setup. If your draglink and track bar do not run parallel you will get bump steer.
ie: you have a drop pitman arm, but didn't raise the track bar to match the angle.

However, if your setup is still stock, this probably isn't the case.

Are you sure it's bump steer at all? You said it wanders. If it's bump steer it will only bump the steering as you hit a bump in the road. It's a sudden jerk not a constant movement in the steering.

As for the loose steering, you may need to adujust the steering box. There is a set screw located on top of the box that as you adjust it, should tighten the steering up.

A little more info on your setup would probably help also.
What year is your XJ?
Approx. mileage?
Are you running a lift?
If so, which brand?
What size tires?

 

are you lifted? get cross over steering or at least inverted T it will eliminated hte factor of the y-link that causes bump steer

 

its an 89 with 200,000 miles on it, it doesnt have a lift as of yet and your right its not a sudden jolt its more of a wandering feeling.Where exactly is the adjusting screw located?

 

Ok. Chances are, with 200,000 on the clock things have worn a little. Make sure there isn't too much play in your tie rod ends while your looking at things. As for the adjustment screw, it is located on the very top of the steering box.
You will have to remove the aux. fan to see it. Don't worry that's not that hard and should only take a couple minutes.
Once you have the fan out, you will see five bolts. The one in the middle is the adjustment screw.

 

before adjusting the box, check the tie rod ends. Have someone, or even your son, turn the steering wheel back and forth while it's running and you get under the front end and check/feel every joint for play or clunking. Sounds like bad bearings or maybe ball joints. Could be tie rods going too.

 

you have worn components or your caster is too positive.

 

huh?

 

it could possibly be from your tires on top of the fact that you have 200k in your rig. I know that when I put on my 33's it tends to want to follow what ever groove may be in the road, but with my stockers no extra movement.

 

do i really need to explain that.

 

Well I had to go back and read it a couple of times.
I have never heard the claim that Y-link steering caused bump steer so I was/am confused.

 

The y-link does cause toe-in changes....but bumpsteer?

 

Yes I understand some variation in toe-in but bumpsteer? Geometry that thing in high school you thought was a waste of time turns out to answer a lot of questions if applied to steering and the "Y" link stuff can't cause bumpsteer that I can see.

 

Blue, do you remember "high" school???LOL!!


BTW,......I'm back buddy!!

 

when you said "y-link" i naturally assumed suspension design

the factory steering is more often referred to as "inverted y"

But In that case your statement still makes no sense