Heyo everyone. So like the title suggests my steering is VERY loose and sloppy. Cruiser54 and freegdr have both helped me keep this thing on the road. It has new tires, new balljoints, new wheel bearings, tie rod ends, track bar. And everything else on the front end suspension that im not thinking of. It no longer death wobbles but when im driving at 75mph it feels like im floating and even with a perfect alignment i struggle to keep it going straight from all of the play in the wheel. Its like from the 10-11 o clock position to 1-2 o clock it does nothing.

Any ideas?

 

Steering box shot or needs adjusting? Steering shaft slop?

 

Steering boxes are expensive...hoow does one go about adjusting it properly?

 

Usually if the play is real bad the adjustment will not be enough. Can google on how or even youtube it. Probably needs to be rebuilt. I just did mine not too long ago. Originally i was just replacing the pitman and input seals cause leaking bad. Very little play at the time. Changed the seals had no leaks but the play was so bad i actually crashed jeep into a ditch. Bought a rebuild kit tore apart found broken bands but there was pretty intense scoring in the unit itself. After having unit in and out and adjusting here and there just got the remanufactured box from autozone. Went in easily, and works great. 140.00 well spent cause im happy and jeep steers like a champ!!!

 

Have someone turn the steering wheel while you observe the input shaft and pitman arm movement.

 

Thanks. Ive been researching it a bit over the night. Found where to do it from but do i do this with the vehicle running or not? And im looking to see the tires move in conjunction with the steering shaft?

 

Motor off just want to turn wheel back and forth in area of sloppiness .

 

i had this on my 98.you could turn it way too ez. 2 things. i let it run and reached in and turned the steering shaft.surprised! to see the box rocking. a bolt broke and it left the box twist cracking the frame so it was sloppy and dangerous.
i had a metal shop make a 1/4 in z shaped stiffener and got new bolts.
still too ez. not knowing how/if i could adjust it i got a j y box for 35 bucks. its ok now but i dont drive it off the property.
it was lifted, home brew and the steering geometry seem wrong, prone to new stresses.
thats when i found my 2000.

 

I would totally do a JY box. But there is no junk yards near me that i can find. Seriously check my zip code 62946. Its pretty depressing.

 

and shipping would kill you,,too bad

 

Note from DJ
Your Zip Code 62946 is coming up as HARRISBURG, IL
But you have your location as Portland, OR
Where do you live?

 

Find where the play is. Does the steering wheel turn with no Pittman movement? Pittman move with no tie-rod movement? Tie-rod moves with no wheel movement? Also do look here. >> https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/dan...-today-132060/

 

if your steering was that bad would you not get a death type wabble thats noticeable at a certain speed

 

Formerly in portland. Living in harrisburg. If i was in portland there is an abundance of junk yards. Just havent bothered to change it.

 

I do not have death wobble. I have eliminated that by replacing all of the worn suspension parts. I have a bit of a wobble at 70MPH+ that i believe to be driveshaft vibes. Dont care about that. Just want my steering to be tighter.