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Steering box ajustment?

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Old Mar 1, 2009 | 07:10 PM
  #1  
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Default Steering box ajustment?

Do our XJ's have any steering box adjustments? I have just a little play in my steering...but everything looks tight...I jacked up both sides of my front axle and I can't find any play. I figure its steering box or maybe track bar. What more can I do to trouble shoot this?

thanks,

B.
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Old Mar 1, 2009 | 07:35 PM
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Yes you can adjust the steering box. There is a set screw with a nut around it on the top. loosen the nut and tighten the screw very little like say 1/8th a turn. Than test drive. You don't want to go over a 1/2 turn or you start do damage to teh box. It don't take much to get the slop out..
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Old Mar 1, 2009 | 07:37 PM
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Yes the steering box has an adjustment. If you take out your air box and the electric fan only to make a little room there is a screw on top of the box that has either an allen key or a torx bit that fits in and a nut that must be turned. Brake the nut loose and turn the screw down in a little at a time. If you tighten it up to much your steering wheel wont return on its own.
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Old Mar 1, 2009 | 08:40 PM
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Thanks for the info...I will check it out.
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Old Mar 1, 2009 | 09:13 PM
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Not to threadjack or anything, but on my XJ i also think I need to perform an adjustment similar to this aswell. My power steering is not very strong, making it harder to turn, there is a tiny bit of play in the center and the wheel does not return all the way straight by itself. How should i go about adjusting for this?
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Old Mar 1, 2009 | 09:22 PM
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The slack adj should not have anything to do with how hard it is to steer your rig. It merely takes the slack out of the SB. You may have something else going on. Pump getting weak perhaps. HTH!!
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Old Mar 1, 2009 | 09:27 PM
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Well i bought the jeep at the end of summer and its always been like that. Its a new power steering pump according to the previous owner though.
Anyone used that power steering fluid with the cleaning additive thats suppose to "Loosen up your tight power steering!" ????
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Old Mar 2, 2009 | 07:49 AM
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Default Adjustment direction

After the lock nut is loose...which direction should the set screw be turn to take up the slack?

Thanks
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Old Mar 2, 2009 | 08:21 AM
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Clockwise, IIRC.
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Old Mar 2, 2009 | 08:23 AM
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That's what I thought...Thanks COSXJFAN!
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Old Mar 5, 2009 | 01:54 AM
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Default yes yes yes

This has been driving me nuts for way too long!!!! problem solved!!!
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Old Mar 5, 2009 | 07:21 AM
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I may try this tonite. I hate the sloppy wheel I have.
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Old Mar 5, 2009 | 07:28 AM
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I hope to do mine this weekend....while doing a service to the jeep too (air filter, oil & filter change, lube the chassis).

I have just enough play to drive you crazy!
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Old Mar 8, 2009 | 06:30 PM
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I did some adjustment today...did about a 1/4 turn clock wise...still returns from a turn to center....maybe more adjustment needed?

May do some more adjustment...
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Old Mar 11, 2009 | 10:17 AM
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Would someone mind taking a picture of the steering box? I'm not sure what exactly I'm looking for.
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