Pitman Arm Play?
 

Have replaced tie rod ends, center link, and track bar on my stock 2001 Jeep XJ. Noticed about 1/16" play in the pitman arm when I had the center link disconnected. Steering at freeway speeds seems 50% tighter than it was but still a little loose. Is the pitman arm suppose to be rock solid or is the play acceptable and I should look somewhere else.

The pitman arm should have zero play. Has the arm been changed? If so, then the nut wasn't tightened right.

Or the steering box is worn. It can be tighten by adjusting the screw on top of the box, but tighten it too much and the box will wear all the way out faster

pitman arm play?
 

Or the steering box is worn. It can be tighten by adjusting the screw on top of the box, but tighten it too much and the box will wear all the way out faster.


Okay thanks so far, the nut is tight, the play is in the steering gear box. The adjustment (wormshaft bearing preload and pitman shaft over center drag torque) is in my Chilton.

Questions:

1. When and how do you adjust it, in or out of the car?

2. XJ has 165,000 miles, is the play normal wear of the gears so the adjustment is routine maintenance or is it worn out and should be looking at a rebuilt?

Thanks guys, adjusted my steering box on the car, tightened the allen nut about a 1/4 turn and it drives like a new XJ. This forum is fantastic!!!

That will be a temporary fix at best, it will loosen up again. www.rockauto has reman boxes for a pretty good price.

steering boxs are just like ring and pinions they need play with out it there gonna wear out real fast....jm2cw

Play? More like falling off
 

So I'm new here, my dad recently passed and left me his 2000 ckerokee sport, I looked under because it had the infamous "death wobble " and this is what I saw
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...d9d28c80b5.jpg


Can i just tighten this nut at the bottom? I tried but didn't seem to wanna move

That's a remanufactured box, someone replaced the box and did not get the pitman arm on correctly. The splines are probably damaged now. You can try to remove the arm and put it on correctly but you'll likely end up replacing both.